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.

PINCHED NERVE
Muscular Skeletal injuries and pinched nerves can occur in people who do not even remember pulling or tweaking anything. But the results can be devastating if you do not get the right advice. I was told not to go to chiropractor which would make it worse and my body would heal on it's own. It seemed like the right advice but if you google the issue it tell you to go to the Chiro. If you go right into treatment it might take longer to heal and make it worse. Most pinched nerves heal in 15-30 days.

It is not uncommon for pinched nerves in the neck to cause bizarre symptoms such as facial pain, ringing in the ears, headaches, and chest pain (from upper chest nerves and anxiety combined). A careful history and physical examination are critical.