What is The Webster Technique?
Webster Technique is a critical component of prenatal chiropractic care that optimizes your body’s ability to thrive during pregnancy, labor and delivery. This is accomplished by working with the nervous system—the communication system between your brain and body. Chiropractors work to correct spinal, pelvic, and cranial misalignments (subluxations). When misaligned, these structures create an imbalance in surrounding muscles and ligaments. Additionally, the resulting nervous system stress may affect the body’s ability to function optimally.
The sacrum is a triangular pelvic bone connected to the coccyx aka tailbone. Sacral misalignment causes tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus which can prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. The Webster Technique is defined as a gentle, specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the sacrum and pelvis. It is aimed to reduce interference to the nervous system and restore pelvic balance resulting in improved function and quality of life throughout pregnancy and birth. The founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), Dr. Larry Webster, discovered this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers. In expectant mothers presenting breech, there has been a high reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal vertex position. This technique has been successfully used in women whose babies present transverse and posterior as well. It has also been successfully used with twins. Any position of the baby other than ROA may indicate the presence of sacral subluxation and therefore intrauterine constraint. This technique should never be interpreted as an obstetric, “breech turning” technique, rather a technique to restore pelvic balance.How the Webster Technique can affect birth outcomes
Birth outcomes are highly determined by the progression of labor and “failure to progress” (dystocia) is the leading reason for unplanned C-sections in the United States. Interference with normal progression to spontaneous delivery can be attributed to several labor abnormalities. William’s Obstetrics defines 3 reasons for why moms “fail to progress” during labor: abnormalities of expulsive forces (Power), abnormalities of the maternal bony pelvis (Passage) and abnormalities of presentation, position, or development of the fetus (Passenger). Abnormalities of expulsive forces (Power)
The primary function of the hollow, muscular uterus during labor is to expel the baby out of the body and that process is dependent on nerve innervations. If there is interference to the nervous system it can result in abnormalities of expulsive forces. This might look like a mom who is unable to sufficiently recruit voluntary muscles for optimal pushing or uncoordinated contractions of the uterine muscle fibers, which impedes effacement and dilation of the cervix. Chiropractic helps with this since the purpose of an adjustment is to reduce interference to the nervous system and balance the pelvis. Prenatal chiropractic adjustments and the Webster Technique, specifically, focus on regions of uterine nerve innervation including the broad ligament (origin of uterine nerves), the lower thoracic spine (sympathetic innervation to the uterus) and the sacrum (parasympathetic innervation to the uterus).Abnormalities of the maternal bony pelvis (Passage)
There are significant changes to a woman’s musculoskeletal structure that occur throughout pregnancy. Her center of gravity shifts forward and upward with gait compensation, which leads to posture destabilization, increased biomechanical load and strain on spinal structures. The resulting stress on the spine causes displacement or deformation of pelvic structures and diminishes the capacity of the pelvis during labor creating “failure to progress” during labor. Pelvic imbalance is the second cause of dystocia ‘Passage’, and it’s referred to by chiropractors as subluxation or misalignments. Subluxations in the pelvis are addressed through specific chiropractic adjustments and the Webster Technique with the goal of restoring balance and ease to the system.Abnormalities of presentation, position or development of the fetus (Passenger)
Abnormalities of presentation, position or development of the fetus are the third cause of dystocia ‘Passenger’ and are characterized by the effect pelvic alignment has on muscles and ligaments, which may affect baby positioning. Pelvic alignment during pregnancy and labor involves both the utero sacral and round ligaments, which are both composed of smooth muscle and connective tissues. Dysfunction of the sacrum can cause premature contractions and impaired physiological function of the uterus by changing the cervical position when there is an imbalance in these ligaments.Chiropractic adjustments and the Webster Technique restore balance in the pelvis by releasing tension and removing restriction from the pelvic joints, ligaments, and muscles. In turn, the uterus is free to function and move properly, which allows for appropriate labor progression, optimal fetal positioning, and positive birth outcomes. In Conclusion
To summarize, the theoretical and clinical framework of chiropractic in the care of pregnant women is that sacral subluxation may contribute to difficult labor for the mother. It is proposed that sacral misalignment may contribute to these 3 primary causes of dystocia via uterine nerve interference, pelvic misalignment and the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. The resulting tense muscles and ligaments and their aberrant effect on the uterus may prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. The correction of sacral subluxation via the Webster Technique may have a positive effect on the 3 causes of dystocia and should be included in every pregnant woman’s prenatal care. Webster Technique, however, can be used on any weight bearing individual as it is a sacral analysis and adjustment. It is strongly recommended by the ICPA instructors of this technique that this specific analysis and adjustment of the sacrum be used throughout pregnancy, to detect imbalance and optimize pelvic biomechanics in preparation for safer, easier births. Because of the effect the chiropractic adjustment has on all body functions by reducing nerve system stress, pregnant mothers should have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimizing health benefits for both the mother and baby. Dr. Kelli has received her Certification by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP). She is a Webster Technique certified Practitioner and a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, ICPA. (https://icpa4kids.com/parent-portal/)Learn more about how chiropractic affects the nervous system
Alcantara J, Nazarenko AL, Ohm J, Alcantara J. The Use of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and the RAND VSQ9 to Measure the Quality of Life and Visit-Specific Satisfaction of Pregnant Patients Under Chiropractic Care Utilizing the Webster Technique. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jan;24(1):90-98. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0162. Epub 2017 Dec 20. PMID: 29260894; PMCID: PMC5779240.Establishing and advancing the chiropractic family lifestyle [Internet]. ICPA. [cited 2022Jan15]. Available from: https://icpa4kids.com/research/publications/2018-2019/ “Perinatal Care with Webster Certification”. Ohm, Jeanne. Atlanta, Georgia December 1-2, 2018. Page(s) 18-33.