The Webster Technique is one of the most sought-after chiropractic services by pregnant women in Singapore, yet it remains widely misunderstood — both in what it actually does and what it can realistically achieve. This guide explains the Webster Technique clearly, covers the evidence behind it, and helps you decide if it may be appropriate for you during your pregnancy.
Both Dr. Kelvin Ng and Dr. Ashley Liew at Family Health Chiropractic Clinic near Somerset MRT are certified in the Webster Technique through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and work with pregnant patients throughout all three trimesters.
What Is the Webster Technique?
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and adjustment designed for use during pregnancy. It was developed by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the ICPA, and has since been formalised as a recognised chiropractic approach for prenatal care.
The technique focuses on two things: first, assessing and adjusting the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms the back wall of the pelvis) to reduce restriction and improve its movement; and second, releasing tension in the round ligaments — two ligaments that support the uterus on either side. Together, these interventions aim to establish better balance and symmetry in the sacrum and pelvis during pregnancy.
What Does the Research Say?
The Webster Technique is supported by a growing body of clinical evidence and is formally recognised by the ICPA as a safe and effective approach for supporting prenatal health and comfort. A systematic review published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health found that chiropractic care, including the Webster Technique, was associated with significant improvements in pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy. Case series and cohort studies have also documented high rates of satisfactory fetal positioning in mothers receiving Webster Technique care during the third trimester.
It is important to be clear about one thing: the Webster Technique does not physically turn or reposition a breech baby. What it does is reduce the sacral and ligamentous tension that may be restricting the pelvis, creating a more spacious and balanced environment in which the baby may move more freely into an optimal position on its own. The technique is not a guarantee of fetal positioning — no chiropractic technique can make that claim — but it addresses a potential contributing factor to suboptimal fetal positioning.
Common Conditions During Pregnancy the Webster Technique May Help
Beyond fetal positioning, the Webster Technique and associated pregnancy chiropractic care is commonly sought for:
- Pelvic girdle pain and SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction): One of the most debilitating pregnancy complaints, characterised by pain at the front or sides of the pelvis, difficulty walking and climbing stairs, and pain with activity. The Webster Technique’s focus on sacropelvic balance can be very effective for this condition.
- Lower back pain during pregnancy: As the belly grows, the lumbar spine undergoes progressive lordotic loading. Regular chiropractic care including sacral adjustments helps manage this progressive strain.
- Round ligament pain: Sharp groin or lower abdominal pain common in the second trimester, often aggravated by sudden movements. The soft tissue component of the Webster Technique directly addresses round ligament tension.
- Posterior baby positioning: When a baby is in a posterior position (back-to-back), labour can be longer and more painful. While chiropractic care cannot guarantee anterior positioning, addressing pelvic asymmetry may support the baby’s ability to rotate.
- Breech presentation: While chiropractic care is not a medical intervention for breech position, many mothers with breech babies seek Webster Technique care as a complementary approach alongside techniques such as moxibustion and external cephalic version (ECV).
Is the Webster Technique Safe During Pregnancy?
When performed by a chiropractor certified in the Webster Technique, the procedure is considered safe throughout pregnancy. Key safety features of our approach at Family Health Chiropractic Clinic include:
- No direct pressure on the uterus or abdominal region
- Pregnancy-adapted adjusting tables that support the growing belly comfortably
- Low-force sacral adjustment techniques that are gentle and specific
- Side-lying positions for adjustments as pregnancy progresses
- Communication at every visit to adjust care based on how you are feeling and how your pregnancy is progressing
We recommend informing your obstetrician, gynaecologist, or midwife that you are receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy. In our experience, most maternity care providers in Singapore are supportive of pregnancy chiropractic when managed by trained, certified practitioners.
When Should I Start Webster Technique Care?
Chiropractic care and the Webster Technique can be used at any stage of pregnancy. Different phases of pregnancy tend to have different priorities:
- First trimester: Focus is on managing nausea-related cervical and upper back tension, early pelvic alignment, and supporting the body’s adaptations to pregnancy. Adjustments are very gentle and primarily in seated or side-lying positions.
- Second trimester: As the bump grows and the centre of gravity shifts, the sacrum and lumbar spine come under increasing load. Regular Webster Technique care helps maintain pelvic balance and address round ligament pain as it develops.
- Third trimester: The most common time to seek Webster Technique care, particularly from week 32 onwards as fetal positioning becomes clinically relevant ahead of birth.
- Postnatal: After birth, the pelvis and sacrum require time to re-stabilise. Postnatal chiropractic care supports recovery from both natural birth and caesarean section.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Your first appointment at Family Health Chiropractic Clinic for pregnancy chiropractic care includes a full health history and assessment to understand your pregnancy status, any complications, symptoms, and what you are hoping to achieve from care. The Webster Technique assessment itself involves gentle palpation of the sacrum and assessment of pelvic symmetry — it takes only a few minutes and is not painful.
The adjustment is performed with you lying face-down on our pregnancy table (which has a centre section that drops away to accommodate your belly), or in a side-lying position. The sacral adjustment is a gentle, specific impulse — most patients describe it as comfortable and often feel an immediate sense of ease in the pelvis.
We will also assess your lumbar spine, thoracic spine, and any other areas contributing to your symptoms, and provide guidance on sleeping positions, movement habits, and supportive exercises for pregnancy.
Related Reading
For more information on how we support pregnant patients throughout all stages of pregnancy and postnatally, visit our Pregnancy Chiropractic Care page. You may also find our guides on sciatica during pregnancy and lower back pain useful.
Book a Webster Technique Appointment in Singapore
Family Health Chiropractic Clinic is located at TripleOne Somerset, 111 Somerset Road #08-03 — 2 minutes from Somerset MRT. Both our chiropractors, Dr. Kelvin Ng and Dr. Ashley Liew, are Webster Technique certified and experienced in prenatal chiropractic care.
No packages, no pressure, no lock-in contracts. Call us at 6336 7714 or visit our first visit page to find out what to expect at your pregnancy chiropractic appointment.