The St. Francis Chiropractor to see - Chiropractor St. Francis

Webster Technique

"The baby’s turned!"

As the due date draws near, most babies have assumed a head-down position in the mother's uterus. If the baby hasn’t turned, there is a greater chance of a more difficult breech birth or risky Caesarean intervention.

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which in turn removes constraint to the woman's uterus and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.

Developed by the late Larry Webster, D.C., this chiropractic technique releases stress on the pregnant woman's pelvis, relaxing the uterus and surrounding ligaments and permitting the baby to turn naturally.

What is in-utero constraint

In-utero constraint literally means constraint within the uterus. It is a condition in which the uterus is not able to allow the fetus to present in an optimal position which may lead to a cesarean section (C-section). This can be due to many things, such as bones not being in their correct position, tight and overactive muscles, weak muscles and improper nerve messages and passage. More often than not, these are found in combination. Pelvic misalignment causes the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments producing constraint. It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus which prevent the baby from assuming the vertex position.

Successful Approach

The July/August 2002 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reports that 82% of chiropractors using the Webster Technique reported success.

Sometimes, using the Webster Technique the baby can turn in just one adjustment. But usually it takes between three to 10 visits over a several week period.

Because the Webster Technique relies on the inborn intelligence of the mother and baby, there is little risk. Correcting pelvic imbalances and reducing tension in the uterus gives the baby the room it needs to turn.