5 Ways to avoid backache while with your newborn

Consider the fact that parents may be lifting a 7-10 pound baby 50 times a day. By 12 months, your baby weighs approximately 17 pounds, and at 2 years, that child has become a 25-30 pound toddler. The repetitive lifting of your child may put you at risk for back problems.

What’s a parent to do? Well, here are some simple tips that can help parents avoid some common
aches and pains.

LIFTING
Stand with your feet at least a shoulder width apart. Keep your back in neutral position and bend your
knees. Bring your baby as close to your chest as possible, and then lift using both arms.

CARRYING
When carrying your little one, pivot with your feet instead of twisting your back. This will ensure that
you’re turning with your hips, which will reduce your risk of back pain. Lower your child into the crib
or onto the floor by bending at the knees, with a neutral back.

HOLDING
Hold your child in an upright position, directly against your chest. Carrying a child on one hip
creates postural imbalances that can lead to low back pain over time.

FEEDING
Always sit in a chair with back support and avoid leaning forward to reach your newborn’s mouth. Instead, use pillows or blankets to support and position your baby closer to you.

EXERCISE
Exercise can help increase muscle support for your aching back. While your baby is enjoying tummy time, join them on the floor and do some exercises to help strengthen your core.

There is no time for back pain in parenthood. Talk to your chiropractor about specific
exercises to stretch and strengthen your muscles so that you can stay on your toes and a
step ahead of your toddler.


4 Exercise to relieve your new mom back aches

While carrying your bundle of joy for nine months, your abdominal muscles have stretched to make room for delivery. This is a common cause of back pain in new moms because your back muscles now have to work overtime to support your spine and keep you upright.

Here are 4 core exercises you can do with your little one to help decrease the ache.

PELVIC BRIDGES
Lie on your back, bend your knees and put your feet flat on the ground. Place your baby on your pelvis
with their back against your thighs. While holding your baby in place, slowly push your hips up towards the
ceiling. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds. Keep your abdominals tight to avoid sagging your lower back. Inhale as you slowly lower your body back to the starting position. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

PLANK
Lay your baby on the ground, face up, while kneeling in front of them. Place your forearms on either side of your baby and lift your body off the ground. Keep your back in neutral spine position and engage your core by contracting your abdominal muscles. Avoid letting your hips fall or stick up in the air. Hold for 10 seconds, working
your way up to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 to 5 times.

STABILIZER
Laying on your back, bend your knees at a 90 degree angle with your feet in the air. Stabilize your baby so they are resting on your shins and hold onto their hands. Engage your core and hold this position for 10 seconds, working your way up to 30 seconds. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

ARM & LEG EXTENSIONS
Get down on all fours with your baby lying on their back and parallel to your chest. Engage your core and
slowly lift and extend your left arm and right leg at the same time while maintaining a neutral spine position.
Hold this position for 3 seconds, then lower your limbs and give your baby’s belly a tickle as you return to
starting position. Repeat on the opposite side, lifting right arm and left leg. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

Before getting back to business, consult your postnatal practitioner and get cleared to return to exercise. You’ll also want to make sure that your newborn can hold their head up on their own if you’re going to include them in these exercises. If your back pain prevents you from performing these exercises or persists after trying them, visit your chiropractor to develop a treatment plan for your recovery.

Did you know that at least half of pregnant women experience back pain? And 10% of those report discomfort severe enough to disrupt their daily routines. The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your
back during pregnancy.

What causes pregnancy-related back pain in the first place?

When pregnant, it’s normal to gain more than 30 pounds. This extra weight places considerable stress on
your back, feet, ankles and knees. As your baby grows, your core abdominal muscles become stretched and
cannot stabilize your posture as well as they did before.

In the third trimester, levels of a hormone called “relaxin” increase by a factor of ten. Relaxin loosens your
joints to allow the pelvis to accommodate the enlarging uterus. These loose joints force the muscles of the
back and pelvis to work overtime to keep you upright and balanced, leading to back pain.

Try these tips to Help minimize your risk of back pain:

EXERCISE
Exercise can go a long way to increase muscle support for an aching back. A health care practitioner should always be consulted before starting a new exercise regimen. Low impact cardiovascular activities, such as swimming, walking, or stationary cycling can help relieve pain and maintain fitness.

SLEEP POSITION
Sleep on your left side to reduce the pressure of your uterus on the large blood vessels in your abdomen, optimizing blood flow to both you and the baby.

PILLOW POSITION
Place a pillow between your knees to take pressure off your lower back when sleeping on your side.

SUPPORT YOUR BODY
With the added weight, support has never been more important. Wear flat, supportive shoes and use a lumbar support pillow in your chair at home or work. If you sit at a computer or desk, walk around for a few minutes each
hour.

TAKE BREAKS
Take frequent, short breaks with your feet elevated. Adequate rest restores your energy and gives your back a chance to relax.

SWEET DREAMS

Lack of sleep is no joke and getting a good night’s rest is important. We spend about one- third of our lives sleeping, so getting the most out of it is important. Preventing stress or worries that keep you up at night may be difficult, but a few simple lifestyle and nutritional changes can help you wake-up feeling refreshed.

For a good night’s rest
1. When choosing a mattress, look for one that is comfortably supportive. A mattress should be flexible enough to adapt to your body’s shape, while providing firm support for your spine. Your mattress should be replaced every 8 to 12 years to ensure the proper support and comfort.

2. Be selective when choosing a pillow. When lying on your side, your head, neck and shoulders should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine.

3. Your sleeping position is also an important factor in how you will feel when you wake-up. Lying on your back or side allows your head, neck and spine to relax into their natural alignment.

4. Have low back pain? Try sleeping on your back and place a pillow under your knees to take some of the pressure off your back.

Things to keep in mind
1. Limit your intake of caffeinated beverages such as coffee, colas and tea in the evening. Caffeine is a stimulant and can make it difficult for you to fall asleep.

2. Try to go to bed at the same time everyday. This includes weekends! This will help to keep your sleep cycle in a regular rhythm.

3. Expose yourself to bright light/sunlight soon after you wake up. This will help to regulate your body’s natural biological clock.

4. Avoid looking at the clock if you happen to wake in the middle of the night. This can cause added anxiety and keep you awake even longer.

5. If you can’t fall asleep after 30 minutes of trying, get out of bed and do something boring in dim light until you become sleepy.
If you’re still experiencing trouble sleeping, consult with a chiropractor to discuss what treatments may help improve your quality of sleep.