Chiropractic spinal and pelvic adjustments alleviate the commonplace discomforts of pregnancy such as back pain, hip pain, sciatica, and heartburn. The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic spinal adjustment to help facilitate a pregnant woman’s pelvic alignment, symmetry, and optimal nerve system function. This in turn balances pelvic muscles, tendons and ligaments, reduces torsion to the uterus, and thereby, offer a greater potential for optimal fetal positioning. Chiropractic adjustments also make the pelvis more resilient so that pelvic joints move more comfortably in labor for easier birthing.
Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association developed this chiropractic adjustment which is formally recognized as the “Webster Technique” (a gentle and effective method to restore proper pelvic balance and function and freeing subluxations to the sacrum of the mother and improve her comfort throughout pregnancy in preparation for a safer, easier birth). This Webster technique is helpful in encouraging babies to turn vertex into optimal fetal positioning on their own.
This is important because obstetric literature has determined that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affects birth outcome and decreases the potential for undue stress to the baby’s birthing experience. During the late stages of pregnancy, an innate intelligence that begins in utero communicates with the mother’s body and allows for the initiation of pre-programmed instincts to prepare for birth and life outside of the womb (encourage baby to turn head-down, or vertex, in what is considered an optimal position). When the baby is head down with the back of his head facing towards the front of mother’s body, there is decreased stress on his / her spine. Hence, it’s prudent that the Webster technique be applied to women throughout pregnancy to spot and mitigate any imbalances and optimize pelvic neuro-biomechanics.
It’s important to be mindful during pregnancy, hormonal levels in a woman’s body are heightened, weight is gained, and posture is altered. In sum a woman’s body experiences a “perfect storm” often which produces sacral (second to last bone of the spine) subluxation and pelvic imbalance. Subluxations can diminish overall nervous system function, thus disrupting the messages being received by the body from the brain, and by the brain from the body. As well as the messaging between mother and unborn baby. There are great benefits of chiropractic adjustments on all body functions. Pregnant women should have their spines evaluated and cared for regularly by a chiropractor throughout pregnancy, optimizing health benefits for both the mother and baby. The Webster Technique is most effective and may take several sessions to free subluxations and allow the mother’s system to adapt to its new way of being.
Breach Baby Position
When a pregnant mother comes in to visit a chiropractor because her baby is in the breach position, a chiropractor certified in the Webster technique has the knowledge and skill set needed to indirectly help the mother-to-be correct the baby breach presentation.
The Webster technique does not teach the chiropractor to treat the baby, on the contrary, the treatment technique is for the mother specifically. It is the intended expression of innate life force, the mother’s musculoskeletal re-alignment, freeing of spinal subluxation, improved spinal biomechanics, etc., from the technique that gives opportunity for the maximum expression of natural, nature driven, uncompromised expression of health. This ultimately translates into the baby’s full, maximum expression of life and health in-utero. Prompting the baby to turn towards the correct position, ready for delivery.
Dr. Kaminsky is Certified in the Webster technique helping the mother with facilitating a natural, healthy turning of the baby, into a correct downward position of the baby’s head, improving the chances of natural, vaginal childbirth.