 |
Great Beginnings |
One of the biggest fears pregnant women often have is that their baby will be in a breech or transverse position when it is time to deliver. Most obstetricians will not deliver a baby breech because of risks and so they commonly schedule a Cesarean section, giving the mother no alternatives to this course of action. The good news is that there is a chiropractic technique that is widely used and very effective. It is called the Webster In-Utero Constraint Turning Technique, or Webster Technique. The Webster Technique involves assessing and correcting any misalignments in the pelvic and low back area. This helps to keep the bones and joints in proper alignment, which in turn allows the ligaments and muscles which support the uterus to be relaxed. The woman's pelvis supports her growing uterus with specific ligaments. After balancing the pelvic bones, the uterus is able to enlarge symmetrically with the growing baby. It is the subluxation of the sacrum that causes the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles, thereby producing uterine constraint. It is these tense muscles and ligaments which prevent the fetus from comfortably assuming the proper position. Therefore, correcting the misalignments allow for the optimal uterine position and a more favorable fetal position to allow the baby's spine to grow in a healthier way. Another technique for correcting the position of a fetus in a breech position is the External Cephalic Version Technique (ECVT). This is a medical procedure wherein the fetus is manipulated externally in an attempt to reposition it into the more favorable head down position. This technique is risky and often the fetus reverts to the breech position again primarily due to the fact that the uterine constraint has not been corrected. This forceful technique is very stressful to both mother and fetus and has resulted in complications, such as clavicle fractures of the fetus, increased fetal heart rate and a ruptured placenta necessitating an emergency Cesarean section. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment which removes interference to the nervous system, balances out pelvic muscles and ligaments, removes constraint to the women's uterus and allows the baby to get into the best position for birth. It does not involve any moving of the baby as in the ECVT, so it is absolutely safe. Since this method is non-traumatic, I feel very comfortable repeating this adjustment as needed. In fact, I have seen it take as few as one but sometimes as many as five adjustments to get the baby to stabilize in the correct position. In my many years of practice, I have seen how chiropractic care dramatically benefits all aspects of a person's body and health. As a Doctor of Chiropractic, I work to correct misalignments (subluxations) of the bones of the spine. Subluxations of the spinal vertebra cause interference with the associated nerve which in turn causes malfunction in the associated parts of the body and imbalance in the muscles and ligaments. Correcting these misalignments allow the nervous system, our internal communication system through which our brain directs the functions of our body, to operate at an optimum level. Because of the wonderfully beneficial effects from chiropractic adjustments on all the body functions, I highly recommend that pregnant mothers have their spines checked regularly throughout pregnancy. This helps to have easier and typically shorter deliveries, and optimizes health for both mother and baby. It is very important for expectant mothers to realize that their baby's first adjustment is in the womb! Dr. Treeka Sullivan, DC, FICPA, (Fellow in the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) specializes in pre- and post-natal, infant and child care. Alaska Healing Arts Chiropractic, 2490 E. 42 Ave., Anchorage. 561-4325 |
