You've had a baby, your body is recovering and sore, you're sleep deprived, you're trying to figure out feeding...

So what now?

The best way to take care of your baby is to take care of yourself.

What do I mean by this?

After birth we are recovering from hormone changes, weakened muscles, possible birth injury, cesarean restrictions and much more. Your recovery is highly influenced by many factors, such as daily habits, posture and movement patterns during regular activity.

While you are healing you're asking your body to work in a weakened state, which can cause altered posture, body mechanics and movement patterns. These alterations can cause soreness, pain, and long term changes to the soft tissue and joints, especially in your pelvis and spine.

Being more mindful of how you are moving and holding yourself while healing from birth will aid in your recovery and help you take care of baby.

I've created a list for you to better understand the importance of being aware while taking care of baby.

BENEFITS OF GOOD BODY MECHANICS WITH BABY

1. You can prevent undue muscle soreness

2. You can prevent back (upper, mid and lower) and pelvic pain

3. You sleep better

4. Your muscles and soft tissue are less strained

5. Your joints move in proper position and with more ease

6. You put less pressure into the pelvis preventing pelvic floor dysfunction...like peeing your pants and prolapse!

7. You provide better nutrition to your muscles, soft tissue and joints for healing

8. You set yourself up for life long positive pelvic and spine health

9. You allow your muscles to work when they are meant to and rest when they are meant to

10. You are more mindful of your body

11. You can safely get back to the activities you love

12. You improve your nutritious movement (coined by Katy Bowen)

13. You reduce your risk of post partum depression

14. You reduce your risk of spine or pelvic injury

15. YOU JUST FEEL BETTER!!!

So there you have it, a list of benefits to paying attention to your posture and how you move your body while taking care of baby. I'm sure there are so many more benefits, so if you think of more let me know!!!

It is so important to start early to establish good movement habits rather than needing to change bad ones that are already causing pain and dysfunction.

Check out this video for a quick tip on lifting baby!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwsFaVPH8w8

All of us can use a little help, so reach out, as for it. After birth it's hard for many of us to feel what our bodies are doing, our body awareness is reduced, our body may not be responding the way we anticipate or we're just too tired. So having another person who is trained in postnatal body mechanics watch your movement patterns and posture can be a game changer!