Pregnancy is a time of amazing changes in a woman’s body. When pregnant, the mother must adapt and compensate for many postural and hormonal changes. Gentle, prenatal chiropractic care helps to balance the mother’s pelvis and spine and allow for an easier birthing process. When the mother’s body is in balance, her growing child can develop in a healthier environment.
Potential benefits for women receiving chiropractic care when pregnant include:
Relief of back, neck, pelvic, and joint pain
Controlling vomiting and morning sickness
Increasing the likelihood of a full-term delivery
Reduction in amount of time for labor and delivery
Reduction in cesarean sections and breech deliveries
Reduction in pain during labor
Safe and effective nutritional and exercise recommendations
For more information on pregnancy and chiropractic please visit the ICPA website
Dr. Hinkle is Certified in the Webster Technique.
What is it?
The Webster Technique helps to correct sacral misalignment and balance pelvic muscles and ligaments, which in turn removes torsion to the woman’s uterus, its resulting constraint to the baby, and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth. Pregnant moms with babies in the breech position visit chiropractors for this safe and gentle technique. The Webster Technique increases the space around the uterus giving the baby the room it needs to turn. Even expecting moms that are progressing well in their pregnancy can benefit from the Webster Technique because it helps to bring mom to optimal health as well as optimize the health and space for baby!
How does it work?
The chiropractor will give an adjustment and ligament massage to the pregnant mother. This process relieves muscle tension and bony misalignments in the mother’s pelvis that may be stopping the baby from turning “head down” or having as much room as possible to move during delivery. The technique is used to relieve the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint that may lead to cesarean section delivery.
Why would a pregnant mom choose this technique?
Unlike an external cephalic version (ECV) performed by an obstetrician under strong medications, the Webster Technique is natural, uses no drugs, and is gentle to the mother and child. Most importantly, the technique facilitates the correct environment to allow the birth process to proceed as nature intended.
How effective is it?
Research has repeatedly found that moms who use the Webster Technique have an 85% success rate of allowing a breech baby to turn compared to the 35% success rate with an ECV. Some moms only need one adjustment before their baby turns head down!
References:
1. Peter, RP. “Back Pain During Pregnancy and Labor.” JMPT. 14(2) 1991. 116-118.
2. www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/chiropracticcare.html
3. Kunau, P. “Application of the Webster Technique In-Utero Constraint Technique.” J. Clin. Chiro Ped. 3(1). 1998. 211-216.
