We love working with babies, children, moms, and moms-to-be in our office. There is nothing more rewarding than helping a mom have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy, happy baby. Chiropractic is a safe and effective way to support a woman’s body during pregnancy by focusing on maintaining the alignment of the vertebrae and pelvis for optimal nerve flow to every organ and also helping to prevent possible complications from misalignment of the pelvis. In fact, it is vital to the normal physiological function of both the mother and baby in pregnancy and birth.

Any misalignment (subluxation) in the vertebral or cranial bone decreases nerve flow and creates imbalances of the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Misalignments of the sacrum create tightening and torsion of the pelvic muscles and ligaments. The increase in the levels of the hormone, Relaxin, in the last 3 months of pregnancy allows the ligaments of the body to soften and stretch so that the mother’s pelvis can spread allowing for an easier birth. But, as those ligaments spread, the spine, and especially the pelvis, can subluxate very easily. In addition, any change in the position of the bones of the pelvis alters the uterus ligament tension and changes the shape and tension within the uterus, as the uterus attaches to the body via ligaments at the back, front and sides. This torsion is called “in utero constraint”. In many cases, this prevents the baby from turning head down and causes difficulty for mom and baby that can interfere with natural birth and potentially lead to C-section.

THE WEBSTER TECHNIQUE

Breech presentation occurs in about 3% of full-term pregnancies. In general, at 28 weeks up to 25% babies are in the breech position, at 30 weeks up to 17% and at 32 weeks up to 11% babies are in the breech position (Williams Obstetrics). The Webster Technique is utilized to evaluate and correct these subluxations, reducing interference to the nervous system and balancing the expectant mother’s pelvic muscles and ligaments. This reduces torsion in the uterus and allows the baby to naturally engage in optimal, head down fetal positioning in preparation for birth. One study in the US reported a high rate of success (82%) in relieving the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint using the Webster Technique.

When successful, the Webster Technique avoids the costs and/or risks of external cephalic version, cesarean section, or vaginal trial of breech. In view of these findings, the Webster Technique deserves serious consideration in the health care management of expectant mothers exhibiting adverse fetal presentation (Pistolese 2002). Given that the current rate of C-section in the U.S is currently as high as one out of every 3 births, chiropractic care and the Webster Technique can be a tremendous value to mom and baby resulting in a faster, safer, natural birth. Studies show that this rate could be reduced if more women consulted a chiropractor early in their pregnancy for assistance in adjusting the spine, balancing pelvic structures and allowing the baby best possible position for a non-interventional birth.