Pregnancy & Chiropractic
Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time in a woman’s life but it can also be very uncomfortable and even painful. Back and hip pain, sciatica, and heartburn are a few of the more common complaints. Chiropractic adjustments utilizing the Webster Technique can help resolve or reduce many of these pregnancy discomforts and more by helping to stabilize the spine and pelvis. This sort of stabilization helps the uterus lay more symmetrically in the body and, as a result, leads to optimal fetal positioning. Regular adjustments can help maintain pelvic joint flexibility, prevent babies from presenting breech, and ease labor and delivery.
Subluxations, Pregnancy, and Fetal Positioning
While it’s true that anyone can develop a subluxation (misalignment), they are very common among pregnant women due to the way the female body prepares itself for pregnancy and childbirth. The increased hormones, weight gain, and postural changes all put expectant mothers are greater risk of pelvic and sacral subluxation.Webster’s Technique was developed by Larry Webster, DC in the late 1970’s. Dr. Webster noticed a correlation between subluxations of the sacral and pelvic bones and abnormal fetal positioning, including breech presentations, and he set out to find a way to correct these subluxations. The result was what we know today as the Webster Technique.Webster’s gentle prenatal chiropractic adjustment techniques are now used all around the world to restore movement and bring alignment to the sacrum. This alignment helps babies turn themselves head down and into optimal birthing position.
Dr. Londee Zink of Lifted Chiropractic is certified in the Webster Technique and has found it to be an extremely effective way to relieve many low back, pelvic, and SI joint complaints in pregnant mommas.
History of Webster’s Technique
Webster’s Technique was discovered by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. Dr. Webster found the adjustment to be a safe way to restore pelvic balance and function. His research was originally directed at correcting sacral misalignment in pregnant women in order to ease pregnancy and childbirth, and to help breech babies naturally reposition themselves head down. However, the technique has proven to be very effective at relieving back pain, hip pain, sciatica, and heartburn even in non-pregnant individuals.
Why do chiropractic techniques like the Webster Technique work?
It comes down to anatomy. The uterus is attached to the pelvis and sacrum with ligaments behind, in front, and on the sides. As the uterus and baby increase in size and the hormone relaxin relaxes soft tissues, the sacrum and pelvic bones shift and can become easily subluxated. Add to this situation changed, and possibly improper, posture, different sleeping positions, and slips due to balance problems and these ligaments can be easily pulled out of place. When that happens, the uterus can be made tense and too tight for the baby to move into the correct position for birth. Webster’s Technique releases this tension and frees the baby to move into the necessary head-down position. Unlike medical doctors who try to “turn” a breech baby by putting pressure on the baby, Webster’s Technique does not put any force on the baby directly. It simply helps create the ideal environment for the baby to move him or herself into optimal position by enhancing normal pelvic positioning and function.
How Webster’s Technique Helps Throughout Pregnancy
Regular adjustments using the Webster Technique ensure normal pelvic function throughout the entire pregnancy even as the body adapts and changes to accommodate an expanding uterus and a growing baby. Regular visits with a chiropractor trained in Webster’s Technique, like Dr. Londee Zink can help prevent problems like malpositioning and help the body prepare for labor and delivery. We highly recommend Webster’s Technique throughout the pregnancy to facilitate normal pelvic and uterine function from conception to delivery. It is a perfectly safe and gentle way to maintain pelvic health and function without posing any risk to the developing baby.
If you have any questions about pregnancy and chiropractic or would like to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Dr. Londee at 970.367.7187. We look forward to talking with you and be on lookout for upcoming momma-2-be events coming in April!
