Oh Baby - My Back!
From the day they are conceived until they leave for college children put an enormous strain on your body, especially your back.
Although you would do anything in the world for your children, if you don't look after yourself you may find yourself physically unable to keep up with them and provide them with everything that they need.
As the primary caretaker, the health of your family starts with you, so you have to look after yourself.
The following are some of the major stressors that caring for your children put on your back and ways to counteract or prevent problems from occurring.
1) Pregnancy - How can carrying a bowling ball around your belly for 9 months not be a strain on your back? Pregnant women generally experience lower back pain and sciatica (pain down the leg) as the load on your spine increases throughout the pregnancy.
The increased weight can cause shifts in your spine.
Taking pain killers during pregnancy is not only dangerous for the baby but also will not remove the stress.
Stretching is very important for the health of everyone's spine but particularly when you are pregnant.
Pre-natal yoga is a very safe and effective way to help you stay limber.
Chiropractic care is also a fantastic, gentle way to realign the spine and remove the source of the pain.
Chiropractic care has also been shown to help with labor.
2) Newborn care - The number one complaint we hear from new parents (especially moms) is neck pain.
This is because you spend the first couple of months of your child's life looking down at them, whether it is feeding them or comforting them or just staring at them.
This puts an enormous amount of strain on the cervical spine.
We already put a lot of stress on our necks sitting at a computer all day or reading or driving in a car, so this extra stress can wreak havoc on the spine.
It is important to stretch your neck as much as possible, from side to side, usually in the shower is the best time when your muscles are nice and warm.
We also advise parents to hang your head over the edge of the bed for a couple of minutes a couple of times a day.
Icing the neck or upper back at the end of the day for 10-15 minutes can also provide relief.
3) Infants - As your child begins to grow most parents start to feel strain/pain in their lower backs.
The main cause of this is constantly lifting and carrying your child.
When you are carrying your child it is very important to switch up what side you are carrying them on.
If you always carry them on the right side it puts abnormal stress on one side of your body.
By switching it up it helps distribute and diminish the stress on your body.
When lifting your child it is also essential to use proper body mechanics.
Always bend with your knees and maintain a curve in your low back.
Core strength is also vital.
The stronger your core is the less likely you are to cause a shift in your spine.
4) Toddlers - The catch me if you can phase.
Once your child is mobile is when the fun really begins.
You can't turn your back for a second.
You are constantly bending to take something from them or give them something and chasing them through the house while bent over to catch them in case they fall.
So it's no wonder that parents of young children constantly complain of mid & lower back pain.
Again a lot of it goes back to core strength, so it is important to keep up with your core strengthening exercises.
Stretching is also very important, particularly the hamstrings.
Research has shown that hamstring flexibility is directly related to lower back pain.
With so much flexing of the spine it is also important to do some lumbar extension stretching and strengthening.
5) School age - This is the age when your child is a little less dependent on you for their survival needs but that does not mean that you are off the hook.
With school come new friends, new interests and new activities.
They will want you to play sports, take them to the park, play hide and seek, etc.
If you haven't been looking after yourself this is the time when it will really show.
Pain causes fatigue and irritability, if your back or neck is hurting you will not want to participate in any of these activities with your kids, and you will find yourself annoyed with everything and everyone around you.
In order to enjoy your life you have to take care of yourself.
If not you will find yourself just trying to get through the day instead of trying to get the most out of each day.
Eating properly and getting plenty of exercise should be on your priority list.
Taking high quality nutritional supplements like Pure Encapsulations can help you get the essential nutrients that you may be missing from your diet.
In general just remind yourself that pain is there for a reason.
It is your body telling you that something is wrong.
If a warning light goes off in your car, you would take it to a mechanic to have it checked, so why would you ignore your bodies warning light.
If an ache or pain should arise, try some of the techniques listed above.
However, if the pain persists for more than 48 hours have it checked out by a professional.
