Like many new mothers, you may find yourself suffering from niggling back pain after the birth of your baby. This can be caused by the rigours of labour and can also be caused by carrying your baby around for extended periods of time. It's common to be uncomfortable using strong painkillers to get pain relief, especially if you are breastfeeding. Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent and relieve back pain following the birth of your child.
Have a remedial massage
Remedial massage is an excellent way to relieve back pain, especially if the back pain is muscular rather than related to problems with your vertebrae and discs. It involves deep tissue manipulation and restructuring of the back muscles and surrounding muscle system. Remedial massage is most effective if you have a series of massages over several weeks.
Remedial massage isn't the same as a relaxing massage; in fact, it can sometimes be quite uncomfortable. You may even find that you have some bruising afterwards. The relief you will feel after is worth the initial discomfort, though.
Have a chiropractic adjustment
Pregnancy and birth put an enormous amount of strain on a woman's body and can result in mild to serious misalignment of the spine, pelvis, and hips. This can lead to back pain and can also cause pain in the neck and shoulders.
A chiropractor can realign your spine and readjust your pelvis and hips to their natural position. This will often give you immediate relief from niggling back pain. A chiropractor can also give you excellent advice on maintaining the correct posture when breastfeeding and carrying your baby, which will prevent further misalignment, and the resulting back pain, from occurring.
Use an ergonomic baby carrier
Baby carriers are very popular with new mothers. They allow you to carry your fussy baby close to you while still keeping your hands free for other tasks. Many babies are far more settled when being held close to their mothers, which is unsurprising after they have spent forty weeks being gently rocked inside their mother's womb.
However, not all baby carriers are created equal. Many of them put pressure on your neck and shoulders, which will place pressure on your lower back. The ideal baby carriers are the ones which place most of the weight on your hips. It's worth shopping around and finding the right ergonomic baby carrier, even if it means paying a little bit more than the less back-friendly models.
Having a new baby is both an exciting and challenging time. By following these tips, you can make sure that niggling back pain doesn't mar the first special months with your precious little bundle.
Share25 September 2015
Welcome to my blog. I used to work as a midwife and recently retired about two years ago. I love to keep my mind active and also love to write, so I decided to start this blog. In this space, I am going to focus on pregnant women but not from an exclusive midwifery stance. Instead, I want to write about how massage can be instrumental for pregnant women during the pregnancy and labour but also after delivery. If you are pregnant, I hope these tips and facts help you. Please, explore and enjoy these posts. I live with my dog, and it's usually pretty quiet around here, so I am eager for the chance to communicate with the world through the venue of this blog.