Hopefully you have already heard about the various ways that Chiropractic care can benefit you during and after pregnancy from our earlier blog, Chiropractic Prenatal and Postnatal Care. This blog is going to focus on one of the more well known prenatal Chiropractic treatments, the Webster Technique.

Chiropractic spinal and pelvic adjustments have been shown to reduce or resolve certain discomforts such as back pain, hip pain, sciatica, and heartburn during pregnancy. Chiropractic care can also help assume optimal fetal positioning by assisting and guiding the pelvis to be more symmetrical; which in turn helps the uterus to be more symmetrical. One of the most sought after aspects of prenatal Chiropractic care is the Webster Technique.

Dr. Larry Webster founded the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and he discovered the Webster Technique as a safe means to facilitate the mother’s pelvic alignment and optimal nerve system function. This also balances pelvic muscles and ligaments, which reduces torsion to the uterus.  When there is a misalignment in the pelvis, nerve flow can be affected and the muscles and ligaments around the pelvis can become tightened. The reduced nerve activity and tightened muscles can lead to baby mal-presentation and difficult labor for the mother. (ie., dystocia) The Webster Technique is aimed to assist in optimal repositioning when the baby is in the breech position.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported in the July/August 2002 issue an 82% success rate of babies turning vertex when doctors of chiropractic used the Webster Technique. Further, the results from the study suggest it may be beneficial to perform the Webster Technique, as soon as the 8th month of pregnancy, when a woman has a breech presentation.

The technique consists of an analysis and adjustment of the Sacrum and Sacroiliac joint in an effort to realign and maintain symmetry; improving both nerve and biomechanical function in the pelvis. To assess the need for Webster’s technique, the Doctor analyzes heel flexion to the buttocks and a restricted flexion will indicate the affected SI joint. The correcting adjustment is made with a diversified sacral adjustment depending on the patient. This adjustment will help restore nerve flow and begin to relax the muscles and ligaments; assisting in optimal positioning for the baby.

Hopefully this has served to give you some more information about how Prenatal Chiropractic care and the the Webster Technique can help you or friend in dealing with a baby in the breech position.

Sources:

Americanpregnancy.org

ICPA

Spinning Babies