In light of Mother’s day that just passed, let’s discuss some of the common aches and pains that new mothers commonly experience.
Most new moms expect to deal with their fair share of pain and discomfort during pregnancy, but some may be disappointed to discover that it doesn’t end there. Those discomforts just tend to shift and change. Repetitive bending and lifting can put strain on the low back. Constant holding and looking down at baby can overwork the muscles of the shoulders and upper back and strain the neck. Stiffness of the SI joints can occur as your body recovers from pregnancy and birth and ligaments tighten back up. The good news is there are ways to combat and prevent these pains so you can focus more on enjoying your new bundle of joy.
- Bend from the knees and hinge at your hips to pick up the baby.
- Use a taller changing table when changing baby’s diapers so you don’t have to bend over. (Never leave baby unattended on elevated changing tables or any surface they could potentially fall off of.)
- Use a foot rest to elevate your feet while feeding or sitting with baby.
- Whether breast or bottle feeding, use a nursing pillow when feeding baby.
- Stretch daily to loosen tight muscles and ligaments.
- Go see your chiropractor to help with joint mobility and postural imbalances.
- Get a massage to work out trigger points and muscle tension.
