What is the Webster Technique?
The Ultimate Guide to Chiropractic & Pregnancy.
There are many techniques used within the chiropractic profession. However, none has been repeatedly demonstrated to be as beneficial and effective for pregnant women as the Webster Technique. This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about this amazing technique and its many benefits for you and your little bundle of joy!
What is the Webster Technique?
The Webster Technique is a chiropractic method specifically designed for pregnant women. When used throughout pregnancy, it helps optimize the positioning of your pelvis/sacrum to prepare you for labor and delivery. This technique allows the sacrum to re-align into an optimized, natural position, allowing your baby to move into the proper birthing position naturally.
Using this technique during pregnancy increases the likelihood of having a positive outcome when your body and baby are ready for delivery. In addition to providing an ideal growing environment for your baby, the Webster Technique also helps relieve common pregnancy aches and pains, such as lower back and sciatic pain.
What Areas of the Body Does the Webster Technique Focus on?
A Webster-certified chiropractor primarily focuses on the pelvis, specifically the sacrum. The sacrum is shaped like an upside-down triangle, with the top slightly curved forward. It acts as the “cornerstone” of the back portion of the pelvis, meaning that it can easily become misaligned and increase pressure/tension on your nervous system and body.
But we aren’t just working on the bones and joints within the pelvis. Here is a quick outline of which structures are affected by and corrected with the Webster Technique:
- Sacrum (the bony part/”tailbone” part of the pelvis – on the back side of the body)
- Piriformis Muscle (the glute/”butt” muscle – back side of the pelvis)
- Sacrotuberous Ligament (back side of the pelvis, supports the sacrum)
- Pubic Symphysis (the bony part of the pelvis – front side of the body)
- Iliopsoas Muscle (hip flexor/muscle – front side of the body)
- Round Ligament (front side of the body, supports the uterus)
At this point, some of you may be wondering,
“But, wait! If I’m pregnant, how will you work on the structures on the back side of my body? Don’t I have to be lying on my stomach for that?”
Not to worry! A Webster Certified chiropractor will utilize specialized pregnancy pillows expertly designed to support and stabilize your belly as your baby grows. This allows you to comfortably and safely lie on your stomach throughout care.
What the Webster Technique is NOT…
Many believe the Webster Technique will turn or flip a breech baby to a head-down position. And, of course, by optimizing the natural physiology of the pelvis/sacrum and their supporting structures, the baby can achieve optimal positioning within the womb (which may include being head-side down). However, in no way are we “flipping” the baby or performing any ECV (External Cephalic Version), which is a procedure performed by an OB or provider licensed to do so. Instead, the Webster Technique aims to create space for your baby to naturally move into the optimal birthing position.
What are the Main Benefits of the Webster Technique?
While there are many great reasons to see a prenatal chiropractor during pregnancy, the Webster Technique is arguably the most important. In addition to maximizing space in your uterus to supporting optimal positioning for your baby, the Webster Technique helps reduce stress in the nervous system, promotes a healthier labor with fewer interventions, and supports a more comfortable pregnancy. Here are five of the main benefits of the Webster Technique:
- Supports optimal positioning of your baby for birth. The Webster Technique supports your body’s natural process of helping your baby assume a head-down position by properly aligning your sacrum and pelvis.
- Maximizes baby’s space in your uterus. The Webster’s Technique relieves tension and adjusts the structure of your pelvis and sacrum, allowing for maximum space for your baby to move more freely and re-orient themselves into an ideal birthing position.
- Easier labor with fewer interventions. In studies, moms who received Webster Technique chiropractic adjustments throughout their pregnancy experienced a 25-31% reduction in average labor time. It also reduced the need for Cesarean sections, epidurals, episiotomies, vacuum extractions, forceps, and other birth interventions.
- Proper development and function of the nervous system. Your nervous system is the highest form of communication, connecting all systems within the body, including your reproductive system. The Webster Technique relieves tension and blockages, and helps promote healthy communication from the nervous system to the rest of your body.
- A more comfortable pregnancy. The Webster Technique encourages a balanced nervous system, spinal cord alignment, and optimal position of the sacrum, pelvis, and hips. It helps relieve neck, back, and joint pain increases oxygen and blood flow, reduces nausea, minimizes pain during labor, and can even help with recovery and a reduction in postpartum depression.
When Should I Begin the Webster Technique During Pregnancy?
In our office, we begin the Webster Technique as soon as you have confirmed the fantastic news that you are expecting a bundle of joy (or two or three…)! We never want to wait until things “go wrong” and become misaligned, increasing the tension within our nervous system and overall body. By taking a proactive approach, we use this specialized technique to gently correct misalignments within the sacrum/pelvis, relax and lengthen supporting muscles and ligaments, and optimize critical structures for Baby’s growth and development.
That said, the Webster Technique can be beneficial at any point during pregnancy. Many women begin sometime during their second or third trimesters. It can even be helpful in the final weeks leading up to labor.
How Can I Find a Webster-certified Chiropractor Near Me?
The easiest way to find a certified chiropractor in your area is by visiting the ICPA website. This organization has been the leader in Webster Technique education and support for multiple decades. On their website, you can find certified providers in your area who can provide skill sets that have been rigorously tested and approved to help you and your new little one thrive!
About Well Family Chiropractic
At Well Family Chiropractic, our goal is to educate, empower, and adjust families toward a life of natural health through chiropractic care. Our office is focused on pediatrics, pregnancy, and family care. Our prenatal chiropractors are Webster Certified and have special training to support your body’s natural process throughout your pregnancy. We can help prepare your body for labor, support a safe birth for both you and baby, and soothe pregnancy symptoms such as joint pain, discomfort, and even nausea. Our care is gentle and specific, ensuring a comfortable and relaxed adjustment.
Our office is located in Mequon, and we serve surrounding communities such as Cedarburg, Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Germantown, and the Milwaukee North Shore (Bayside, River Hills, Glendale, Fox Point, Whitefish Bay, and Shorewood).
If you’re interested in chiropractic care for your child, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or to schedule your first visit.
