The Aches & Pains of Being New Parents

I thought I had arthritis! My arms were killing, my shoulders were aching from the inside out, and my back hurt, but that was expected. My wrists were weak for weeks. I couldn't even open a jar at times. And that's when I read a great article in the L.A. Times. It talked about my symptoms down to exact detail which amazed me. What great timing for this article. I learned that carrying a car seat with one arm straight down was the root of most my discomfort. I stopped. I used two hands from then on to carry my baby from the car to the stroller or from the house to the car. After 2 weeks all my symptoms disappeared.

I also learned that I had been doing other things that were hazardous to my health. Small changes on how you care, clothe, hold, and move your baby make a big difference. Parents often try to do so much that they end up with injuries that will really get them down. Take it slow! Below is a short list of minor adjustments that can be made to save your body some aches and pains:

BACK SAVER
-Dress baby on a surface that is at least waist height.
-Place baby tub on a table instead of down in a bath tub.
-Lift baby slowly and bend knees.
-Make sure to put crib side down before lifting baby out of the crib.

WRIST, SHOULDER AND ARM SAVER
-Hold baby with two hands when possible.
-Hold car seat with two hands all the time.
-Take baby out of the car seat when transferring them to the house.