Is moxibustion useful for breech presentation and nuchal cord?

Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
Updated on March 13, 2025
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Fetal breech presentation and nuchal cord can be effectively addressed with moxibustion. Breech positions are common in early pregnancy but typically resolve to a head-first position by 32 weeks and become relatively stable. Higher incidences of breech positions are noted in cases of fetal abnormalities, twin pregnancies, abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid, uterine abnormalities, and narrow pelvis. If a breech position is still present after 32 weeks, moxibustion treatment can be considered. Moxibustion is applied at the Zhiyin acupoint (located 0.1 inches beside the nail corner on the outer side of the little toe) and is generally recommended once daily for 15 to 30 minutes, with one week constituting a treatment course. Afterward, the improvement in the fetal position can be evaluated. The purpose of using moxibustion is to promote fetal activity, which may help resolve nuchal cord entanglement during fetal movements.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What to do when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck at 39 weeks of pregnancy?

At 39 weeks of pregnancy, it is full-term and nearing the expected delivery date. During this period, if the umbilical cord is found to be wrapped around the neck, it is a normal occurrence and there is no need for excessive worry. Umbilical cord wrapping around the neck is a normal variation that does not affect fetal growth and development, nor does it cause fetal hypoxia, and it also does not affect the method of childbirth. Therefore, for a 39-week pregnancy with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck there is no difference from a normal pregnancy. Just follow the normal procedures for routine prenatal checks and waiting for childbirth. If there are no signs of labor, then continue to wait until after week 40 to go to the hospital for childbirth. However, if there are signs of labor, you should go to the hospital in time, wait for childbirth, and pay attention to enhanced monitoring during the process. There is no need to intervene with the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck, nor is there any way to proactively intervene with it.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can ultrasound detect nuchal cord?

During the color ultrasound examination, it is possible to detect whether the fetus is experiencing umbilical cord entanglement around the neck. If the ultrasound shows a V-shaped echo around the fetal neck, it generally indicates that the umbilical cord is wrapped around once. If the echo is W-shaped, then the cord is wrapped twice. If the cord is wrapped multiple times, the echo will appear serrated. Additionally, the color ultrasound can also assess the blood flow around the umbilicus to determine the presence of umbilical cord entanglement. If cord entanglement is detected, it is recommended to have regular ultrasound check-ups at the hospital to monitor the fetus's safety in the uterus.

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Written by Zhang Yin Xing
Obstetrics
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How to prevent umbilical cord entanglement in late pregnancy

There are no effective prevention methods for nuchal cord, which is the most common form of umbilical cord entanglement where the cord wraps around the fetus's neck, limbs, or trunk. Nuchal cord occurs in 90% of these cases, frequently involving the cord wrapping around the neck once. This phenomenon can be observed in 20% of deliveries and is associated with factors such as an overly long umbilical cord, a small fetus, excessive amniotic fluid, and frequent fetal movements. An excessively long umbilical cord is mostly a physiological occurrence since the cord floats in the amniotic fluid and its actual length cannot be accurately measured, with no effective methods to prevent its occurrence. Excessive amniotic fluid and a small fetus are linked to certain pregnancy complications, such as diabetes-induced polyhydramnios and restricted fetal growth. Actively controlling blood sugar during pregnancy can prevent such issues. Frequent fetal movements are physiological for some pregnant women. Women who experience more frequent fetal movements throughout pregnancy are likely to encounter nuchal cord. Clinically, nuchal cord does not require special management unless it leads to obstructions in fetal descent, fetal distress, or variations in fetal heart rate. It does not impact delivery or fetal development.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Is climbing stairs useful for umbilical cord around the neck?

When there is a situation with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck, pregnant women should absolutely not blindly try certain exercises, such as climbing stairs, which actually have no scientific basis. Doing so not only fails to alleviate the condition of the cord being wrapped but might even increase the baby's activity, leading to a more serious entanglement. During the mid-stage of pregnancy, pregnant women should pay attention to rest, avoid exhaustion, and sometimes the baby's movements might even resolve the wrapping of the cord. Therefore, it is important to take scientific care during pregnancy and follow the doctor's advice, and not to engage in any exercises on one's own.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
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What should I do if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck?

Umbilical cord entanglement around the neck is a common complication for pregnant women. It mostly occurs with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck once, accounting for about 20% of all deliveries, which means that 1 in 5 pregnant women will experience this condition. The main danger of umbilical cord entanglement is that if the cord is wrapped tightly or is short, it can pull on the cord during pregnancy or delivery, causing the blood vessels within the cord to constrict. This constriction can decrease the fetal blood circulation, leading to fetal distress, which is characterized by changes in fetal heart rate and fetal movement. Therefore, if there is umbilical cord entanglement, it is important to enhance monitoring during pregnancy and delivery. If fetal distress or fetal hypoxia occurs, a cesarean section should be performed promptly to terminate the pregnancy.