Around here, we are big advocates for breastfeeding; for a lot of reasons. Breastfeeding is great emotionally and physically for both mama and baby. (Make sure you check out this post about breastfeeding here.) But, regardless of its great benefits, breastfeeding can be really hard on the female body. So, to help you out and save your back from additional stress and pain, we decided to put together this little guide to keep you and your back healthy during this season of breastfeeding.

Your nervous system is responsible for controlling everything in your body. In other words, the better condition you are able to keep your back, the better you will feel emotionally and physically.

Think about your body’s posture when you nurse. It is a natural response to enclose your baby in your body, isn’t it? To lean over their sweet face and make sure that they are cared for and feeling loved. Breastfeeding enacts a natural response from mothers to position our bodies around our babies. We aren’t asking you to change that. We believe this is a beautiful and natural part of the mother-child relationship. We are, however, asking that you consider some new, pre-emptive measures that you can take to alleviate some of the stress that this common breastfeeding position puts on your spinal cord.

Make sure you stretch

I know we typically associate stretching with working out, but stretching is key when you are trying to keep up with the demands of breastfeeding. too. (Probably most mothers feel like they run a marathon every day, anyway.) But stretching is great for your body after you have just breastfed your child. Stretching after breastfeeding will help to reduce neck tension and pain in your upper back, caused from slouching or hovering over your little one. When you stretch, focus on your breath and opening up your heart.

Get a breastfeeding pillow you love!

Most newborn babies nurse from 20 to 30 minutes in one session. And typically a newborn will nurse about 12 times every 24 hours. That’s a lot of sitting and nursing for mamas! One thing you can do to help ease the stress this puts on your body is to invest in a nursing pillow that you love! You’ll be spending a lot of time in your rocking chair with your baby, so don’t be make sure that you get a pillow that really fits your body. Every body is different, so make sure that you try out different pillows to determine which brand fits your body best.

Nursing pillows are great because they allow you to boost your baby closer to your body. So rather than you having to lean over so far, a nursing pillow will help hold your baby up, meaning there is less pressure on your body to support your little one.

Schedule your chiropractic appointments ahead of time

When you have a newborn, it seems like you have less time in your life for everything else. Naturally, your little babe is going to consume most of your time. That’s why it’s so important that you schedule your chiropractic appointments ahead of time. By scheduling appointments ahead of time, you hold yourself accountable for showing up. After enduring birth and now with the added stress of breastfeeding on your body, it is absolutely essential that you make time to see your chiropractor. The more regularly that you are able to attend, the better you will feel.

Did you know that Dr. Krystal has been trained to adjust women pre and post-labor? This means that she has a unique understanding of what your healing body needs and will be able to help refresh and revitalize your tired nervous system.

If you have any questions about your posture during breastfeeding, be sure to ask Dr. Krystal during your next appointment. To schedule your next appointment, go ahead and give us a call today. We can’t wait to see you (and your little one) in the office!