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Writer's pictureDr. Melissa Thompson, PT, DPT, MTC, PCES, FAMM

Why Practice Lifting as a Mom?

Let’s talk about the importance of proper lifting with a baby!


If you are a new mom in the thick of the postpartum phase, lifting and exercise may be the last thing on your mind. You're dealing with taking care of a tiny baby, lack of sleep, and all of the other responsibilities of being a parent to a baby.


BUT -- All parents lift!


Yes they do! No matter if that’s your intention or not. You will be picking up your baby from various places, like the floor, the changing table, the bassinet, and the crib. The crib can be the trickiest due to the height of the front rail. The type of movement you need for these lifts is called a hip hinge. This is the main principle of a deadlift.





What if you are lifting a baby in and out of the crib without a hinge? 


So not only from PT experience but from personal experience with an 8 month old, many of us can get back pain from crib lifting. Repetitive lifting with incorrect mechanics of even a small baby can lead to back pain and other issues. Lifting a load + having the load in your arms far away from your body + using your back to lift = risk factor for back pain


Back pain is one of the most common issues during the postpartum time period. Not only are you recovering from birth, healing your abdominals and pelvic floor, but you're doing all this lifting and activity on less sleep than you are used to. Having great motor control and ability to hinge can really improve back pain during this time period.



So what if you can’t hinge or don’t know how to hinge? 


Practice, practice, practice! I usually prescribe my clients with simple unloaded hinges like rock back in all fours all the way to single leg and full weighted hinges. It’s a movement that takes practice and some skill to get correct. If you are uncertain, you can work with me, a pelvic floor physical therapist, at Flow Physical Therapy to properly learn this skill.


Want more information?




Dr. Melissa Thompson, PT, DPT, MTC, PCES, FAMM

Owner and Pelvic Health Physical Therapist

Flow Physical Therapy and Wellness

832-299-5447

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