The Webster Chiropractic Technique

Chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy is beneficial for both mom and baby.  The more chiropractic has been researched, the more we are discovering the benefits associated with chiropractic care and pregnancy.  The Webster Technique is a specific technique that is uniquely designed to help pregnant women have a healthier pregnancy and safer delivery.

Breech Babies

By the 34th week of pregnancy, most babies are face down in the right position for delivery.  However, about 4% of all babies are in what is called the breech position, when they are still head up and feet down.  Although babies can still turn before birth, the chances of a baby spontaneously converting to the proper birthing position is low, especially that late in pregnancy.  A baby that is breech after the 34th week mark is one of the most common reasons for cesarean sections.  About 13% of all C-sections performed are due to a breech baby.  While birth interventions such as C-sections can be a good thing when medically necessary, there are other, less invasive options for turning a breech baby.  Chiropractic care from a Charlotte chiropractor who is experienced in the Webster Technique is a safe, noninvasive option that has had great success in helping babies get into the correct birthing position prior to delivery, even after the 34th week of pregnancy.

What Is the Webster Technique?

Spinal subluxations, or misalignments, can pose a problem for pregnant women.  When vertebrae in the spine are twisted, turned, or out of place, they can make labor and delivery a more difficult process.  Spinal subluxations may also play a part in the baby’s positioning, causing your baby to be breech instead of in the typical head down position for birth.  The Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Larry Webster after he witnessed his daughter’s very long and difficult birth.  This personal experience led him to develop a specific chiropractic adjustment, now known as the Webster Technique, that addresses spinal misalignments throughout pregnancy for an easier and safer birthing experience.  After implementing this technique, Dr. Webster began to notice that babies who were breech would turn into the vertex position before birth with regular chiropractic care.  Other chiropractors also had the same results.  Thus the Webster Technique became a leading, noninvasive method for encouraging breech babies to obtain optimal positioning before birth, benefiting both the babies and their moms.

What Are the Benefits of the Webster Technique?

The primary goal of the Webster Technique is to remove spinal subluxations in the mom, which relieves pressure on the uterus so baby has more room to move.  Gentle adjustments of the sacrum are performed to ensure proper alignment with the pelvis which relieves tension on the uterus.  This encourages the baby to achieve proper head-down positioning prior to birth so mothers don’t have to resort to more invasive procedures such as C-sections.  For moms, C-sections require a longer, harder recovery, which can be difficult when caring for a newborn.  For babies, C-sections can also be a traumatic experience and can lead to both short-term and long-term health concerns. There are many proven benefits of giving birth the natural way, such as a faster recovery for mom and fewer risks of developing health issues immediately after birth and later in life.  Charlotte chiropractor Dr. Grant Lisetor implements the Webster Technique for mothers with babies in the breech position, and more often than not, helps mothers and babies avoid C-sections. Avoid unnecessary stress on mom and baby with natural and safe chiropractic care.

The Problem with Birth Interventions

Birth interventions such as forceps, vacuums, or cesarean section deliveries can be a good thing when absolutely necessary.  But in recent years, the rate of cesareans has gone up from 4.5% in 1965 when records were first kept to 33% today!  While we want our baby to be safe, of course, there are disadvantages to birth interventions.  Research has shown that babies born by C-section are more likely to develop health problems later in life.  Using birth interventions or even medication to speed up the birthing process led to babies who were more likely to develop jaundice or encounter feeding problems within the first 28 days after birth.  Babies born by C-section also had lower temperatures that required additional medical intervention to stabilize.  By the age of five, children born by C-section had a higher risk of being obese or developing health concerns such as diabetes.  Pneumonia, bronchitis, and eczema are also more common among children born through cesarean sections.  While a C-section is sometimes absolutely necessary for the health of the baby and mother overall, it can be beneficial to first try other methods to avoid this intervention.  More often than not, birth interventions are used simply out of convenience rather than medical necessity. Before turning to birth interventions and in preparation for the best birth experience possible, consider chiropractic care.  Dr. Grant Lisetor of Greater Life Chiropractic has had much success in helping women avoid birthing interventions through the use of chiropractic care and the Webster Technique.

The Success of the Webster Technique for Pregnant Women

The latest research has shown that the Webster Technique has around an 82% success rate for turning a breech baby into the correct vertex position!  One specific case study saw a success rate as high as 92% when using the Webster Technique. In another study, 102 of 112 breech babies converted to the correct position before birth!  While the results are very encouraging, it’s important to note once more that our goal for prenatal chiropractic care is not to flip babies into the correct position. Our aim is to ensure that mom and baby are as healthy as possible. Situations can occur that will impact the ability for the baby to go into the vertex position, including the umbilical cord wrapping around babies neck, uterine paralysis,  genetically abnormal pelvic shape, and other rare conditions/situations.

If you are an expectant mother, you should highly consider adding prenatal chiropractic care in to your health routine. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Grant Lisetor of Greater Life Chiropractic for a natural and safe method for both mom and baby.  Dr. Lisetor wants nothing more than for you to experience a health and natural labor and delivery experience.

Sources

About the Webster Technique. https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/

Borggren, C. L. (2007). Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 6(2): 70–74. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcme.2007.04.004

Choahan, N.  “Birth interventions ‘negatively impact child’s long-term health”. The Sydney Morning Herald, Mar. 2018. https://www.smh.com.au/national/birth-interventions-negatively-impact-child-s-long-term-health-20180325-p4z66i.html

Pistolese, R. “The Webster Technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications.” Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy.” 2002 Jul-Aug; 25(6): E1-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12183701.