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Chiropractic Webster Technique for Safer Birth for Your Baby

A pregnant woman in a striped cardigan and black leggings

Hello and Welcome. I am Dr. Katie Sleigh of Sleigh Family Chiropractic in Arlington Heights, IL. I am a Webster Technique certified chiropractor. Today, I would like to discuss this technique with which I hope to help you have a safer birth.

The Webster Technique is:

“a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system, facilitates balance in the pelvic muscles and ligaments, which in turn reduces torsion on the woman’s uterus, alleviating intrauterine constraint, and optimizing fetal positioning.” (The Webster Technique Defined “http://www.icpa4kids.com/webster_technique.htm)

As a pregnant woman you will go through many rapid changes in your body.

– Changes in hormones leads to ligament laxity.
– Your growing belly changes your center of gravity leading to an altered posture.
– Weight gain puts more stress on your pelvis, sacrum and low back joints.

Because of all of these changes as a pregnant woman you are likely to experience misalignments in the low back, pelvis, and sacrum. These misalignments make you more likely to have common aches and pains such as headaches, upper back pain, lower back pain, pelvic pain, hip pain, and leg pain.

The ligaments that support your uterus are closely related to the pelvis, sacrum, and low back. Most specifically, when the sacrum is rotated it torques (or twists) on the ligaments that support the uterus. The size and shape of the uterus will be affected when the ligaments are torqued due to misalignment. This is commonly referred to as intrauterine constraint. This constraint can affect the development and positioning of your baby.

Your baby may not be able to achieve its proper head down or vertex position in preparation for labor and delivery without the proper space. There can be an increased likelihood for interventions with possible detrimental effects during labor and delivery if your baby experiences improper positioning. Interventions may include the use of Pitocin or an epidural, forceps extraction, vacuum extraction, or cesarean section. All of which are more likely avoided if the baby is in the vertex position.

A 2002 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed an 82% success rate of babies turning to the vertex position when doctors of chiropractic used the Webster Technique.

The alignment of the pelvis and sacrum also affects the size and shape of the pelvic outlet where the baby emerges from during delivery. Optimal space within the pelvic outlet is allowed when the pelvis and sacrum are properly aligned.

There is symmetry in the pelvic outlet as shown in this picture. It depicts the optimal size and shape for delivery. Now, compare that to this second picture which shows a misaligned pelvis model. There is no longer symmetry and the size is affected. This may make the delivery process more difficult.

Dr. Jeanne Ohm did a study to determine the affects of chiropractic care on labor times. She found that first time mothers who had chiropractic care during their pregnancy had a 24% decrease in labor times while mothers who were on their 2nd pregnancy or more had a decrease in their labor times of 39%.

I have a special focus on working with pregnant women and use the Webster Technique to analyze and adjust them. I have worked with many women to help them have safer pregnancies and deliveries.

Pregnant women report to me that they sleep better and have much less pain following adjustments using the Webster Technique. Read more about the Webster Technique on our web site. The address is shown below on your screen. Call today to schedule an appointment to meet with me, Dr. Katie Sleigh, your pregnancy health advocate in Arlington Heights, IL.

Sleigh Family Chiropractic

At Sleigh Family Chiropractic, we focus on restoring your body to health naturally. We provide family chiropractic care to treat your entire family. We have special certifications as pediatric chiropractors and prenatal chiropractors. With an evaluation we are able to make a spinal care plan that will focus on a balanced nervous system along with healthy lifestyle. As a leading chiropractic clinic we treat patients with back pain, neck pain, leg pain, and other painful conditions.

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