Celebrating Mother’s Day with Self-Care
It is Mother’s Day and now is the time to celebrate all mothers and the things they do for us. Motherhood is one of the most wonderful things in the world, but pregnancy, childbirth and carrying children and all their gear can wreck havoc on our spines and cause pain. Research has shown that repeatedly engaging in awkward positions can increase the risk of lower back problems. The solution can be a little self-care with regular chiropractic care and a little preventative forethought regarding the way you move.
Obviously with the growth of your stomach and breasts during pregnancy causing your back to curve inward, as well as the joint laxity , hormones and loosened joints and ligaments that aid in childbirth, back problems can be serious issue for new mothers. This can cause instability and injuries which can continue for several months after childbirth. Trying to have good posture, sleeping on your side with pillows between your knees, lifting properly and using the right gear can all help minimize pain though.
Once the baby is born, when breastfeeding, it is important to have good back support and to cushion the baby with pillows to prop them to the proper height so you do not need to lean forward to nurse. This will lessen problems with shoulder blade pain. A few shoulder blade squeezes while nursing the baby can also build this muscle which can lessen your chance of injury.
When lifting your child, be sure to keep your feet hip-width apart and bend with your knees, using your abdominal muscles to help you lift. Squatting down to start the lift, tightening your stomach muscles and then lifting while straightening your back will also help to keep your spine aligned. This will prevent lower back problems.
Buckling children into a car seat can cause your spine to contort as your torso twists too. Instead, sit next the car seat and rotate your body to the side to get your child seated and buckled in.
Similarly, when using a stroller, squat down to put your child in and out and use your legs, thighs and butt to lift up while keeping your spine straight. Slouching will throw out your spinal alignment, causing muscle and ligament strain.
Children also require a lot of gear and it is important to lift correctly when picking up playpens, diaper bags, highchairs and toys. Be sure to lift from your legs rather than your back. By moving mindfully, evenly distributing weight and taking the time to do tasks in a particular way can prevent many problems.
By seeing your chiropractor in denver regularly, you can help prevent many of these issues by keeping your spine aligned. If you do get an injury, visiting a chiropractor can also get you on the mend quickly. Adding chiropractic care to a fitness regime to have a healthy baby and get your postpartum body strengthened will help you rebuild your abdominal and back muscles so that you can regain your posture and balance. This lets you get back to doing the things that you enjoy sooner and back to motherhood.
Happy Mother’s Day from True Form Chiropractic!