3 Postpartum Things that are NOT Normal

Postpartum: What’s Common Vs. What’s Normal?

A lot of “weird” things happen to your body. But to be honest they are totally normal.

Sweaty feet anyone?! That’s just your body getting rid of excess fluid. Totally normal. Now, there are many things that are common, but not normal. What’s the difference? Let’s dive in.

“Doc, I have low back pain.. But it is the “normal” kind you get with age.” Low pain pain is common, but it’s never normal. Normal joints don’t hurt, no matter what age you are. The point I am trying to get at is, many women will experience the following issues. Making them common, but never normal.

1. Low back pain after childbirth is just part of having a baby. There are many factors that can lead to postpartum low back pain. First off, labor is tough! Your body goes through an amazing yet rapid transformation throughout pregnancy. And BOOM, baby comes and now it's time to transition back to not carrying a watermelon around your waist. So all the posture and positions that made you very efficient at carrying your little nugget are no longer useful, yet sometimes your body struggles to “forget” these positions.

2. You pee a little everytime you laugh, sneeze, cough, or jump. Totally not normal. Ever. This is known as stress incontinence. It is a sign that there is dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles.

3. Breastfeeding hurts the following: Your breasts, your neck, your back, and your shoulders/arms. This is incredibly common, and 100% the biggest reason moms we see stop breastfeeding before the recommended 1-2+ years. If your breasts ache with feeding, your first call should be to a lactation consultant. The second should be to come see a chiropractor. Adjusting babies is so much different than how we adjust adults! No popping or cracking, just gentle soft tissue releases. A baby with a sore neck will not like to open their mouth wide. They may also not be able to turn their head to breastfeed on both sides. It also may be important to get your little one checked for lip or tongue ties. Meeting with an lactation consultant can also help alleviate back and neck pain. Which in turn helps improve the little one's latch and can prevent the mother from adopting strange positions in order to feed her baby. Holding your baby to nurse shouldn't hurt your neck, back, or arms. Nurse at your chiropractor's office and ask for help with adjusting your posture so it is more comfortable.

If any of these sound super familiar to you, get treated. We are specifically trained to help with all of the above. Remember, no matter how many of your friends or family have experienced these issues, they are NOT normal, and are treatable issues.