In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at some basic tips on posture for new mothers who have recently given birth to a child. This is a wonderful period in any woman’s life, but also may come with some physical challenges, and posture is one of the most important areas for staving off pain and remaining as healthy as possible in this area.
At Apollo Chiropractic, we’re proud to serve as a top family chiropractor in SLC, offering a huge range of chiropractic care services — and even offering family primary care services for many of our clients as well. What are some other general recommendations we can make on posture for common mother activities that involve carrying or otherwise caring for the child? Here’s a primer.
Picking Child Up from the Floor
Another area where posture is absolutely vital for new mothers is when picking up a child from the floor. It may seem like common sense, but you want to avoid any twisting or leaning motions when doing this — both of which could seriously injure your back.
Instead, use your legs to squat down and pick the child up in a smooth, controlled manner. This is not only better for your posture, but also will help avoid any potential injuries to your child as well.
Carrying the Child
When carrying your child, it’s important to adjust your posture and grip on the child frequently. That may mean using one arm for a period of time and then switching to the other, or readjusting your grip entirely. The key is simply not to keep the same posture for an extended period of time, as this will eventually lead to pain in your shoulders, neck or back.
Additionally, it’s important to use a carrier that evenly distributes the child’s weight. This is doubly important if you find yourself carrying the child for long periods of time, as an uneven distribution of weight can cause serious pain in your back and shoulders.
Carrying the Carrier
Speaking of carriers, it’s important to use a comfortable one that doesn’t cause you any pain. If you’re going to be carrying the carrier for long periods of time, look for one with padded straps — and make sure to adjust those straps frequently so that they remain comfortable.
It’s also important to remember that when carrying the carrier, you want to keep your posture as upright as possible. This may mean hunching over slightly at first, but it’s important to keep your back as straight as you can to avoid any potential injuries.
For more on posture for new mothers, or to learn about any of our chiropractic care services for the entire family, speak to our staff at Apollo Chiropractic today.