Turning the Tide. How Moxibustion Can Help Your Baby Move Into an Optimal Position for Birth
When you're nearing the end of pregnancy, every sensation matters. If your baby is breech, posterior, or labour has started but progress is stalling, your body may be signalling a need for deeper support. This is where moxibustion, a powerful and ancient practice from Traditional Chinese Medicine, can help guide things back into flow.
At Beattie Street Health, Melinda offers a deeply intuitive and science-informed approach to working with breech or posterior babies, pro-dromal labour, and mothers wanting to avoid induction. She combines moxibustion, acupuncture, and energetic realignment to create space, for both baby and body to respond.
What is Moxibustion?
Moxibustion is the burning of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), a herb used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to warm and move Qi (energy) through the body. When placed near key acupuncture points to stimulate blood flow to the uterus and pelvis, it helps the baby to turn and descend into a more optimal birthing position.
Moxa is warming, nourishing, and regulating. It's safe, gentle, and incredibly effective when combined with acupuncture and breath-based nervous system support.
A Time to Begin, and Why It’s Never Too Late
While the ideal time to begin moxa is between 34 and 36 weeks, Melinda works with women right up until labour to support movement and alignment. If your baby hasn’t turned or you're experiencing long, drawn-out pre-labour without change, this is often your body’s way of asking for help.
What to Expect
In your session, we will:
Apply acupuncture to create space and regulate uterine tone
Use moxibustion to stimulate specific points that encourage your baby to move
Provide you with moxa sticks to take home, along with clear daily instructions
Support you emotionally and energetically, helping you feel safe, open, and ready
Offer guidance on positions, breathwork, and mindset to deepen the effects
This is more than a clinical technique, it’s a whole-body invitation to shift. When the body feels safe and the energy is flowing, babies respond.
Need Support Right Now?
If you're feeling unsure about your baby’s position or if you're approaching birth and things aren't progressing, Melinda is here to support you.
