Why parents feel so tired that has nothing to do with lack of sleep

This is a press release written by Claire from Paxton PR https://www.paxtonpr.co.nz/ 

The physical tiredness of caring for a baby or small child extends beyond lack of sleep - have you also considered the many new ways your body is now moving?

The movements we use to care for our babies include standing, rocking, settling, patting, jiggling and feeding – and we use them repetitively. We’re also lifting baby capsules and pushchairs in and out of vehicles. When our children grow, we’re lifting and carrying in ways we never did pre-parenthood. It’s no wonder at the end of the day our bodies feel sore and overloaded, says Dr Ainslee Roughan from Brain Under Construction.

“As a mum and chiropractor, I’m very aware of how much the new movements we make when we become parents can quickly lead to sore lower backs, tight or heavy arms and wrists, and an overall feeling of physical fatigue. 

“This Mother’s Day I expect like myself, many parents would enjoy the treat of a massage to ease some of those aches and pains ­- but what if some small changes in how we stand and hold our babies could considerably lighten the physical load we feel?”

Ainslee says over the course of day, the new movements associated with caring for a baby or small child may seem inconsequential but compounded over days and weeks they can cause lower back discomfort, tight neck muscles, headaches and wrist tension.

"A simple change in 20% of your daily movement patterns throughout a day can have a big impact. This 20% change in loading (the strain your body feels) means 20% less total load at the end of a day,” says Ainslee.  

When standing, whether you’re settling your baby or carrying a small child, consider your pelvis position, this feeds through to the tension and comfort levels in your lower back. 

“Aim for a neutral pelvis position where possible rather than arching your lower back curvature and putting more strain on your back,” she says.

“When you’re feeding your child (bottle or breast) support your body where possible. Parents think a lot about supporting the baby’s body, but what about theirs? When you’re feeding, take a moment to pause. Find support for your body by resting your supporting arm on a surface, that may be a cushion under your arm on the couch, the edge of a table, or a kitchen counter. Take a deep breath, relax your shoulder blades down your back and towards your spine to bring your shoulders back and away from your ears. Then, relax any extra unneeded grip tension that you might be holding your baby with.

Lifting can also cause strain - especially baby capsules. Ainslee says when you’re carrying a baby capsule think smart, not hard.  

“When loading a capsule into a car pop your feet under the car and get as close to the vehicle as you can before putting it in. You can pop one leg into the footwell of the car as well which helps balance your centre of gravity and avoid unnecessary strain on your low back.”

By getting into the practice of making these small changes throughout the day, parents may avoid some of the physical fatigue when a new baby arrives.

 About Dr Ainslee

Ainslee is breaking down societal norms, whether it is parent's feeling uncomfortable in their body's or baby development myths.

Her strong and engaging communication style is a gift and has helped thousands of humans over her years in practice and the online education space feel confident about their baby's development and comfortable in their own body.

A prominent parent educator and child development leader within the community, Ainslee has a wealth of knowledge in how the human body functions which she communicates seamlessly, logically and practically to her audiences.