Tips for neck pain with carrying baby
Question: "I have constant neck tension. It's worse now with carrying my baby and cooking. Do I need to stretch more?"
Answer: Great question! Tension is impacted by many things including stress, poor sleep, staying in the same postures for long periods of time (e.g., constantly carrying baby or constantly on the computer), and muscular weakness. So the best solution may be different based on each person's unique needs. In my experience, many people have weakness in their neck and shoulder blade muscles. Strong muscles are better able tolerate load and stress. Stretching may help when the muscles are truly tight, but otherwise, try these other options.
Strengthening muscles around her neck and shoulder blades.
Gentle massage at any tender points.
Heat. A hot-pack for 5-10 minutes can feel amazing!
Meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing. Basically things to de-stress yourself and wind down your sympathetic nervous system (tone down that flight-or-fight response!).
Switch up your postures. If you're always in one position or always carrying your baby one way, switch it up. Try the other arm, a carrier, take a 2 minute break to re-set your muscles.
As always, consult with a Registered Physiotherapist for individualized assessment and management strategies that will work for you. These are just generalized tips for informational purposes! If you're looking for PT services, click here to find out more.
