The Webster Technique
A gentle, specialized approach to balancing your pelvic bowl — so your body can do what it was made to do, and your baby has all the room they need.
"We are never turning baby — we are creating the space for baby to get into the best position on their own."
— Dr. Lisa, Webster-Certified Chiropractor
WHAT IT IS
Balancing the Pelvic Bowl
During pregnancy, your pelvis naturally begins to relax and open up in preparation for birth. This is a good thing! But sometimes that shift creates tension or misalignment that makes it harder for your baby to turn head-down, or for your pelvis to open the way it needs to during labor.
The Webster Technique addresses this by gently working with six very specific joints, muscles, and ligaments — checked at every single visit, front and back. When everything is balanced and moving freely, your baby has more room to move, and your body is better prepared for birth and recovery.
The Six Key Areas
CHECKED AT EVERY VISIT
These are the six structures we assess and treat at every appointment:
Front of the Pelvis
- Pubic Symphysis Joint: he joint at the very front of your pelvis — a common source of pregnancy pain and discomfort.
- Round Ligament: Anchors your uterus to the pubic symphysis. When tight or uneven on one side, it can tilt your uterus and restrict baby's movement.
- Iliopsoas Muscle: Runs along the inside of your pelvic bone down to the front of your hip. Tension here can create torsion in the whole pelvic bowl.
Back of the Pelvis
- Sacrum, Tailbone & SI Joints: The foundation of your pelvis. Misalignment here affects everything above and below, including baby's ability to settle into position.
- Glute Muscles: These muscles attach to the sacrum, and their tension has a direct effect on pelvic mobility and balance.
- Sacrotuberous Ligament: Connects your tailbone to your sit bone. When tight, it limits tailbone mobility — and your tailbone needs to open up during birth to create space for baby to exit. We also use this area to externally assess your pelvic floor.
WHY IT MATTERS
What Happens When Things Are Tight
The Inlet
Torsion or tension in any of these six areas can restrict your baby's ability to turn and drop head down. The psoas, round ligament, pubic symphysis and SI joints need to be relaxed and aligned to allow the inlet to open up in the early stages of labor.
The Outlet
If there is tension or misalignment, it makes it harder for your pelvis to open in the way it needs to during labor and delivery. Tightness in the sacrotuberous ligament, glutes or pelvic floor can limit tailbone mobility, which is crucial to help the pelvic oultet open for delivery. Without this freedom, labor can stall, pushing times can be longer and tailbone and pelvic floor injury are more common.
PELVIC FLOOR & CORE
It’s Not Just About Being Strong
We talk a lot about pelvic floor and core at Jewell — not only for birth, but for your postpartum recovery too. And the most important thing isn’t just strength. It’s learning to let go.
When it comes to birth, a tight, clenched pelvic floor works against you. Your baby’s head needs to be met with soft, relaxed, stretchy muscle — not resistance.
So while we absolutely care about pelvic floor strength, we spend just as much time on your ability to release and relax. Breath work and core coordination are part of this too — how you breathe during labor and pushing directly affects how your core and pelvic floor work together.
That’s why we encourage every patient to schedule a dedicated pelvic floor session around 37 weeks. At that visit, we:
◆ Assess your pelvic floor’s strength and tone
◆ Work on relaxation and release
◆ Practice your pushing technique in different positions using biofeedback
So your body truly knows what to do when the time comes.
Dr. Lisa on Pelvic Floor
"We want baby’s head to be hitting a nice, soft, stretchy muscle — not a tight, clenched muscle." — Dr. Lisa
DIASTASIS RECTI
The Ab Separation Nobody Talks About Enough
Diastasis recti is when the two sides of the abdominal muscles separate along the midline as your uterus expands. It’s very common — but what happens afterward varies.
100%
of pregnant people experience some degree of abdominal separation by the end of pregnancy.
60% of the time it heals on its own. 40% of the time it doesn’t — which can contribute to low back pain, digestive issues, prolapse, and incontinence postpartum.
The good news: in our office, we’ve consistently seen that almost everyone we work with prenatally falls into that 60% — the group where the separation heals on its own.
We believe that’s because prenatal chiropractic care, breathwork, and intentional core rehab during pregnancy give your body a real head start.
You’ve been doing the work all along. We’re here to support it.
HOW OFTEN WE SEE YOU
The Ab Separation Nobody Talks About Enough
Diastasis recti is when the two sides of the abdominal muscles separate along the midline as your uterus expands. It’s very common — but what happens afterward varies.
⚠️ If you’re dealing with significant aches and pains earlier on, we may see you more frequently until things settle. Your preferences and your body always guide the plan.
GOOD QUESTIONS
Things People Often Ask Us
Is the Webster Technique safe during pregnancy?
Yes — it’s specifically designed for pregnancy. Because of the relaxin in your body, we use much lower force than at any other time. We use specially designed cushions so you can lie comfortably on your belly at any stage.
Will you be turning my baby?
No. The Webster Technique isn’t about moving your baby directly. It’s about creating balance and releasing tension in the pelvis and uterine ligaments, so your baby has more freedom to find the right position on their own. We create the space — baby does the moving.
My baby is breech. Can this help?
It can. By balancing the pelvis and releasing tension in the round ligament and sacrotuberous ligament, we remove some of the restriction that may be keeping your baby from turning. Many patients with breech presentations see their baby turn after consistent care.
How is treatment different during pregnancy?
Everything is more gentle. We use low-force mobilization and table techniques for the pelvis. For the neck, upper back, and extremities we can use more traditional adjustments — but even those are softer than usual, because your body is already producing relaxin to loosen things up.
What’s the pelvic floor session at 37 weeks about?
It’s a real preparation session. We assess your floor’s strength and tone, work on relaxation and release, and practice your pushing technique in different positions using biofeedback. We want your body to know exactly what to do when the time comes.
Do you see patients postpartum too?
Absolutely. Birth is one of the most physically demanding things a body can do, and recovery takes real support. We see patients after vaginal births and cesareans, and we offer a full range of postpartum services — chiropractic care, pelvic floor rehab, massage, diastasis recti rehab, and more.
Ready to feel good in your body — all the way through?
Click here to schedule at any of our 3 locations in North Portland, Tigard and SE Portland to get the care you deserve and the birth you desire.
