You have probably heard about the Webster Technique -- the chiropractic technique used in pregnancy to help optimize the mother's pelvic function.  It was featured on the Learning Channel's hit series "A Baby Story." You have read about it in Mothering magazine and Midwifery Today. You have probably read about it on the Internet, all over Facebook, and in Pregnancy Chat rooms. You have heard it talked about by birthing professionals, mothers, other practitioners. and friends. But what is it?

A chiropractic adjustment called the Webster technique is a specific sacral adjustment to help facilitate the mother's pelvic alignment and nerve system function. This in turn balances pelvic muscles and ligaments, reduces torsion to the uterus and offers a greater potential for optimal fetal positioning.

Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of your body’s ability to be healthy. This is accomplished by working with the nervous system–the communication system between your brain and body. Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct spinal, pelvic and cranial misalignments (subluxations). When misaligned, these structures create an imbalance in surrounding muscles and ligaments. Additionally, the resulting nerve system stress may affect the body’s ability to function optimally.

Sacral misalignment causes the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their aberrant effect on the uterus which may prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. The Webster Technique is defined as a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates neuro-biomechanical function in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. In a theoretical and clinical framework, this may reduce aberrant tension in the uterus, a cause of intrauterine constraint of the baby and allow for optimal fetal positioning.

The Obstetric literature has determined that correct positioning of the baby in-utero affects birth outcome and decreases the potential for undue stress to the baby’s developing spine and nerve system. Obstetric literature has also determined the importance of pelvic neuro-biomechanics for the prevention of dystocia. Chiropractic literature has determined the significance of sacral adjusting in normalizing pelvic neuro-biomenchanics.

It is therfore considered prudent that this specific sacral analysis and adjusting be used throughout pregnancy to detect, sacral imbalance and optimize pelvic neuro-biomechanics in alleviation of sacral subluxation of the mother. Because of the particular adaptations from the increase of hormones, weight gain and postural adaptations pregnant mothers have a greater chance of sacral subluxation and neuro-biomechanical imbalance than the general population. 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.

The Webster technique protocol includes:

Step One: Sacral analysis and adjustment for SI Joint dysfunction/ Sacral Subluxation.

Step Two: Soft tissue contact of the opposite round ligament for the tension differed by the sacral rotation.