What is Webster certification? Why is it important?
Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is vital to the optimal function of both mom and baby throughout these experiences. Both mamas and birth providers are repeatedly seeing the benefits of chiropractic care, specifically care delivered by Webster certified chiropractors. Consistent chiropractic care has been shown to promote safer, healthier, and more enjoyable labor and birth.
What is the Webster Technique?
As chiropractors our job is to detect the presence of a spinal/pelvic subluxations or areas of dysfunction. These subluxations can interrupt or impede the flow of the information from the brain out to the body or vice versa, leading to a less than optimal state of being. This impaired movement can also cause dysfunction throughout the entire kinetic chain. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and Diversified chiropractic adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/SI joint dysfunction. In doing so, neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated. (1)
A misalignment of the sacrum may lead or contribute to a harder labor for mama due to inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby not being in optimal position. Corrections of misalignments, specifically of the sacrum, may have a positive effect on the above causes of dystocia (difficult labor).
Webster technique is NOT a breech baby turning technique
Too many times as a chiropractor I have moms-to-be come to me in the eleventh hour (36-38 weeks pregnant) with a malpresentation of baby (breech, transverse etc). It is not to say these mamas cannot still achieve benefits of chiropractic care, it may just make those benefits slightly limited. As mentioned above, Webster technique is applied to aid in a more comfortable pregnancy for both mama and baby. Through specific chiropractic adjustment, chiropractors help to decrease pelvic misalignment, which can lead toto baby being able to get in the best presentation for birth.
An ICPA article discussing the safety of chiropractic care during pregnancy states, “The success of this approach (Webster technique) may be related to examining simple anatomy. The uterus is physically attached to the pelvis and sacrum by way of the utero-sacral ligaments behind the uterus and the round ligaments in front and the broad ligament on each side. During pregnancy, the increased physical loads on the skeleton and the presence of the hormone relaxin in soft tissues make it easy for the sacrum and pelvic bones to shift and become subluxated.” (2)
This also demonstrates why it is so important to seek out chiropractic care at the beginning of your pregnancy to ensure the best possible outcome.
What does it mean if my chiropractor is Webster certified?
Not all chiropractors practice the same, and may have different specialities. However, if you have a chiropractor with Webster certification it signals TRUST. This will assure you that your chiropractor has been properly trained in the technique by the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) to help serve families.
What does it mean if my chiropractor is both BF Professional/RD and Webster certified?
You will be given the best possible chiropractic care throughout your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience! This ensures that your provider is trained in the four BIRTHFIT pillars of Fitness, Nutrition, Chiropractic, and Mindset and also can give you pregnancy specific chiropractic care.
If you are a mama-to-be and want to get BIRTHFIT ready for your upcoming birth please find an RD in your area here or a BIRTHFIT professional in your area here to help you master your chiropractic pillar for a safer, healthier, and happier birth!
With love,
Dr. Jill
BIRTHFIT RFV
Regional Director
Chiropractor
@birthfit_rfv
1: https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/
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