If your pregnancy has complications or is considered high-risk, talk with your obstetrician or midwife before starting chiropractic care. We encourage you to keep them informed about your visits with us.
Pregnancy chiropractic care and the Webster Technique
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is about your comfort and your own musculoskeletal health, and research on care that combines hands-on treatment, exercise and education for pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain is favorable, though not yet conclusive. Serious complications from spinal manipulation during pregnancy may be rare. Your care here is with Dr. LeGault, certified in the Webster Technique, and we encourage you to keep your obstetrician or midwife informed about your visits.
Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?
Serious complications from spinal manipulation during pregnancy may be rare, and the side effects reported in trials were minor and temporary, but the research covers healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies and no care is risk-free.
Which pregnancy warning signs mean you should call your provider or 911?
Chiropractic care does not replace your prenatal care: if you have any of the urgent warning signs below, get medical care right away, and call 911 in an emergency.
What is the Webster Technique, and what is it not?
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and gentle adjustment of the sacrum and pelvis.
As your body changes in pregnancy, softer ligaments and shifts in weight and posture can put extra pressure on the joints of your lower back and pelvis. The goal of the Webster Technique is to help those joints move and function well, as part of gentle, drug-free chiropractic care aimed at keeping you comfortable.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is about your comfort and your own musculoskeletal health. It does not treat your baby, and it is never a substitute for the care of your obstetrician or midwife, whom we encourage you to keep informed about your visits with us.
What it is not: the Webster Technique is not a treatment for your baby, it is not used to change your baby’s position, and it is not a treatment for labor or delivery. If you are new to chiropractic care, our adjustments page explains what a chiropractic adjustment involves.
Is Dr. LeGault certified in the Webster Technique?
Yes: Dr. Steven K. LeGault, DC is certified in the Webster Technique and provides pregnancy care at our office.
- Certification
- Certified in the Webster Technique
- National boards
- Certified through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) examinations
- License
- Active Pennsylvania chiropractic license
What does pregnancy care involve here?
Care combines hands-on chiropractic care, such as the Webster Technique, with exercise and education, the combination that research on pregnancy back and pelvic pain rates as favorable, though not yet conclusive.
Exercise has the most consistent research support in pregnancy. Our therapeutic exercise page covers exercises for pregnancy back and pelvic pain and what the research says about them.
What happens at your first visit during pregnancy?
Your first visit follows our usual new-patient visit: tell us you are pregnant when you book, and bring the items below.
- Photo ID
- Your insurance card, if you’re using insurance
- A list of your current medications
- Any imaging or records you have
Read what to expect at your first visit on our new-patient page. You don’t need a referral to see us, though some insurance plans require one for coverage.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept the plans below, and coverage depends on your plan; call 412-364-4100 and we can check your benefits before your first visit.
- UPMC
- Highmark
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
- Other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans
- Medicare (participating provider)
- Pennsylvania auto insurance (first-party medical benefits (PIP), billed directly)
- Workers’ compensation
Coverage depends on your plan.
Questions, answered
Do I need my obstetrician’s or midwife’s permission?
You don’t need a referral to see us, though some insurance plans require one for coverage. We encourage you to keep your obstetrician or midwife informed about your visits, and if your pregnancy has complications, talk with them before starting chiropractic care.
Does the Webster Technique treat my baby?
No. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is about your comfort and your own musculoskeletal health. It does not treat your baby.
Dr. Steven K. LeGault, DC sees patients on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdaydirections and on-site parkingJust off McKnight Road, on-site parking
Who treats this
- Dr. LeGault (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday)
References
Only a few reported serious cases (seven patients), all after neck manipulation; the true risk cannot be measured; careful history and examination; extra care for higher-risk patients.
Reported side effects were minor and temporary; combined hands-on care, exercise and education may ease pain and help function (low-quality evidence).
Manual therapy may or may not be used (Grade C, weak and emerging evidence); little to no adverse effects reported in healthy pregnancies.
Seek medical care immediately for any urgent maternal warning sign.
High satisfaction and better quality-of-life scores in 343 women; no comparison group, so the changes cannot be credited to the care.
Favorable but not conclusive evidence for multimodal care; inconclusive for spinal manipulation on its own.