Hip pain can pop up anytime, especially when carrying a new baby's weight around. Being a new parent is especially trying on some regions of your body, including your back and hips.
Before you end up with chronic hip pain, you must learn how to hold your baby correctly to minimize damage to your body.
At Alpha Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Dr. Brian Snow and Dr. Jon Thompson are our two orthopedic specialists who treat various issues, including hip pain.
If you’re dealing with pain in your hip from carrying your new bundle of joy, Dr. Snow and Dr. Thompson provide customized care and tips on preventing further issues with your hips.
You’re just home from the hospital and overjoyed with your new baby. Being excited as a new parent isn’t unusual, but injuries from holding your baby probably aren’t something you’ve considered.
Your body takes on a lot of stress with a baby, requiring you to tote them around until they can walk independently.
If you’re not careful during the first few years, carrying your child can lead to several injuries on your body, including the following:
Pushing a stroller and gripping the handles or bending your wrist to support your baby’s head all cause stress on the muscles and tendons in your wrist. If you’re not careful, you can have painful wrist problems.
Holding your baby on one hip and only supporting them with one arm kicks your hips and spine out of alignment. Hip and pelvic girdle pain are common when you hold your child incorrectly.
Watching your baby while they nurse might be tempting, but it can wreak havoc on your neck and shoulder muscles. Your neck pushes forward, causing your muscles to strain and tears to occur, leading to chronic pain.
Having a baby means picking them up off the floor and bending over to clean up their toys, but you must be careful. Bending at your pelvis strains your back, sometimes causing back strains and sprains.
The best way to prevent chronic hip pain from holding your child is to figure out how to do so correctly ahead of time. Practicing good techniques when picking your child up, taking them out of the car seat, and simply carrying them up the steps to bed is essential.
Our team is happy to provide you with the following tips to prevent hip strain and chronic pain from carrying your baby improperly:
The best way to prevent hip pain with a new baby is to constantly watch your posture and practice good techniques. For example, hold your baby close to your body, keeping your spine and hips aligned.
When you need to pick your baby or something off the floor, bend at your knees to preserve your back and hips.
It’s tempting to multitask and hold your child with one arm while trying to do things with the other — however, that’s not good for any part of your body.
When holding your child, hold both arms close to the center of your body to prevent your hips from kicking out and throwing your spine out of alignment.
It’s not to say you can’t ever hold your baby on your hip; when doing so, be sure to switch sides intermittently to prevent strain. Keeping your hips in line and preventing kicking one hip out to the side is also a good idea.
Using a body carrier is a good idea when you need to carry your baby for an extended period. A front carrier is the best for preserving your body; it distributes the baby’s weight across a broad region of your body, preventing hip and back strain.
If you’re suffering from hip pain, don’t hesitate to call us at one of our three locations in McKinney, Prosper, and Sherman, Texas, to schedule a consultation. You may also request an appointment on the website.
