Recently we have had several inquiries about whether or not chiropractic adjustments can help with a baby that is in the breech position. Let’s explore how and why chiropractic adjustments can help.
What is breech presentation? The ideal presentation/positioning of baby in the womb toward the end of a women’s pregnancy is vertex (i.e. head down). When the baby’s feet or bottom are the presenting part, the presentation is called breech. There are different types of breech presentation, complete breech, footling breech, frank breech.
Dr. Maura and Dr. Jacob are certified in the Webster technique. Use of the Webster technique may help with baby positioning. The Webster technique, as defined by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), is “a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and balances maternal pelvic muscles and ligaments. This in turn reduces torsion in the uterus, a cause of intra-uterine constraint of the baby and allows for optimal fetal positioning in preparation for birth.” Simply put the alignment of the pelvis affects the tension/ease of the uterine ligaments and muscles of the mother. The tenion/ease of the uterine ligaments and muscles affect the position of the uterus. The position of the uterus affects the space in which the baby is growing. The space in which the baby is growing affects the position of the baby (ie breech/not breech). Therefore specific analysis and chiropractic adjustments to the mother’s pelvis can affect the positioning of the baby. Optimal fetal positioning is one of the many benefits of regular chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy.
