Being a new mom comes with lots of joy and an unimaginable amount of love, however, it also comes with its many challenges such as not getting adequate sleep, healing from the trauma of labor, managing multiple tasks such as cooking, laundry, cleaning while often having to hold our babies at the same time. Such challenges can put a toll on our bodies. Our babies become our main focus, and it is so easy to forget about ourselves. Some women report not feeling the same for a very long time. Chiropractic care can help new moms in so many ways.
During pregnancy, a woman’s center of gravity shifts forward, increasing their lower back’s curvature. As the pregnancy advances, and the baby grows, the mother’s weight increases significantly. The extra weight applies pressure to the joints, spine and discs. Relaxin, a hormone that increases during pregnancy, relaxes the ligaments to allow the joints to become looser in preparation for childbirth. However, the loose joints may have extended beyond their normal range during pregnancy or during delivery, and may need help getting back into optimal function post pregnancy.
Whether you had a vaginal delivery or a C-section, either way, your body has been through some pretty traumatic stuff. It's not unusual for new mothers to have joint dysfunction or even injuries, especially if the baby was big or the delivery was difficult. Chiropractic care helps relieve some of the pain while helping correct posture. If a person stays in an unnatural position for too long, they’ll almost always experience pain. The pain typically results from many small, repetitive strain injuries. Dr. Horne in Cranberry Twp works with you to help you determine the posture that works best for you to help you avoid issues such as back pain, pelvic pain, and even carpal tunnel syndrome.
After birth, most women have pain around their upper shoulders. Motherhood can be very hard on the back. Walking a fussy baby around the house multiple times a day, hunching over the baby at feeding time or pumping. Bending over a wiggling, slippery baby at bath time, and lowering, lifting and carrying the baby from the activity mat, the pack n play and crib all day long. Multi-tasking becomes part of the routine, holding baby with one arm, and cleaning/cooking/laundry with the other arm, which often forces mom to lean to one side. Some moms may even acquire new posture while nursing, pumping, or rocking baby to sleep. It is common to feel sore on their lower back, mid back and neck especially as the baby grows. Chiropractic care can help by loosening tight muscles, adjusting the spine back into place, and decrease pain.