Webster Chiropractic Technique: How Structural Correction Supports a Healthier Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most remarkable transformations a woman’s body will ever experience. Every system from structural, hormonal, to neurological adapts to support new life. But with these rapid changes often come new stresses on the spine and pelvis. The Webster Technique is a gentle, specific chiropractic approach designed to support a mother’s structural alignment during pregnancy so that her body can function and adapt to these miraculous and wonderful changes at its very best.

Understanding the Webster Technique

The Webster Technique is a specialized chiropractic protocol that focuses on the alignment and function of the pelvis, sacrum, and surrounding ligaments during pregnancy. It was developed by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), after observing how pelvic misalignment could contribute to discomfort and sometimes affect how a baby is positioned in utero.

Rather than being a “baby-turning” technique, as it’s sometimes misunderstood, Webster is a maternal structural correction method with the goal of restoring proper balance and motion to the pelvis and supporting structures so that the uterus has the optimal environment for baby’s growth and positioning. The technique primarily focuses on the sacroiliac joints, sacrum, and round ligaments. When the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine) shifts or loses normal motion, it can create torsion or tension through the connected ligaments and muscles. This imbalance can distort the shape of the pelvic opening and create tension within the uterine ligaments.

Imagine a tent held up by ropes. If one rope is pulled too tight, the entire tent leans. Similarly, if one round ligament or pelvic joint is under extra tension, the uterus can twist slightly, affecting both comfort and baby’s room to move. Correcting these structural imbalances helps even out the tension so that the body can function in a state of balance.

Structural Correction vs. Symptom Relief

Many expectant mothers seek chiropractic care when they begin to experience back pain, sciatica, or hip discomfort. While Webster-certified chiropractors certainly help with those symptoms, the purpose of care goes far deeper. At Align Chiropractic, we focus on structural correction—that means identifying and correcting underlying shifts or imbalances that interfere with the body’s ability to function as designed.

During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin increases joint mobility to accommodate a growing baby. Combine that with postural changes, such as the forward shift in weight and the softening of pelvic ligaments, and it’s easy for structural shifts to develop. These shifts can alter how the pelvis supports the uterus, and in turn, how the uterus supports the baby. Through precise structural correction using Webster protocols, the goal is to restore balance and allow both mom and baby to experience optimal function, not just temporary comfort.

Research on Webster and Pregnancy Outcomes

While every pregnancy is unique, studies and case reports suggest that women under regular chiropractic care often experience improvements in comfort, labor efficiency, and overall well-being.

A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT, 2002) reported that women receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy experienced a 25–31% reduction in labor time compared to those who did not receive care. Another study found that 84% of women receiving Webster care reported relief from pregnancy-related back pain. While chiropractic care isn’t a treatment for fetal positioning, better pelvic balance and nervous system function can often create conditions that naturally allow for optimal fetal positioning.

A Holistic Approach to Prenatal Care

At Align Chiropractic, we view pregnancy care as more than symptom management. It’s about optimizing structure and function to create the best environment for both mom and baby. That’s why every new patient begins with a Structural Exam. This detailed analysis helps us measure and monitor progress, evaluating spinal alignment, pelvic balance, and neurological integrity. From there, we use Upper Cervical and Webster protocols to gently correct the structural foundation and verify that changes are holding over time.

Expecting mothers often notice more than just reduced pain. Many report better sleep, easier breathing, improved digestion, and a greater sense of balance as their pregnancy progresses. These are signs of a body functioning closer to its design.

When choosing a chiropractor during pregnancy, certification matters. The Webster Technique requires post-graduate training through the ICPA to ensure doctors understand the unique biomechanics of pregnancy and the appropriate protocols for each trimester. As Webster Certified Chiropractors, Dr. Jennifer Hickman and Dr. Sean Hickman are trained to provide care that is both gentle and specific, designed to support structural and neurological balance through all stages of pregnancy.

Natural Ways to Support Immunity this Winter

As the days grow shorter and colder, our bodies instinctively crave warmth, rest, and nourishment. Winter invites us to slow down and rebuild from the inside out. Supporting your immune system naturally is all about consistent, intentional choices that help your body stay balanced and resilient.

Immunity from the Inside Out: Nourishment

This is the season for warm, grounding foods like soups, stews, and roasted root vegetables. Broths made from whole ingredients are rich in minerals and collagen, which help replenish tissues and support a healthy gut. Garlic, ginger, and turmeric have been trusted for generations for their protective properties. Garlic contains natural sulfur compounds like allicin that help the body defend against unwanted microbes while also supporting healthy circulation and detoxification. Ginger warms and stimulates digestion, helping the body absorb nutrients more effectively and easing the sluggishness that can come with colder weather. Turmeric offers deep, cell-level support through its active compound curcumin, known for calming inflammation and supporting joint comfort.

Rest & Restore

Sleep is your body’s best immune regulator. A study from the National Institutes of Health found that when adults had their sleep reduced to about 6 hrs/night instead of about 7.5 hrs) over six weeks, there were measurable changes in immune cell production! Most adults should aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Evidence suggests that short sleep duration (under 6-7 hours) is linked to greater susceptibility to infections. Plan to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time each day even on weekends to align your sleep with your circadian rhythm.

To foster a better night’s rest, create a simple, sustainable nighttime routine that helps your nervous system unwind. Dim the lights, turn off screens, and take slow, full breaths. Gentle movement during the day, such as yoga or walking can also prepare you for a restful sleep and keeps your lymphatic system active to support detoxification.

