There is no doubt in my mind that in learning how to best feed your baby you will have gotten yourself into some awkward positions to make it happen. Regardless of whether you breast or bottle feed; you will probably be using your arms and hands more than they’ve ever been used and so it is common to have aches and pains in wrists, thumbs, necks, backs and shoulders. And so aches and pains will be a “thing” while your body works this stuff out.
Of course prevention is better than cure but we can’t go back in time and change that, although, if you’re reading this and haven’t given birth yet then start strengthening your hands, arms and upper body NOW! (I am here if you need help with that).
Just like with most things in the postnatal period we don’t often get to see it because it happens at home in isolation. If we don’t see it then how can we prepare? And wrist and thumb pain is usually a bit of a shocker because how can you rest hands that are in constant use?
You will be at risk of aches and pains in this area depending on the amount of time pre birth you spent using your hands and arms for things in your day to day life. The less you have used them the more they will likely ache and give you pain signals because all this use is new to your body and brain.
If this is something you are experiencing then you don’t have to suffer. I have lots of techniques where you can give your hands and arms relative rest while increasing strength. In the appointment we may utilise:
Massage techniques
Manual therapy
Technique prescription and movement therapy
Posture correction and improvement
Acupuncture
Breathing, relaxation and mindfulness
Advice on self-management strategies
I can also help if you are planning pregnancy and want to prepare your system for what’s to come.
Rest assured that there is nothing wrong with you if you experience these pains that they are just ways for your brain to talk to you and say “hey this is all new, let me get my head around this” and “I’m doing some hard work here, so rest me when you can”. Body’s need rest in order to regenerate and restore and I can help to guide your body into this place of rest, regenerate and restore.
Don’t just live with it!
Book in for an appointment with Sarah