Webster Technique: Chiropractic during Pregnancy

Understanding the birth process

There are a few important facts to understand about birth to fully grasp the benefits of Webster technique and chiropractic care for the pregnant person.

#1 - The baby knows how to be born.

All babies have the innate intelligence of knowing how to be born. But if their environment is not ideal, they will have trouble initiating labor and moving properly throughout pregnancy, labor, and birth.

#2 - Uterine contractions have a specific purpose.

The uterus is made up of several layers of muscle that move in different directions. During labor, the uterus contracts and relaxes in different areas at the same time to assist the baby’s rotation through the birth canal. To achieve this rotation, the uterus contracts in a clockwise motion.

#3 - The baby will go where there is the most room.

Think of the uterus like a balloon filled with water. The baby will always go to the area of the uterus where there is more room.

#4 - Oxytocin (the love hormone) is what stimulates contractions…

…and is most easily produced when the mother is in a low-stress environment. When there is interference in the nervous system either inhibiting the oxytocin release or keeping the mother in a sympathetic (fight or flight) state, there may be difficulty initiating or facilitating labor. With a clear nervous system, her body will be able to recognize the safety of her environment and facilitate the release of oxytocin quicker and easier.

Nervous system coordinates all movement

Our bodies know how to complete all necessary functions. It has the blueprints and the communication pathways. But when there are interferences in the system (stress, tension, imbalance, etc) there will be issues with the communication. Chiropractors work to remove the interference in all bodies, improving communication within the body’s systems, which will in turn allow muscles to relax, motion to be restored, and pain to reduce. In pregnancy, this is extra important because when baby decides it’s time to be born, there is a dance that needs to occur between the baby and the mother’s body. Without interference to her communication systems, this dance can be much smoother, baby can move into the right positions easier, and labor can be shorter and less painful. There is a higher likelihood of a vaginal and unmedicated birth in mothers who are adjusted throughout their pregnancy as well as an improvement in all birth outcomes.

Williams Obstetrics, the leading text on obstetrics and gynecology, lists 3 main components for a smoother birth for mother and baby:

Power…

relates to the nervous system. All muscle function and coordination is facilitated by the nervous system. Think of the nervous system like the electrical power in a house. If there is a blown fuse, certain areas of the house won’t receive the power necessary for lights to turn on or appliances to work. Chiropractic adjustments remove inference to this system allowing information to transmit more freely to the muscles and instinctive movements of the mother, resulting in a better coordination of contractions in labor.

Passage…

refers to the birth canal, which is greatly impacted by the shape of the mothers pelvis. Using Webster technique, which includes adjustments to the sacrum and reducing tension in the surrounding muscles and ligaments, we are able to improve motion and space in the pelvis, giving baby more room to move and turn during pregnancy and birth.

Passenger…

refers to the baby, who has to move with and within the mother’s pelvis to be born. Babies must have the space and assisted muscle coordination from the mother to rotate clockwise to move their head through the birth canal and then rotate back to fit the shoulders out. If the uterine contractions are not occuring to facilitate this motion or if the space within the pelvis is decreased due to fixation in the sacrum or ligaments, the baby is unable to move as they need to. When the mother’s nervous system is functioning optimally and her pelvis is balanced and free of restriction, the inherent movements of the baby are positively affected.

What the technique looks like

A Webster certified chiropractor will assess for restriction in the sacrum and release tension in the ligaments and muscles affecting pelvic balance. If necessary, we adjust pubic symphysis as it can become elevated on one side. An important component of Webster technique is gently releasing tension in the round ligament. This is the ligament responsible for positioning the uterus within the pelvic bowl. If there is tension in one or both ligaments, there will be a change in shape in the uterus affecting the positioning and movements of the baby.

How to find Webster Certified Chiropractor near you:

Visit icpa4kids.com and search your location in their directory. You can click on the “Find and ICPA Chiropractor” button on their homepage.