Chiropractic for Pregnancy: The Webster Technique

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis & adjustment that reduces nervous system stress, balances pelvic bones, muscles & ligaments, and optimizes the mother’s pelvic function in pregnancy and birth. This technique was developed in the 1980’s by Dr. Larry Webster as a response to his daughter’s long and difficult labor. He assessed what contributed to her dystocia and what factors could be manipulated to ease the process. Dystocia is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “Difficult birth, typically caused by a large or awkwardly positioned fetus, by smallness of the maternal pelvis, or by failure of the uterus and cervix to contract and expand normally.” Dr. Webster developed his technique to address these three factors through chiropractic care.

The first aspect he addressed is the power of the maternal uterus and cervix. He focused his efforts on the innervation of those structures. The uterus and cervix are both innervated by branches of the inferior hypogastric plexus. This network of nerves originates at the lower lumbar and sacral spine, and any pregnant woman will tell you that there is a lot of movement and pressure in that region during pregnancy, especially as she is preparing for delivery. Dr. Webster found that adjusting the sacrum can relieve the pressure on these nerves so they can fire effectively, giving more power to the uterus to contract and the cervix to thin and expand.

The second aspect is the maternal pelvis. While the physical size of the bony pelvis cannot be changed, the alignment of the bones can be adjusted to maximize the space within. The pelvis is comprised of three bones: two pelvic bones and the sacrum. These joints typically have limited movement because of the strong ligaments that support them. During pregnancy the hormone Relaxin, which increases ligament laxity, is elevated in the body to allow for the growth of the baby and for greater movement of the pelvis for delivery. As a mom’s belly expands, the ligaments and muscles supporting the baby stretch, but if unequal strain is put on them, they can spasm, holding the pelvis in an abnormal position. Not only is this uncomfortable for mom, but it also affects the shape of the pelvis opening, limiting the space available for the baby to move through during delivery.

This brings us to the third aspect- the position of the baby. Most babies move into a vertical position around 28-30 weeks, and by 32 weeks babies often move to a head down position. If a baby does not move into the head down position, there is usually restriction within the uterus that is keeping the baby from turning. It is not safe for anyone besides an obstetrician to attempt to turn a baby, but a chiropractor can align the pelvic bones, release ligament tension, and reduce muscle tightness to restore optimal space in the mother’s pelvis for the baby to move more easily. The adjustments used do not contact the baby and only affect the position of the mother’s body. Past 34 weeks, there is limited space remaining in the uterus, making it difficult for the baby to move position drastically, so it is best to get the baby head down prior to that gestation.

The Webster technique should be used throughout pregnancy. Encouraging balance of the pelvis and ease of the nervous system from the very start of pregnancy can help diminish normal aches of pregnancy, help the body adapt to stress, improve posture, decrease labor time, and increase odds of a natural birth!