These Hidden Health Problems Moms Deal With
You adore being a mom — but sometimes, it can cause significant pain. “Mom” might be the oldest job description in history, and it probably carries more risk of physical and mental strain than any other position.
What are some of the hidden health problems moms deal with and why? Here are six issues to watch out for and what to do if they plague you.
1. Neck and Shoulder Pain
When diaper bags come in multi-child sizes, you can squeeze everything you need into one convenient carrying case. However, all that extra cargo does add considerable weight. If you habitually sling your tote over the same shoulder as you head off to daycare with the kiddos, is it any wonder that you develop neck and shoulder pain?
You could develop degenerative disk disease or arthritis in your neck from always listing to port. One way to eliminate the strain is to alternate shoulders each time you pick up the bag, but this method requires considerable mental effort.
A less-taxing way to transport your baby’s belongings from point A to B requires investing in a backpack model. Such designs distribute the weight evenly between your shoulder blades, eliminating one-sided strain. This technique also works for the briefcase set who habitually carry their files in the same hand.
2. Low Back Pain
You know that your body undergoes many mechanical changes during pregnancy. Your center of gravity shifts, and your lower spine undergoes compensatory lordosis or inward curvature. This alteration causes excess strain on your lumbar joints, muscles, ligaments and disks.
As a result, many women develop chronic low back pain that doesn’t ease after giving birth. After all, that’s when you start carrying your child in your arm, and you might unconsciously sway backward to compensate for the weight.
To address this hidden health problem moms deal with, start doing exercises to strengthen and stretch the region. Movements such as bird-dog lifts strengthen the erector spinae muscles lining your vertebrae, and yoga stretches like baddha konasana or bound-angle pose ease tension on the complicated meridians surrounding your hips and lower back.
3. Diastasis Recti
Did your tummy develop a noticeable pooch after giving birth that doesn’t seem to go away no matter how many planks you do? If so, you might have a condition known as diastasis recti.
This disorder develops when your abdominal walls separate, often during pregnancy. As a result, your belly pokes out, making you look a few months along even after giving birth. Roughly two-thirds of expectant mothers develop diastasis recti, and the risks increase with multiple births and in those older than 35.
There’s good news if you have this condition — go ahead and skip the plank portion of your next toning or yoga class. Instead, stick with gentler moves like cat-cow and toe taps until your abdominal wall stitches itself back together.
4. Bladder Leakage
You sneeze or laugh, and you end up with a damp spot in your pants. Talk about embarrassing and uncomfortable — is it already time to visit the adult diaper aisle in your local pharmacy?
There’s nothing wrong with wearing a pad or even a diaper if you need one. Over 40% of all pregnant women develop stress urinary incontinence, and the problem doesn’t always disappear after giving birth. However, knowing you aren’t alone is cold comfort when date night arrives, and you want to wear your laciest lingerie.
You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and regain better control by practicing Kegel exercises. Talk to your OB/GYN about how to perform these movements for maximum effectiveness. You can also teach yourself at home each time you go to the restroom. Try to stop and start your stream several times as you void.
5. Nipple Woes
If your breasts ache when they’re full of milk, it’s one thing. However, the need to feed isn’t the only cause of chest discomfort while breastfeeding.
Sometimes, you can eliminate discomfort by adjusting your position to let your baby latch on and suck more effectively. Positions like football, cradle and cross-cradle all work for some but not others, depending on your body’s unique configurations.
Expressing a little milk after nursing might help prevent infection, as breast milk has natural antimicrobial properties. Changing your bra to eliminate excess tightness and using breast shells to prevent cracking also helps.
6. Anxiety
When you become a mom, you suddenly have 99 problems to worry about that you didn’t have before. A single round of late-night colic leads to fears of a rare medical condition. Before you know it, somehow, your mind has gone down the rabbit hole of worrying about how this undiagnosed — and likely nonexistent — threat impacts their future career and marriage prospects.
Take time to engage in healthy stress-reduction techniques each day. For some moms, this relaxation might take the form of an invigorating workout. For others, letting their partner mind the monitor while they indulge in a bubble bath does the trick.
Manage These 6 Hidden Health Problems Moms Deal With
Parenthood is such a joy that many folks don’t hear about the hidden health problems moms deal with every day. If the above six ailments plague you, take steps to get relief today.