If giving birth wasn’t painful enough, you then have to deal with a host of other problems. In fact, it probably feels as if your body is never going to be the same again!

Celebrity mums seem to snap back into shape the moment their baby arrives. For the rest of us, life isn’t so kind. Unfortunately, it is very common for new moms to suffer from a backache in the days and weeks post-birth. Your body has been through an awful lot, with a host of physical changes to contend with.

You probably gained a few extra pounds when you were pregnant, on top of the extra baby weight you had to lug around for nine months. This extra weight will have put a lot of extra stress on your pelvic region, including your lower back. And, to make matters worse, ligaments will have softened and joints loosened, all thanks to pregnancy hormones. There is also the issue of poor posture. After all, who can stand up straight when their belly is huge?

Backache post-pregnancy is very common. Many moms associate back pain with pregnancy, but like those extra few pounds, back pain is one annoying problem that doesn’t always melt away when the baby arrives.

Why Your Back Hurts

The human body is a wonderful thing, but it needs time to recover from the rigors of childbirth. You have to give yourself a break and try not to do too much. Instead of rushing around cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a newborn baby, rest, recuperate, and let other people do the heavy lifting for a few weeks. It is important that you give your body a chance to heal. Rest is a great healer, especially if your back is sore after the birth.

Being overweight is another factor. The more weight you are carrying, the more strain it places on your back. As discussed already, your back and core muscles are likely to be weaker than normal post-birth, so carrying extra weight won’t help.

Dealing with Back Pain

Where possible, stick to a healthy eating plan and breastfeed your baby, as breastfeeding is great for post-partum weight loss.  Try and include gentle exercise in your daily routine. You might not feel like going out, but a bit of fresh air will be good for you and your baby. It strengthens your muscles and may help the baby get to sleep.

Be careful when feeding your baby. Poor posture is a trigger for back pain. Many new mums hunch over when feeding their baby. Try to sit back when encouraging your baby latch on or take the bottle.

Long-Term Strategies

Once you feel more energetic, consider joining a fitness class for new moms. Yoga or Pilates are very useful for helping ease back pain. If this doesn’t help, consult an echiro practor or ask your doctor to refer you to a physio.

Back pain is mostly nothing serious, but if you experience any other worrying symptoms or the pain isn’t helped by over-the-counter painkillers, speak to your doctor for advice.