Breech

BCATA
P.O. Box 8143
Victoria BC
V8W 3R8
(250) 704-2888

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Articles

The British Columbia Acupressure Therapists' Association.

BREECH BABY TURNS
By Bonnie Hardy

Dania has been a Jin Shin Do client for two years, once a month or even every other month. However, I had not heard from her in about four months. My answering machine recorded her call Jan. 7.' "I'm calling to tell you my News". But we were already out the door heading for Thailand. It was 3 months later that we began exchanging phone messages again.

When we finally connected, Dania talked excitedly about her pregnancy. The pregnancy had come along a little earlier than they had planned, but they were excited. She had been healthy and happy throughout the pregnancy, but had landed in the hospital the last two weeks of March because the amniotic fluid was not proportionally keeping up with the baby's growth. In hospital her amniotic fluids had responded and she was allowed to carry on as usual.

April 7th I had another call saying the baby was lying in the "front breech" position. The baby's head was at the top of mother's abdomen, legs folded to one side of the tummy and bottom just above the birth canal. 37 to 42 weeks are considered full term and it is less likely that baby's head will engage in the pelvis before the start of labour. I spoke to her answering machine and said confidently "Oh no problem there are Acu points to turn the baby. Just drop in daily and we'll hold a few points." The next call was a sad voice explaining she was on the mainland and wouldn't be back till Tuesday April 15th late evening - could she please come for a session then, before the doctor appointment Wednesday.

NOW SUDDENLY, this was beginning to feel like a lot of responsibility! With only one small window of opportunity for Acu point stimulation but requiring major results! I yelled into the answering machine "Go immediately to a Vancouver acupuncturist and have a moxibustion treatment on Bladder 67. Oh, and in the meantime, every chance you get, stimulate the outside nail base of your baby toes." "Sure", I muttered to myself, hanging up the phone - "I might have been able to reach my toes at 8 months pregnant"!

Nervously, in preparation for the evening session I chose a gold coloured fitted sheet. The vibration of Gold is transmuting, facilitating transformation from negative to positive. A turquoise top sheet and pillows were chosen for higher will. A bright red blanket represented the fire element and communication with this baby.

I reread an article in Massage and Bodywork called Integrating Shiatsu and Massage for Holistic Maternity Care. The article also had two great photos, which helped me realize even though Dania would be very pregnant; I could safely work while she was on her back as well as either side. I chose Noel Taylor's Pregnancy Release Example and followed it with the Preparation for Labour Release in Iona's book, A Complete Guide to Acupressure.

Dania and her partner arrived at 7:30 PM. I did a 10-minute relaxation massage and showed both of them Bladder 67, explaining that it was the essential point to focus on during our session together, and that I would be using a good deal of pressure from my thumbnail and tuning fork. I finished the relaxation massage on each side. I asked the father to be proactive and participate during this session and continue to hold Bladder 67 on the opposite side from which I was holding points.

"We visualized the ability of water to meander and weave its way around obstacles and, in turn, realize the baby's ability to swim and move in his watery habitat."

They explained their concerns: they had been notified that a procedure called ECV (external cephalic version) had been scheduled for April 16. The procedure involves the doctor manually turning the baby while connected to both a foetal monitor and ultrasound. The procedure has risks. It is a painful procedure for the mother. The umbilical cord can become wrapped around the baby's neck, or the baby can go into distress from a slowing of the heartbeat, several risk factors, which can result in an emergency caesarean. Professional consultations with a variety of obstetrical personnel suggested to them that this scenario is not uncommon. They came to see me because they wanted the least intervention possible in the delivery of their baby.

Jack sat opposite me, and Dania pulled up her shirt to show off her lovely tummy. We felt the baby's transverse location, and followed her linea negra to her belly button. Jack and I placed our hands over Dania's beautifully ripe belly and spoke our intention for the session.

I asked Jack to hold Bladder 67 on the left side as I began the session with tuning forks along the kidney meridian, followed by Noel's Pregnancy Release Pattern on the right side.

With each set of points I spoke in a trance-like voice talking about JSD #18, heart associated point, and how it was about communication with our loved ones. Stating the obvious, that this little being was certainly loved and we were all here to focus on the highest outcome for all.

