Victoria Beckham has put herself under pressure to get back into shape
Victoria Beckham recently gave birth to her fourth child as we all know, but has since suffered from a slipped disk in her back and is now suffering with immense pain, all the while trying to enjoy the latest addition to her picture perfect family.
The former-singer-turned-designer has been told to not pick up the newborn and to not wear her beloved high heels. As you can imagine, much to her dismay.
To help make sure that you protect yourself after a pregnancy, we've enlisted the help of Rachel Lewis, a pharmacist at Lloydpharmacy, to provide some useful tips on how new mothers can look after themselves, she also advises which pain relief is suitable for you after labour.
She says: "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, particulary when breastfeeding."
It's safe to take paracetamol to ease your pain when breastfeeding, Ibuprofen however has different guidelines. Whilst some manufactures say that it is perfectly safe to use, others completely warn against it. Lloydspharmacy advise to not take this until the baby is at least three months old.
They also advise to be aware of certain ibuprofen creams, which are absorbed through the skin and can be used to ease back pain, some recommend to not use these, so it is vital to check the label before using.
Rachel continues: "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.
"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. However, if the pain persists and becomes very severe they we would always recommend that you go to your GP or midwife."
Top tips on how mums can manage their health after labour:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. If you have other small children, don’t be tempted to pick up two of them at the same time.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Tagged in Victoria Beckham Parenting