A woman’s journey through pregnancy and birth has the potential to influence not only her physical and mental health but also the health expression and development of her little one. Helping women and their families optimise their health and wellbeing to enhance the health of future generations is my “Why” in practice. I am excited to share with you how improving the health of your spine and nervous system during pregnancy (including the Webster technique) may benefit you. Part 2 looks at how birth influences our little ones development.

It’s estimated that 50% of women suffer some form of back and pelvic pain during pregnancy (1). For a lot of women, previous history of falls, years of exercising/playing sports, repetitive postures (hello crossed legs and slouching in chairs), previous pregnancies or surgeries may mean that we start our pregnancy journey with our spine and pelvis already out of balance. When we then add on the extra load of a belly that changes our posture, pulling on muscles and ligaments, weakening of our core muscles and hormones causing our ligaments to become more flexible, women may experience these imbalances as pain. This pain is often dismissed as being “normal”, so women either put up with it or visit a healthcare practitioner like a Chiropractor for pain relief. But what if there is no pain? In some women these imbalances don't cause pain but they have a baby who is breech, transverse or posterior. This may be an indication that your body is out of balance and a Chiropractor may be able to help.

Chiropractors look at how restriction of cranial, spinal and pelvic movement may cause tension in the surrounding muscles, ligaments and nerves that exit the spine. Nerve irritation causes miscommunication in the nervous system ultimately affecting how your body works.

The nerves that exit the pelvis and spine supply the uterus and reproductive organs.(2) Having a pelvis and spine that move well is extremely important not only for a baby's position but also for a mother’s labour and birth. When it comes to babies who are malpositioned, there is a specific technique many Chiropractors who work with pregnant women use, the Webster Technique. It is important to note this technique does not turn babies. It is an analysis and gentle adjustment of the mother’s pelvis and surrounding ligaments and muscles. By adjusting these restrictions we restore optimum spine and pelvic movement and nerve function. (2)

Imagine you are a baby in this nice, warm, squishy ball with all the freedom to move about. Your head is the heaviest part of your body so innately with the help of gravity over 9 months you begin to turn so that your head is pointing down and resting nicely on the cervix. Now imagine there’s a tightening or pulling on the strings (ligaments) attached to the left side of your squishy ball changing it to an oval. You feel like the walls are caving in and there is less space for you to move. Your head wants to move down but it’s not as easy, so instead you move to the space of least resistance and stay with your head up (breech), lying across mums tummy (transverse) or lying along mums spine (posterior).

Chiropractors who use the Webster technique will gently adjust a mother based on their assessment of:

Movement of the joints of the pelvis: If the joints that make up your pelvis are restricted or asymmetrical it changes the shape of your pelvic inlet and outlet. It may also pull and torsion the muscles and ligaments around it. Altered movement may affect nerve function, these are the nerves that supply information to the uterus, cervix, pelvic floor, lower back and hips.

Tension in the psoas and glutes: The muscles of your bum and hips attach into your pelvis. If your pelvis is restricted or asymmetrical and tilted forward because of tension in these muscles (common in runners, office worker’s, stress heads, women with weak core) this narrows the pelvic inlet altering a baby’s space making them more inclined to stay higher in the pelvis and not engage, rotate or descend.

Tension in round ligaments, broad ligaments and sacrotuberous ligaments: These ligaments attach into your uterus and pelvis so if they are tight this creates tension in the uterus and altered movement of the joints in the pelvis. Altered movement and altered tension means altered nerve function, these are the nerves that supply information to the uterus, cervix, pelvic floor, lower back and hips.

When Chiropractor’s gently adjust a mother to improve the mobility of her pelvis and release tension in the surrounding ligaments and muscles there is better nerve function, increased ability to relax the pelvic floor(3), more space and less restriction. In this state, a baby may use the new space to occupy a better position. In fact a small observational study done in 2002 saw a 90% change in babies' position following Chiropractic care using the Webster Technique for the mother!(4) Another small study showed a 70% improvement in babies' position (aka head down) using the Webster technique for the mother. (5) This is exciting for those mama’s who are wanting a vaginal birth as better alignment and baby position means a reduced likelihood for interventions like induction, synthetic hormones or caesarean.

