Back pain while breastfeeding is the most common complaint among new mothers. Many women neglect this as they focus more on taking care of the baby. But this should never be ignored and treated as soon as possible. To know why and how to deal with the pain read below:
Why does it happen and how does it feel?
The major cause is due to improper posture. Slouching and frequently stooping down puts strain on your back muscles. Another reason is prolonged hours of feeding which makes you stay in the same position for hours. In the initial days post-delivery, the women may sit in the same position for around 1-3 hours for nursing the baby. During pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is produced in your body. These hormones stretch your pelvis, back, and tummy. This hormone stays in your body post-delivery for 3-6 months, stretches your back muscles more than it has to be, and causes strain.
It feels like dull aching pain which if left untreated turns out to be sharp. You might also feel pressure when you cough, laugh or take a deep breath. This pain gets aggravated when you bend down or lift weights. Sometimes you will feel the pain spreading to your neck, ribs, tummy, or even legs.
How to deal with this?
1. Choose the right breastfeeding position - There are various positions for breastfeeding and nothing is considered the best. Try all positions and see what works the best for you and in which position you feel more comfortable and less pain.
2. Maintain good posture and use pillows - You can use a pillow for your back and neck and make sure to choose your cushion wisely. Using a very soft cushion aggravates the pain further. Avoid bending too low and sit upright.
3. Take a break between feeding - Do not sit for long hours, take a break in the middle and move around for a minute or two
4. Exercising - Doing stretches in the morning along with a core workout helps you to strengthen the back muscle as well as relieves pain. Remember to consult with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program after delivery.
5. Use hot compression - Using a hot bag over the area of pain for 15-20 minutes twice or thrice a day helps.
6. Massaging your back twice a week helps
7. Take help from family members - Resting as much as possible is important to de-stress the muscles. Share your tasks with your partner. If you experience very severe pain and you are unable to feed then you can express your breastmilk and ask your family member to feed the baby via bottle.
8. Stay hydrated - You will lose fluids from your body while nursing. Dehydration leads to back pain since it thins out the fluids between your discs. So don't forget to drink enough water.
In case of chronic back pain that doesn’t resolve with any home remedies, seeking help from a healthcare professional is important.
What happens if left untreated?
If the back pain is left untreated for months it leads to disc problems. You will experience more fatigue, and weakness and it also affects your sleep. According to a study, the majority of women discontinue breastfeeding due to back pain. Therefore maintaining a good posture, taking care, and strengthening your back right from pregnancy is important
