The Crazy Things I Do For You Baby

As I continue on my quest to get Baby Cecil to flip my motto is that as long as I'm not hurting myself or Cecil I will try it.  The latest technique called moxibustion was a bit crazy...

It is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of Moxa, or mugwort.  This was recommended by my midwife, doula and chiropractor.  My chiropractor has had success with it in the past flipping babies, but he admits that could have been coincidence.  

So let me tell you about our first experience...

My chiropractor ordered the moxibustion sticks online.  

Apparently there are some sticks that produce much less smoke, which makes them more suitable for use inside.  Please note, he did NOT get this kind (and I don't think he realized that).  It was quite the scene.  He performed this in a tiny exam room that he uses for adjustments at my doctor's office.  It smells like weed and the smell spread throughout the entire office!  He had to keep apologizing to the nurses and staff and running out the back door to dump the ashes.  

So the procedure is to hold this moxibustion stick beside a pressure point on my pinky toe.  According to Chinese Medicine theory moxa has a tonifying and warming effect which promotes movement and activity. The nature of heat is rising. This warming and raising effect is utilized to encourage the baby to become more active and lift its bottom up in order to gain adequate momentum to summersault into the head down position (source: http://www.birthinbalance.com.au/pages/Moxibustion-for-Breech-Babies.html)

So after 20 minutes in a smoke filled exam room we slipped out the back door and I had to go meet someone for lunch smelling like I had just spent my lunch hour getting high.  Cecil moved around a lot for the rest of the day, but I still feel the head up.  

So in the meantime, we'll keep performing this moxibustion at home (outside) and hope our neighbors don't start to wonder.