Breech Pregnancy Helped at 37 Weeks with Chiropractic Care

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case study on June 30, 2025, documenting the resolution of transverse lie breech pregnancy through chiropractic of a woman who was 37 weeks into her pregnancy. A transverse lie breech pregnancy is when the baby is in a sideways position. On or after the 30th week of pregnancy, babies are expected to be head-down.

The study authors begin by noting that "Similar to the general population, pregnant women present regularly to chiropractors to address musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions." They also point out that many pregnant women seek chiropractic care for conditions other than musculoskeletal pain. A growing number of women are seeking chiropractic for breech issues related to their pregnancy.

In this case, a woman who was into her 37th week of her second pregnancy, went to the chiropractor. The woman reported that her midwife had determined that the baby was in a transverse lie position. The woman was also suffering with chronic lower back and hip pain.

The woman had received successful chiropractic care during her first pregnancy and after an automobile accident about one year prior to this current pregnancy. The woman and her midwife had unsuccessfully tried to resolve the breech pregnancy through specific exercises and external force, known as external cephalic version or EVC.

After a chiropractic examination, the woman received chiropractic care utilizing the Webster Technique. This technique is a specific chiropractic procedure designed to decrease intrauterine constraint. The result is often that the baby can then turn after the non-invasive procedure is performed.

After the chiropractic care and an additional midwife EVC procedure, the baby moved to a vertex lie position. There were no adverse reactions from these procedures. As a result, the woman was able to deliver vaginally at full term without any complications.

In the discussion and conclusion of this study, the authors wrote, "Chiropractors and midwives share similar goals in their approach to healthcare and particularly in the care of pregnant women. Both professions seek to mitigate or eliminate variables that lead to traumatic birth and therefore injury to both mother and child." They continued, "This case demonstrates the potential benefit of the Webster Technique in resolving transverse lie fetal positioning to facilitate vaginal delivery."