There's a direct correlation between bringing home a new baby and developing back problems--which is why I spend a part of every week talking with new parents about back pain.
I'm always surprised to hear that no physician have advised them or prepared them in any way for how to avoid the inevitable pain that comes with carrying a baby around. The mother of the child is more at risk for back pain, due to rapid weight gain during pregnancy—plus, hormonal changes that relax muscles and other soft tissue to facilitate the birth process put mothers in a particularly precarious position. But both parents can fall victim if they aren’t paying attention.
Here are some simple strategies for avoiding back pain with a new child at home:
Ditch the baby bucket! Convertible car seat / baby carriers seem like a great convenience, however the design of these carriers is a veritable how-not-to list of ergonomics. Why? These baby buckets force the weight of the child away from the parents center of gravity--essentially as if you were carrying heavy luggage with you everywhere you go. Leave the car seat in the car, and instead, opt for a sling type device which will bring your child closer to your body. This will have the added benefits of bringing your baby closer to your face, and if you are a nursing mother, make it so you don’t have to reposition everything to feed your baby.
Switch sides. No matter what kind of carrier you choose, try to switch off sides. It can be easy to get into the habit of carrying your baby on one side or another. Alternate to avoid placing undue stress on one side.
Simplify. New parents are bombarded with a zillion must-have products, and as a result, the diaper bag starts to fill up with lots and lots of heavy stuff. Go through and see what you really need. My wife and I usually got away with carrying an extra couple of diapers in the bottom of our sling, some wipes in a Zip-Lock bag, and that was pretty much it. We left the bag home altogether.
As always, defend your sleep. For both physical and mental reasons, you must get adequate rest, allowing your mind and body to recover from the day (I know, easier said than done). With a new baby, this can often be difficult--your baby may not keep the same schedule as you. You and your spouse can take turns sleeping to ensure you both get the rest you need.
Andrew Kirschner, D.O., is a board-certified physician with a private practice in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and a consultancy in Miami, Florida. He specializes in treating individuals and couples with musculoskeletal and back pain. To learn more about his practice, please visit BackTogether.org.
From: Laura | 4/19/11 at 9:22 am
A convertible car seat is not the same as a baby bucket. A convertible car seat is one that can be use by a rear facing infant and then later turned around for older kids. Baby buckets are a waste of money & I've never understood why people insist on A) having them and B) lugging their BABIES around like they're a sack of groceries.
From: Safely carrying a new baby: My newest post on Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Blog… « BackWords | 5/6/11 at 8:48 am
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From: nicole holler | 10/16/11 at 1:31 pm
interesting topic..very informative
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