Remember you only have one life and one body so for the sake of your family DO NOT take it for granted.
Although you would do anything in the world for your children, if you don't look after yourself you may find yourself physically unable to keep up with them and provide them with everything that they need.
As the primary caretaker, the health of your family starts with you, so you have to look after yourself.
The following are some of the major stressors that caring for your children put on your back and ways to counteract or prevent problems from occurring.
1) Pregnancy - How can carrying a bowling ball around your belly for 9 months not be a strain on your back? Pregnant women generally experience lower back pain and sciatica (pain down the leg) as the load on your spine increases throughout the pregnancy.
The increased weight can cause shifts in your spine.
Taking pain killers during pregnancy is not only dangerous for the baby but also will not remove the stress.
Stretching is very important for the health of everyone's spine but particularly when you are pregnant.
Pre-natal yoga is a very safe and effective way to help you stay limber.
Chiropractic care is also a fantastic, gentle way to realign the spine and remove the source of the pain.
Chiropractic care has also been shown to help with labor.
2) Newborn care - The number one complaint we hear from new parents (especially moms) is neck pain.
This is because you spend the first couple of months of your child's life looking down at them, whether it is feeding them or comforting them or just staring at them.
This puts an enormous amount of strain on the cervical spine.
We already put a lot of stress on our necks sitting at a computer all day or reading or driving in a car, so this extra stress can wreak havoc on the spine.
It is important to stretch your neck as much as possible, from side to side, usually in the shower is the best time when your muscles are nice and warm.
We also advise parents to hang your head over the edge of the bed for a couple of minutes a couple of times a day.
Icing the neck or upper back at the end of the day for 10-15 minutes can also provide relief.
3) Infants - As your child begins to grow most parents start to feel strain/pain in their lower backs.
The main cause of this is constantly lifting and carrying your child.
When you are carrying your child it is very important to switch up what side you are carrying them on.
If you always carry them on the right side it puts abnormal stress on one side of your body.
By switching it up it helps distribute and diminish the stress on your body.
When lifting your child it is also essential to use proper body mechanics.
Always bend with your knees and maintain a curve in your low back.
Core strength is also vital.
The stronger your core is the less likely you are to cause a shift in your spine.
4) Toddlers - The catch me if you can phase.
Once your child is mobile is when the fun really begins.
You can't turn your back for a second.
You are constantly bending to take something from them or give them something and chasing them through the house while bent over to catch them in case they fall.
So it's no wonder that parents of young children constantly complain of mid & lower back pain.
Again a lot of it goes back to core strength, so it is important to keep up with your core strengthening exercises.
Stretching is also very important, particularly the hamstrings.
Research has shown that hamstring flexibility is directly related to lower back pain.
With so much flexing of the spine it is also important to do some lumbar extension stretching and strengthening.
5) School age - This is the age when your child is a little less dependent on you for their survival needs but that does not mean that you are off the hook.
With school come new friends, new interests and new activities.
They will want you to play sports, take them to the park, play hide and seek, etc.
If you haven't been looking after yourself this is the time when it will really show.
Pain causes fatigue and irritability, if your back or neck is hurting you will not want to participate in any of these activities with your kids, and you will find yourself annoyed with everything and everyone around you.
In order to enjoy your life you have to take care of yourself.
If not you will find yourself just trying to get through the day instead of trying to get the most out of each day.
Eating properly and getting plenty of exercise should be on your priority list.
Taking high quality nutritional supplements like Pure Encapsulations can help you get the essential nutrients that you may be missing from your diet.
In general just remind yourself that pain is there for a reason.
It is your body telling you that something is wrong.
If a warning light goes off in your car, you would take it to a mechanic to have it checked, so why would you ignore your bodies warning light.
If an ache or pain should arise, try some of the techniques listed above.
However, if the pain persists for more than 48 hours have it checked out by a professional.
Remember you only have one life and one body so for the sake of your family DO NOT take it for granted.
