Jeanne Ohm, DC
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 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 a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated
The theoretical and clinical framework of the Webster Technique in the care of pregnant women is that sacral subluxation may contribute to difficult labor for the mother (i.e., dystocia). Dystocia is caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, baby mal-presentation and maternal emotions. The correction of sacral subluxation may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia.
This specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment is used throughout pregnancy, to detect imbalance and optimize maternal pelvic neuro-biomechanics. 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.
Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association developed this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function. The first pregnant mother he adjusted was presenting breech. After the adjustment, the baby turned into the vertex position. Dr. Webster noticed in subsequent breech presenting patients that their babies turned 95% of the time when he used this adjustment. Since his passing in 1997, there has been a high reported success rate of babies optimizing their positions from breech, posterior and even transverse. It has also been utilized in mothers carrying twins. At no time should this technique be interpreted as an obstetric, "breech turning" technique.
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association offers classes of instruction and issues its qualified candidates a Certificate of Proficiency in the Webster Technique. Only those doctors on our site maintain recognized certification status with the ICPA.