While holding JSD #18 and the pericardium points 27, 28, and 29, I spoke of calming the foetus, and calming the mother. We talked of hearing women's horror stories - each competing for more drama around details of their labour.

Dania then admitted that someone had recently said to her "There's no pain like labour pain!" Aha, so we worked with replacing fear with TRUST. I suggested we could co- create our reality and visualize a higher outcome for this birth, as a result of our intention and points held during this session.

While holding JSD #15 and 16 I talked about opening the sacral area; releasing, relaxing into the flow and feeling into the free flow of chi and emotions. I suggested Dania notice if there were still lingering doubts, anxiety or worries around the delivery of her baby. We visualized the ability of water to meander and weave its way around obstacles and, in turn, realize the baby's ability to swim and move in his watery habitat. I spoke to baby congratulating his nine months of growing inside his mother's tummy, saying it has been a joyful time that was nearing completion. I intoned that a deadline was fast approaching and the heavy hand of Western medicine was imminent. It was time for this little being to engage, enlighten and make ready to proceed down the birth canal into the waiting arms of Mom and Dad.

While holding JSD #16, with 9, and 12, I spoke of a joyful sleep and a deep sleep, which would facilitate Dania's release of anxiety or concern. I encouraged her to relax with the knowledge that together this little light being and her body would know precisely what to do. I stated confidently that baby and she would be ready on perfect cue to complete the next stage of labour and delivery. I assured her together their bodies would willingly make the necessary adjustments and all this would happen while Mom enjoyed a joyful and deep sleep.

While holding JSD #10 I spoke of the feet, being grounded, secure upon mother earth. Suggesting Dania see herself as Earth Mother bringing forth this child of love. I finished up with tuning forks (and another deep fingernail) to BL 67.

Jack and I traded sides and I followed the pattern down the left side with more reassurances. Dania said she could sense the baby moving, but it was a deeper movement, different somehow than the kicks or flips she had experienced in the past. When both the Pregnancy Release and the Preparation for Labour Release had been done, I used the tuning forks on the Conception vessel, starting with the Middle of Man, the point under the nose and above the upper lip working down the front to the perineum. Dania chose the "moon forks" which I used repeatedly on Bladder 67. I asked Dania to roll over on her side putting a pillow under her arm and leg, and used the tuning forks down the Governing Vessel and went again to Bladder 67. As I worked in the auric field I held the tuning forks to Jack's ears too, so he would be tuned in to the same vibration as mother and child.

When Dania fell asleep, I gave Jack a neck and shoulder release so he would understand the feel of Acu pressure points. Finally, I asked Dania if there were other areas of her body asking for attention. She said her back, so I stood to the front of her and worked across her body to pull the muscles all along the back and buttocks. I used deep, firm pressure pulling her muscles up & toward me. We helped her roll onto her other side and again used the tuning forks on the Governing vessel. Then the other side of her back received a hearty massage from shoulder to buttocks. Jack had been active in moments when I fell silent to stroke Dania's tummy, and talk encouragingly to the baby.

I suggested we visualize the linea negra as a silken thread joining the perineum to the baby's Crown Chakra - home of the thousand petalled Lotus. We imagined coaxing and ever so gently pulling this magical string to guide the baby's head into the birthing canal.

While holding JSD #16 and 15 I talked about loosening, expanding and opening the muscles, tissue and bone in this area. I burst into song: "We are opening, We are opening, We are opening up in sweet surrender to the luminous love light of the one." The chant seemed appropriate, so I sang it again while holding the same points on the other side.

Dania was truly and well relaxed by the end of the session. We had to wake her up to go home and go to bed.

About 5:00 PM the next evening Dania called, laughing joyfully. Their Doctor had just pronounced, "A minor miracle has occurred. The baby's head has engaged." Dania thanked me and said "We attribute that to you, Bonnie".

Well, if we are spreading accolades, I have my teachers Noel, Kathy, Arnold and Iona to thank for the wonderful gift of Acupressure. I wish I had known about acupressure for the delivery of my three sons. I am, therefore, willing to go to great lengths to make a difference in another woman's birthing experience.

Look Out, Western Medicine, Here We Come!!

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