Is there anything that I can do at home to promote good pelvic alignment and help my babies position?

Absolutely! When a person is proactive in their health they see better results, so at home exercise and advice is an important part of Chiropractic care. Here are some simple exercises you can begin to promote good pelvic alignment:

Sitting on Fitball, figure 8s and hip hitches
From around 24 weeks I recommend sitting on a fitball in the office and at home rather than reclining on the couch or office chair. When we slouch we close down our pelvic bowl meaning less space for your baby. Sit with your knees slightly below your hips, pelvis tilted forward so your belly is comfortable between your legs, shoulders stacked upon your hips and imagine you have a torch in your belly button that is lighting up the floor in front of you NOT your face. To make this position more active try doing some figure 8s and side to side movements lifting the hip on the side you are moving towards.

Psoas Stretch
Start lying with your legs up on a couch or chair. Hold onto one leg of the chair as you pull your body over stretching your side body. Hold for 30 seconds, repeat on the other side. Use pillows to prop yourself up if you do suffer from dizziness on your back or do a standing psoas stretch.

Diaphragmatic Breathing
Sitting on an exercise ball, chair or floor, place your hands on either side of your ribs. Breathing in through your nose for the count of 4 feel your tummy and ribs expand as your diaphragm and pelvic floor lengthen (imagine your trying to let out a fart slowly). Now breathe out through your nose for a count of 6, feeling your belly fall, your ribs contract and your pelvic floor gently rise. Repeat 5x

For you Mama’s no matter where you are in your pregnancy or how you want to birth, if you have a breech/transverse or posterior bub, have a niggle you want relief from or just want to function better overall you can use this online database to find a Webster certified Chiropractor in your area https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/ or contact me via drdemichiropractor@gmail.com or on instagram @wombtowellness_chiropractic

Chiropractors support the normal function of your body and nervous system to enhance the innate, inborn intelligence that your body already has. It is this innate intelligence that has allowed you to nourish, nurture and birth your baby and yourself into motherhood. In Part 2: you’ll find out how birth influences your baby and what you can do to support your little one's development.

Demi Moretti is a holistic Melbourne based Chiropractor with an interest in women’s health, pregnancy and paediatrics. While living in London, Demi completed a comprehensive 200-hour program offered by the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association including becoming Webster certified This equiped her with a strong foundation to not only care for women during their pregnancy and their newborns but to also provide wellness care to people of all ages. Demi has also trained in primitive reflex integration techniques for toddlers, children and adults with learning and behavioural challenges. As a self proclaimed nerd Demi is always furthering her education and is currently completing her training in Neuro-Emotional technique and has undergone professional training in Spinning Babies.

After the birth of her son in 2022 went from planned home birth to emergency c-section Demi could see how not having the right pre and post natal support can contribute to birth trauma, feelings of failure and post natal depletion. This has fuelled Demi’s passion for providing empowering and loving care to families in that pivotal pre and post natal period. There is something so special about caring for a birthing parent/parents on their journey into parenthood. When a mother feels supported and empowered in her pregnancy, in her birth (no matter the outcome) and in her post natal period this paves the way for optimal connection with herself, her baby and her partner. This creates a powerful foundation for optimal health expression of that family and their future generations.

References:

1.Borggren CL. Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. J Chiropr Med. 2007 Jun;6(2):70-4.

2. Ohm J, Alcantara J. The Webster Technique: Definition, Application and Implications. J Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic. Volume 2012, Issue 2:49-53

3. Haavik H, Murphy BA, Kruger J. Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Pelvic Floor Functional Changes in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women: A Preliminary Study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016 Jun;39(5):339-347.

4. Pistolese RA. The Webster Technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002 Jul-Aug;25(6):E1-9

5. Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. The Webster Technique: Results From a Practice-Based Research Network Study. J Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic. Volume 2012, Issue 1:16-21

Optimising Your Babies Position and the Webster Technique by Demi Moretti