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It is amazing to think that babywearing can not only give you your hands back, help you to bond with baby, promote breastmilk production, babywearing can also help a new mother rehabilitate her body back to pre-pregnancy (almost). During the 40 weeks of pregnancy the body changes as it adapts in wonderful ways to accommodate for the baby growing inside. Whilst some women happily make their way through their pregnancy without any difficulties, some women are plagued with unsettled hormones, achy joints and other ailments. Once baby has arrived babywearing can help a mother to gently get her strength back and improve her posture. The natural and gradual increase of a baby's weight is a great way to gently increase the mother's weight resistance during exercising. But before a new mum is to work on regaining her strength and positive posture she must ensure that the baby carrier she chooses to wear her baby in is one that fits both her and her baby ergonomically.
This effects the comfort of her body and the way she holds her posture whilst standing, sitting or lying. As you can see a protruding bump growing from under the belly button causes strain on the ligaments in the uterus, back, hips and legs. A hormone called Relaxin flows through the mother's body relaxing the joints so that a baby can be passed through her hips. This can also effect other joints in her body. It is essential for a pregnant woman to bare this in mind as she exercises that she does not over stretch the ligaments in her joints. Additionally, as the weight of the placenta, amniotic sac, fluid and baby growing inside, get heavier this also places a lot of pressure on the muscles in the pelvic floor area. Towards the end of the pregnancy, this can become quite uncomfortable. In fact starting the babywearing journey at this point can be very helpful to mother's with heavy bumps as they can use a sling or wrap to help support the weight of the bump.
With the weight of a newborn baby against a mother's chest this helps to encourage her to stand up straight. Her shoulders back, spine straight and hips slightly turned in so that the spine is in a neutral position, with the rib cage stacked above the pelvis.
The increased awareness and popularity of babywearing has seen a rise in babywearing friendly exercise classes. These classes include dancing, yoga, pilates or a gentle walk. Done properly, these classes can help mother to boost her mood and gain strength and posture whilst enjoying the company of her baby. The natural increase of a baby's weight also provides controlled weight increase whilst exercising.
Babywearing has many benefits. An ergonomic carrier should allow a new mother to regain her body strength and posture whilst bonding with her baby and lifting her mood with endorphins produced during exercising. But a new mother should also bare in mind that it takes 9 months for a body to grow a baby, and thus at least another 9 months to get their body back to almost its former self.