Webster FAQ

Many birth workers in my area refer women to me during pregnancy to receive care because I am Webster Technique Certified. I thought it time to update info. for any mamas or support people looking for answers, read on and if you have a question I don't cover please reach out!

Q: What is the Webster Technique?
A: Webster is an analysis and adjustment protocol to support pelvic balance. I go more into the history of it in a previous blog post but it originally was used to "flip breech babies." In more recent years we've gained more understanding that it is more about balancing the pelvis and creating space for babies to get into the right position. 

Q: Who gets adjusted using Webster?
A: Anyone can! I've used parts of the protocol on men before when I found a stubborn sacrum. It is most commonly pulled from my toolkit in pregnancy. In fact, I check every mama every visit using my Webster knowledge.

Q: I'm pregnant, when should I start getting adjusted?
A: In my opinion, I would love to be seeing you before you're even pregnant so I can see what your x-rays can show me about your spine. Ultimately, to not see is to guess, so I like having double confirmation about the positioning of your pelvis and spine through the x-rays and Webster checks. That's not always the case, though. A lot of the time I am meeting you for the first time because you're pregnant and looking to get care so the earlier the better. It's easier for me to learn your body, learn what your overall habits and daily activities are, and course correct if we run into an issue with baby's position. That's not to say I haven't met a mom at 36 weeks and we accomplished her goals!

Q: Why is care different with the Webster Technique?
A: If you had asked me before I was certified I would have told you I was taught Webster in chiropractic school and there isn't much to it. Since getting certified I see the pelvis and pregnancy so differently! It shapes what recommendations I give you throughout your pregnancy, it shapes how often I tell patients to come in and get adjusted depending on their specific situation, and it gave me many more tools for adjusting than the "basic" stuff I was taught in school. If you're getting adjusted at all, you're on the right track, but Webster is the icing on the cake in my opinion.

Q: I am planning a cesarean birth, why would I need to get adjusted?
A: This is probably one of my favorite questions! At the root of all of this is how the adjustment helps support your body's function. Your brain is running the show, your spine is protecting the spinal cord, and the spinal cord and nerves connect every cell/tissue/muscle/organ to your brain. If your joints aren't moving properly your brain gets distorted input (subluxation!) from your body and environment so it cannot properly manage things. Getting adjusted helps remove that distortion and clear up the signal. All that to say no matter what your body is going through, it goes through it better when you're not subluxated. I want you to heal and recover to the best of your body's ability!

Q: Have you ever had a baby stay breech?
A: When I first see mamas and we talk about the Webster Technique and its history I always like to touch on the fact that sometimes breech babies stay breech. Most of the time baby's position is due to a distorted pelvis but there are other reasons for baby to choose not to go into the ideal head-down position. More times than I could count, I've had women who get adjusted before their ECV and they go in for the last check before the procedure and baby has moved.  I've had ONE mama's baby stay breech in my time in practice, and it wasn't for lack of trying. We increased visit frequency and she tried all she could try and that baby was STAYING. It definitely isn't common in my experience.

Pregnancy is such a special time and I love getting to help make it a time of comfort and confidence! Please let me know if you have other questions, you can reach me here, at the office (251-607-0040), on Facebook, or on Instagram.