Enhancing Prenatal Care With Webster Technique in Royal Oak

Pregnancy in Royal Oak MI changes almost everything about how your body carries weight. Your center of gravity shifts forward, your ligaments loosen, and your pelvis is asked to do something it has never done before — all in about forty weeks.

For a lot of moms that shows up as low back pain that won't quit, pelvic pressure, sciatic pain down one leg, or that sharp pubic bone discomfort that makes rolling over at night miserable. It's common. It doesn't have to be something you just get through.

At Nova Chiropractic on Catalpa Drive in Royal Oak, we've cared for expecting moms since 2016. Dr. Nick Novakoski is Webster Certified and Perinatal Certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) — training specifically in caring for pregnant patients, not general chiropractic with a pillow added.

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Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy in Royal Oak MI?

Yes — and it's one of the first questions almost every mom asks, so let's answer it directly.

Prenatal chiropractic care is widely considered safe throughout pregnancy. Adjustments during pregnancy are gentler than what you may picture. There's no twisting of the abdomen and no forceful pressure anywhere near the baby.

We use a pregnancy pillow system that lets you lie face down comfortably well into your third trimester — most moms tell us it's the most comfortable they've been all week. Adjustments are low-force and specific.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, placenta previa, preeclampsia, or you're experiencing bleeding or cramping, tell us at your consultation. There are situations where we'll ask you to check with your OB or midwife first, or where we'll refer you back to them. We'd rather have that conversation than skip it.

What the Webster Technique actually is

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment of the pelvis, developed and certified through the ICPA.

The goal is pelvic balance. During pregnancy, misalignment in the sacrum and pelvis can create tension in the surrounding ligaments and muscles — particularly the round ligaments that support the uterus. That tension can restrict how much room the uterus has to work with and contribute to the pelvic and low back discomfort so many moms deal with.

Webster addresses the sacrum, the surrounding soft tissue, and the round ligaments. It's a pelvic technique performed on the mother.

What we want to be clear about: the Webster Technique is not a breech-turning procedure, and we don't claim it turns babies. It is an adjustment of the mother's pelvis intended to reduce biomechanical restriction. Some mothers of breech babies do choose Webster care alongside their OB or midwife's guidance, and the ICPA is equally explicit that the technique is about pelvic function, not fetal position. Anyone promising you a turned baby is overselling it.

Why moms come to see us

First trimester — often fatigue, nausea-related tension through the neck and upper back, and getting established before the bigger changes arrive.

Second trimester — this is when most moms first come in. Low back pain, hip pain, and the beginning of pelvic discomfort as your center of gravity moves.

Third trimester — pelvic pressure, pubic symphysis pain, sciatic pain down the leg, ribs that ache from the baby pressing upward, and trouble sleeping on either side.

Postpartum — your body doesn't snap back the day after delivery. Relaxin stays in your system for months, and you're now lifting, feeding, and carrying in positions nobody designed a spine for. Postpartum care is some of the most appreciated work we do, and it's frequently skipped.

What your first visit looks like

Visit one — about 45 minutes. We start with a conversation. Where you are in your pregnancy, what's bothering you, how you're sleeping, how your delivery plans are shaping up, and anything your OB or midwife has flagged. Then a physical exam and our Advanced Insight scanning, which measures nervous system function without radiation. No X-rays during pregnancy.

Visit two — about 30 minutes. We walk you through what we found, in plain language, and lay out a care plan built around your due date. We'll talk cost honestly and up front. Then you get your first adjustment.

After that — regular visits are short. Most prenatal patients come in more often as they approach delivery, but the plan is yours and we'll adjust it as your pregnancy does.

Working with your OB or midwife

Chiropractic care isn't a replacement for prenatal medical care, and we don't pretend otherwise. Keep seeing your OB or midwife — we work alongside them.

We're glad to communicate with your provider if that's helpful, and we'll tell you plainly when something belongs with them instead of us.

Insurance and cost

We're in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna.

Most plans cover chiropractic care under medical necessity, which typically means shorter-term, pain-based care. We'll verify your specific benefits before you commit to anything, and if your plan doesn't cover the care you want, we'll show you the cash option.

We also offer a new patient special that includes your consultation, exam, and scans. No surprises and no pressure.

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Who you'll see

Dr. Nick Novakoski, D.C. is Nova's founder and our Webster Certified and Perinatal Certified provider, both through the ICPA. He's also certified in SOT Spinal Pediatric care, and he sees our prenatal patients. He opened Nova in 2016 and has cared for expecting moms throughout metro Detroit since.

Common questions

When should I start?
Whenever you're uncomfortable, or as early as you'd like. Many moms start in the first trimester to stay ahead of the changes; plenty come in at 30 weeks because something hurts. Both are fine.

Does it hurt?
No. Prenatal adjustments are gentle and specific. Most moms describe relief rather than discomfort.

How often will I need to come in?
It depends on what we find and where you are in your pregnancy. Frequency is usually higher at the start of care and as you approach your due date. We'll be specific at your report of findings.

Can I come in the week I'm due?
Yes. We see moms right up to delivery, and often hear from them again within a couple of weeks after.

What about after the baby comes?
Please come back. Postpartum recovery is real, and so is what your body goes through feeding and carrying a newborn. We also see babies — [chiropractic care for kids] is gentle, low-force work, very different from adult adjustments.

Do I need a referral?
Usually not, though some plans require one. We'll check when we verify your benefits.

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Visit us in Royal Oak MI

Nova Chiropractic 116 Catalpa Dr, Royal Oak, MI 48067 (248) 398-1155

We see families from Royal Oak, Berkley, Clawson, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, and across metro Detroit.

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