A mother’s spine and pelvis will undergo many changes to help compensate for and accommodate the growing baby, which will increase the risk of nerve interferences and subluxations occurring in her spine. These subluxations may adversely affect the baby’s physical and neurological development. Misalignments in the pelvis and lower spine region may compromise the pelvic opening, resulting in a less than perfect passage for the baby. Pelvic misalignments will also directly affect the surrounding muscles and ligaments causing an imbalance. This imbalance will affect the way in which the uterus is supported, disallowing it to enlarge symmetrically affecting the baby’s position inside (this is referred to ‘intrauterine constraint’).
As well as subluxations, intrauterine constraint can also affect the developing baby’s pelvis, spine and cranium, limit the baby’s movement in utero, and prevent the baby from getting into the best possible position ready for birth. This can lead to longer and more painful labour.
Altered weight bearing and movement patterns during pregnancy can place additional pressure on the muscles, ligaments, joints, discs and bones of a women’s spine and can uncover regions that are not working well. 50% of women experience significant levels of back or pelvic pain during their pregnancy. Research shows that chiropractic care may help to relieve these symptoms in up to 85% of pregnant women.
Research also shows that women experience an average 24% reduction in labour time with chiropractic care during pregnancy and a 33% reduction for those mothers who have given birth before. Helping the pelvis become more relaxed and mobile allows the joints to expand more freely during labour and settle more easily afterwards. This improves the ease of delivery, creating less stress and pressure on both the mother and baby.
Chiropractors adapt their techniques to accommodate the changes in the mother’s body shape and range of movement throughout all stages of pregnancy.
The Webster Technique – For Safer, Easier Births
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment approach that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates biomechanical balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. This has been shown to reduce the effects of intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.
Dr Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association developed this technique as a safe means to restore proper pelvic balance and function for pregnant mothers. In expectant mothers presenting breech, there has been a high reported success rate of the baby turning to the normal vertex position. This technique has been successfully used in women whose babies present transverse and posterior as well. It has also successfully used with twins. This specific analysis and adjustment of the sacrum be used throughout pregnancy, to detect imbalance and improve pelvic biomechanics in preparation for safer, easier births. Because of the effect that chiropractic adjustments have on all body functions by reducing nerve system stress, pregnant mothers should have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy, optimising health benefits for both the mother and baby.
Regular Chiropractic adjustments throughout pregnancy will help to correct spinal and pelvic misalignments, and also remove any imbalance to the pelvic and uterine muscles and ligaments. We have a specific chiropractic table and special cushions that allow us to check and adjust women in all stages of pregnancy.
