Following the birth of her fourth child Harper Seven it was revealed recently that Victoria Beckham is suffering from severe back pain as a result of a slipped disc.
Rachel Lewis, pharmacist at Lloydspharmacy, offers some key advice and tips on how mums can manage their health and treat pain suffered after labour.
Childbirth puts significant strain on the body, which may result in many mothers suffering from pain after labour. It is crucial that mothers are aware of how best to treat their pain and what pain killers are safe to take, particularly when breastfeeding.Pain Killers for BreastFeeding Mums?When breastfeeding it is safe to take paracetamol to ease your pain. With Ibuprofen it is slightly different as some manufactures say it is fine but others advise not to take it at all. We would advise mothers who are breastfeeding not to take this until the baby is at least 3 months old.
We would advise against taking aspirin when breastfeeding.Painkillers if You Are Not BreastFeeding:Mothers who are not breastfeeding have a wider choice of over the counter pain relief. The pharmacist can advise which is best for the individual and would of course need to take into account their medical history and check that there are no underlying conditions, allergies, or other medication involved.Is it safe to use creams use to ease pain?It is important to be aware that certain ibuprofen creams which are absorbed through the skin can be used to ease back pain and can be very effective. However, some manufactures advise against using this, so it is vital to always check the label before using.Are there any other pain treatments?In some circumstances a TENS machine, which is a device that produces an electric current to stimulate the nerves, can help to ease minor aches and pains.What practical advice can you give to mothers looking after a newborn baby? Don't try to do everything yourself. If you have friends and family supporting you, there's nothing wrong with asking them for help so you can rest and help your body recover.
Think about your lifting techniques. Many new mums don't think about how picking up their newborn can impact on their own health. We all know that it's important to support the baby's head for their health and safety, but sometimes it's easy to forget about how best to protect our own health when picking them up. Remember to always bend your knees when lifting and keep your back straight. This will take the strain off your back.
If you're breastfeeding, you may want to invest in a support pillow so that you're not sitting in an awkward position for long periods. That way your baby's head and neck is supported and you're not straining yourself to hold them up.
Bath time can be quite awkward if you're having to bend down to support your baby which is why you might want to look at bath supports or baby baths.
If you have other small children, don't be tempted to pick up two of them at the same time.
If any pain persists and becomes very severe then we would always recommend that you go to your GP or Midwife!
September 2011 | 
Just After The Birth
