What is the Webster Technique?
The Webster Technique is not a breech-turning technique. It's a gentle, specific chiropractic approach that looks at how your nervous system and pelvis are working together during pregnancy. Your nervous system coordinates how your body adapts to every change, including the sacrum, the pelvis, and the muscles and ligaments around them. Through gentle assessments and adjustments, our goal is to promote healthy nervous system function, support comfortable movement, and ease tension as your body adapts throughout pregnancy.
How Webster care can help you
Pregnancy is an extraordinary example of the body's capacity to adapt, and our approach is centered on supporting that process. Your body is changing every week, and your nervous system is what guides it through those changes. Webster care is about supporting both, so you can feel more like yourself and go into birth with confidence in what your body can do.
- 01Support for your nervous systemYour nervous system coordinates every adaptation your body makes in pregnancy. Stress, poor sleep and physical tension can keep it stuck in “fight-or-flight.” Gentle, specific adjustments aim to support healthy nervous system function, so your body can adapt more easily and you can feel more at ease.
- 02More comfort as you growAs your belly grows and your posture shifts, the pelvis and the ligaments around it take on a lot of strain. Many women come to us for low back, hip or pelvic discomfort, and gentle care to restore balance can help you move and rest more easily.
- 03Part of preparing for birthLabor asks your nervous system to feel safe enough to let your body do its work. Supporting your nervous system and comfortable movement in your pelvis throughout pregnancy is one part of preparing for the birth you want.
- 04Care that works alongside your birth teamMany of the women we see are referred by their midwife, and we're glad to coordinate with your OB or midwife.
Why choose a Webster certified chiropractor?
Both Dr. Jessica Burckhard and Dr. Joshua Burckhard hold CACCP certification, perinatal certification, and Webster Technique certification, reflecting their advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy-related chiropractic care. They've been using the Webster Technique with expecting mothers for two decades.
- Webster Technique certifiedBoth doctors trained through the ICPA, the organization that teaches and certifies the Webster Technique, and have been Webster certified for two decades.
- Perinatal certifiedAdvanced training in chiropractic care for women through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.
- CACCP certifiedAdvanced pediatric credentials through the ICPA-affiliated Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics.
- Thousands of women cared forFirst in New York, and now in Gilbert and across the East Valley of Arizona.
Either doctor can provide your Webster care, and many women see both over the course of their pregnancy.
What a Webster visit looks like in our office
A thorough, unhurried intake
We start by listening: your history, how this pregnancy is going, and your goals for birth.
An evaluation modified for pregnancy
We look at how your nervous system is adapting to pregnancy, along with how your spine, sacrum and pelvis are moving. Specialty pregnancy pillows let you lie comfortably face-down with no pressure on your belly.
Gentle, specific adjustments and a clear plan
Webster adjustments are gentle, specific and adapted to each stage of pregnancy, with the goal of supporting both your nervous system and your pelvis. We explain what we found and give you an honest recommendation for how often to come in, adjusted as your pregnancy progresses.
Where the Webster Technique comes from
The Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Larry Webster and carried forward by Dr. Jeanne Ohm through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). It's a two-part process: an assessment of how your sacrum and pelvis are moving, then light, targeted adjustments to correct sacral misalignment.
When the sacrum is out of balance, it can place uneven tension on the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis, including the round and uterosacral ligaments that support the uterus. Webster care aims to ease that tension so the pelvis moves evenly again.
The sacrum matters for another reason, too. The nerves that serve the pelvic organs, including the uterus, pass through the lower spine and sacrum. That's why we see Webster care as nervous system care as much as structural care, and why we pay close attention to how this area is functioning.
A note about your baby's position
You may have heard that Webster is a way to turn a breech baby. It isn't, and we'd rather you hear that from us up front. Our focus is on you. We analyze your sacrum and pelvis, the muscles and ligaments around them, and your nervous system, then use gentle, specific adjustments to help your pelvis move and function at its best. When the pelvis is balanced, the ligaments that support the uterus can release some of their tension and constriction. That may give your baby more room to move, and help you feel more comfortable as you prepare for birth.
Every pregnancy and every birth unfolds in its own way. Your OB or midwife is your guide for medical decisions, and we see ourselves as part of your team, always happy to work alongside them.
Common questions about Webster care
When in pregnancy can I start Webster care?
At any point. Starting in the first trimester lets us support your body through its most rapid changes. Many women also begin in the second or third trimester, when birth preparation becomes the main focus.
Is the Webster Technique safe during pregnancy?
Webster care uses gentle chiropractic procedures adapted for pregnancy. We review your health history and individual circumstances before recommending care and coordinate with your OB or midwife when appropriate. Chiropractic care complements, rather than replaces, prenatal medical care.
Does the Webster Technique turn breech babies?
No. Webster is not a baby-turning technique. It focuses on supporting your nervous system and on balance and movement in the pelvis and its supporting muscles and ligaments. Some women seek us out late in pregnancy because of their baby's position. We'll always be honest that we can't promise a particular outcome, and we'll encourage you to stay in close contact with your OB or midwife.
My baby is head down. Should I still come in?
Yes. Webster care was never only about your baby's position. Our goal is to keep your pelvis balanced and your nervous system supported all the way through pregnancy, leading into labor and delivery. Your body keeps changing right up to your due date, so many women continue care through the final weeks as part of preparing for birth.
Can I get Webster care while under the care of an OB or midwife?
Yes. A good share of the women we see come to us on a midwife's recommendation, and we're happy to share notes or coordinate with whoever is managing your pregnancy.
Where can I find a Webster certified chiropractor near me in Gilbert?
Our office is at 6 E. Palo Verde Street, Suite 9, Gilbert, AZ 85296. We see women from Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, Tempe and across the East Valley. You can book online or call (480) 507-2788.
Webster care is one part of how we support women through pregnancy. To see how we care for you in each trimester, read about our prenatal chiropractic care in Gilbert. For a deeper look at pelvic balance and birth, see our posts on the Webster Technique and natural birth and preparing your body for birth.
When you're ready
Let's talk about your pregnancy.
Both doctors are welcoming new expecting mothers at our Gilbert office. Your first visit starts with a conversation about your pregnancy and your goals.