Structural Correction & Immunity

Structural correction in the spine can play a supporting role in immune health through its effect on the nervous system. The spine houses and protects the central nervous system, which in turn governs communication to the organs and immune tissues. When vertebral misalignments, commonly called subluxations in chiropractic terms, are present, nerve pathways may be under interference, limiting efficient signaling. Some studies report that when spinal manipulation is applied, immune‑related markers shift. For example, one research article noted that a single spinal correction was associated with increased production of interleukin‑2 (IL‑2), a cytokine involved in T‑cell activation. Another study found that participants who had regular chiropractic care showed “200 % greater immune competence” compared to non‑care individuals.

Your Baby’s Movements are Building Their Brain—Literally

From the moment your baby enters the world, their tiny movements, those automatic kicks, stretches, and grips, aren’t just adorable, they serve a larger purpose. They are critical neurological building blocks that lay the foundation for lifelong development. But did you know it starts even earlier than their birth day? It starts in the womb.

By the third week of pregnancy, your baby has already formed the basic shape and structure of their brain and spinal cord. Not only are these structures formed, but they’re also performing important tasks for future brain development. Primitive reflexes are automatic, innate movements that babies develop in the womb to help with adaptation to the world.

These primitive reflexes aren’t random reactions. They are precisely wired programs within the nervous system, helping to create the neural connections that will shape everything from reading and writing skills to emotional regulation and physical coordination. It’s further evidence of the innate intelligence of the mother-baby connection.

Labor and birth are a baby’s first major workout. The twists, turns, and movements they make during delivery are essential in activating their nervous system and building neural pathways. Baby must first descend into the pelvis and vaginal canal, tuck their head, rotate to align with the mother’s pelvis, extend as their head is born, rotate again but in the other direction, then the rest of their body is born. These innately coordinated movements are called the cardinal movements of labor. While all of this is going on, the baby is activating their reflexes to aid in the process. During the moro reflex, you may notice when a baby is startled by a loud noise or sudden change in their position, they take a deep breath in, raise their arms quickly, and begin to cry in search of their mother. This reflex is essential for survival for the newborn, ensuring connection with caregivers and even preventing SIDS. This reflex is activated in labor by the sensation of pressure of contractions and position changes in the womb. Another reflex, called the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, plays an important role by helping baby rotate through the birth canal. This reflex (also called ATNR) helps children drive motor skills, eye tracking, reading, writing, and overall coordination. The rooting reflex, which is essential for showing hunger cues and latching at the breast, is activated in labor to help the baby rotate as they descend down the birth canal. The palmar grasp reflex (you know the one where the baby so sweetly holds your hand) actually helps them navigate the birth canal, and will help with fine motor and handwriting skills throughout their childhood. The spinal Galant reflex, which helps the baby crawl, develop and maintain posture, transmit sound to the ears while in the womb, and aids in bladder and bowel control, also helps with the descent during the pushing phase of labor.

So you can see how these movements are priming your baby’s future development. I also see these as little signs of communication. They’re signals from baby to mama communicating their perfect symbiosis, sharing their rhythm and ensuring their presence. It’s a silent conversation, an unspoken secret language deepening their bond.

A smooth birth process helps ensure that these movements can activate their reflexes and their reflexes Chiropractic Newsletter Discover Chiropractic Continued on page 2 Provided and published by ICPA. For more information, visit discoverkidshealth.com 2 are integrated properly, setting the stage for optimal brain development. However, if the birth process is difficult, whether due to prolonged labor, interventions, or positioning issues, it can interfere with these natural movements. In addition to that, the forces of birth can potentially lead to subluxations (misalignments in the spine) that affect the baby’s ability to process and respond to their environment. This creates modified movement patterns and neurological input, which can alter the trajectory of their brain development.

This is where pediatric chiropractic care plays an essential role. These reflexes need to be fully activated at certain times, and in certain orders, then they need to integrate or disappear at certain times, and this process allows a child to access higher, more sophisticated cortical functions. By ensuring the nervous system is functioning optimally, chiropractic adjustments help babies integrate reflexes properly, supporting coordination and development, and improve nervous system communication. This impacts learning and sensory processing, enhancing movement patterns, making milestones like crawling and walking smoother. Pediatric chiropractic allows a greater sense of connection to oneself, which leads to more ease with learning, emotional regulation, and development.

For pregnant mothers, Webster perinatal chiropractic care is a game changer. This specific approach helps balance the pelvis and sacrum, reducing nervous system stress and easing the birth process for both mom and baby. A balanced pelvis means the baby may have more room to move and develop those essential in-utero reflexes.

A baby’s nervous system is like an open highway for growth, learning, and connection. But subluxations create roadblocks, interfering with this natural process. When spinal misalignments disrupt nervous system communication, babies may experience difficulty latching and feeding, increased fussiness or colic, and even delayed milestones or poor coordination. Your baby’s early reflexes aren’t just movements, they are laying the groundwork for lifelong learning, emotional resilience, and physical spatial awareness. Ensuring their nervous system is functioning at its best through pediatric chiropractic care allows them to grow, develop, and thrive.

We know that movement is life. Even if your baby didn’t experience all the cardinal movements of labor, you can help activate these neural pathways once they’re born by doing things like the breast crawl, skin-to-skin contact, and baby wearing. The more input they have through movement, touch and connection, the more likely we are to assist their brain development.

When in doubt, snuggle that baby. You have that sacred unspoken language that only the two of you share. Trust in the power of this innate bond; it’s yours to nurture with love and presence. -

Stephanie Libs, DC

Appears in Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine Issue #85