The Webster Technique for Breech Presentation

Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of your body’s ability to be healthy.  This is accomplished by working with the nervous system—the conduit of intelligence between your brain and body.  Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct subluxations (misalignments) of the individual spinal bones.  When subluxated, these bones vertebra cause dysfunction in the spinal cord and the spinal nerves causing malfunction in any part of the body.

One such dysfunction may be the tightening of pelvic muscles and ligaments producing uterine constraint.  It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus which prevent the baby from comfortably assuming the vertex position.  The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment used to correct subluxations in the pregnant mother’s sacrum and pelvis.  This balances the mother’s pelvic muscles and ligaments, providing the physiological environment necessary for optimal baby positioning.

Dr. Larry Webster

The Founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, developed this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic structure and function for pregnant mothers.  In expectant mothers presenting breech, there has been a 75-95% reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal vertex position.  Most commonly known for its success in turning breech babies, any position of the baby other than vertex may indicate the presence of subluxation and in-utero constraint.

It has been strongly recommended by doctors trained in the Webster techniques that the specific analysis and adjustment of the sacrum, pelvis, muscles and ligaments be used throughout pregnancy to detect subluxations and prevent in-utero constraint.  If referring for a mal-presentation when chiropractic care has not been received throughout the pregnancy, the Webster Technique works best when performed prior to 36 weeks gestation.  We have had babies turn after 36 weeks, but the success rate goes down as the baby gets bigger and has less room to move.

Because of the effect the chiropractic adjustment has on all body functions, all pregnant mothers should have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimizing health potential for themselves and their developing baby.  Chiropractic care from conception and continued after birth for both mother and child has given many families an opportunity for greater health.

Survey of Webster Technique Chiropractors – http://www.chiro.org/pediatrics/ABSTRACTS/The_Webster_Technique.shtml

What do Pregnancy, the Olympics, and the NFL have in common?

Pregnancy and delivery are at the top of the list for emotional, chemical, and mechanical stresses a woman will be exposed to. Dysfunction and the inability of the body to adapt can lead to complications that may require more surgical procedures that have significantly longer healing periods after delivery.

The nervous system is the command and control pathway for the brain. All functions are directly related to the ability of the body to feel and adapt to stimuli that are presented through the nervous system. The brain sends out a signal to the area of concern to change the reaction to that specific problem.

At Palmer Chiropractic, we do a complete history and a physical exam that tests for balance and symmetry while looking for areas of concern that can be corrected by an adjustment. An adjustment to the spine and or pelvis can increase the ability of the body to adapt to events to come.  Through our clinical observations with pregnant patients at Palmer Chiropractic, keeping the spine and pelvis in balance has the same effect that we’ve seen in Olympic Athletes and NFL players. Performance is increased with a greater ability to adapt to unforeseen stresses.

Currently the United States Olympic Team employs multiple chiropractors to monitor and correct imbalance in its top atheles (http://www.teamusa.org/resources/usoc-sport-performance/sports-medicine/clinics-staff ).  All but one NFL team employs one or more chiropractors to keep their atheles on the field and perform at an optimum level (http://www.profootballchiros.com/chiropractors/chiropractic-roster-by-team/). With all of these top performers getting this type of care to enhance their performance, has your Obstetrician suggested chiropractic care to you to enhance your possibility for a safer and more natural birth process?

Through our research we found these link to various articles and studies:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/chiropracticcare.html – No known contra indication to seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647084/ – Successful relief under chiropractic care

http://www.naturalpregnancynaturalbaby.com/2010/03/06/more-research-shows-chiropractic-can-help-with-breech-births/ – Chiropractic breech technique – Webster Technique

http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/first-trimester/qa/chiropractor-while-pregnant.aspx  – Safe and effective

Dr. Trace Palmer is a 3rd generation chiropractor and has served on the Olympic Team as a Team Chiropractor in the Sidney 2000 Games. He currently practices in Richmond Hill, Ga with his wife Nikki. Palmer Chiropractic is a family oriented practice focusing on enhancing the lives of all Richmond Hill residents. Dr. Trace is also experienced in using the Webster Technique in turning a breech baby.