The Healthy Back Blog: For mums

So why is posture so important when you have children?

louisehampton — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:54:33 +0000

On Saturday I went to a blogging event organised by the British Chiropractic Association. Myself and Tim Hutchful were there to give advice on posture whilst carrying children, putting them in a cot and everyday activities.

The day was really well attended. Thanks must go to the following people: http://www.parentwheels.co.uk/

http://www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk/

http://witwitwoo.com/

http://www.methemanandthebaby.com/

http://marisworld.co.uk/

http://newmumonline.blogspot.com/

http://housewifeconfidential.co.uk/

http://www.realsuburbanmummy.com/

http://www.emmysmummy.com/

http://www.oomphalos.co.uk/

http://i-heart-motherhood.blogspot.com/

http://mummywhispererblog.com/

It was really good to meet you all.

At the event we concentrated on the importance of being aware of your posture when carrying out everyday tasks with children. There’s not one definitive way of doing anything but just thinking about your back is a great start.

So much of what we do involves us bending forward so it is extremely important to spend time extending back and strengthening our backs to protect them. If you do need to bend forward to pick something up rather than having straight legs like in this picture which puts a lot of pressure on the calves, hamstrings and low back. If you simply lift one foot off the floor this task becomes a lot easier to do.

If you do have to spend a lot of time bending forward doing some strengthening exercises to protect your back will really help. One such exercise is being demonstrated below. With any exercise it is important to do the stretch gently and to stop if you experience any pain.

More tips to follow ….

Happy New Year!

louisehampton — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:08:53 +0000

Wishing you all a very happy new year. Last year was certainly a hectic one for me – just don’t know where the time goes. I can’t believe Zara is now 10 months old and so not a baby anymore.

Just before Christmas I went to the Lister Hospital to deliver £250 worth of presents to the children there after my clinic held a charity morning. The staff were very grateful for the donations as unfortunately they had a full ward this year and were short of presents.

Hope you all have a good new year’s eve. We are just having a quite one in due to the children but it should still be nice.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

louisehampton — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:28:47 +0000

Well its certainly a busy time of year. Hope everyone is nearly prepared for Christmas and getting in the Christmas mood??!! I took my children to see Santa yesterday just at a local shopping centre but it was lovely and made me feel all christmassy!

In our clinic we have also been getting in the Christmas mood. We did a Charity day where all the money raised from treatments went to buy presents for our local hospital. We raised over £200 so that was a lot of presents to buy and wrap! I’m delivering them to the children tomorrow so that should be really nice.

Here’s a picture of just some of the 40+ presents!!

So have you started Christmas shopping yet?

louisehampton — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:14:09 +0000

I have been trying to think of some different presents this year – hope my family don’t read this but I’ve opted for more days out rather than bubble bath etc! I also got a family photograph taken so I’ve used that to create some pressies too.
Top tips to help your back whilst shopping:

When shopping try and put as many bags as possible under the pushchair rather than carrying them.

If you have to carry bags, carry them evenly each side and do not make each bag too heavy so its easy to transfer them to the car.

If you do have lots of bags take some back to the car before continuing to shop.

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes when shopping – no heels girls as its surprising how far you walk when shopping.

I have done a lot of shopping online this year which has really helped. I also created wish lists of presents I think the children would like which relatives can access and then when they buy an item they can remove it from the list so no-one else buys it which has been good!

Have a great Christmas everyone and if you do get any pain find a local BCA Chiropractor. A lot of us do free 15 minute consultations so you can see if Chiropractic can help.

Are you still doing your stretches?

louisehampton — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:32:00 +0000

This is something I ask my patients all the time but for busy mums it is also extremely important. A lot of our exercise comes from running after the children and walking to the park etc which is great but it is so important to do stretches and especially pelvic floor exercises as well.

Here’s a reminder of some of the best exercises to do:

Lying on your back try bringing one leg towards your chest and hold the stretch for 10 seconds. Repeat with the other leg. If you find this easy then try bringing both legs up together towards your chest.

On all four’s gently arch your back up and then down to stretch.

Then lean back onto your heels

Pelvic floor exercises – sucking in the bottom of your tummy and clenching down below. Hold for 30 seconds or as long as you can.

With all these exercises they should be done very gently and if you experience any pain stop and consult someone like a Chiropractor for advice.

I am a chiropractor in Hertfordshire working from a clinic on Buntingford High Street. I offer free consultations so people can see if Chiropractic would be able to help them.

If you are local to the area why not give us a call on 01763 878087. We have weekend and evening appointments and are registered with the BCA and GCC.

She’s on the move!!

louisehampton — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:37:08 +0000

This week Zara has just started to crawl, well more of a shuffle but she is getting herself across the room and she has only just turned 7 months!

The good news is I don’t have to carry and hold her so much now so that is definietly helping my back which was starting to hurt as she is getting so heavy.

Zara also seems more content as she can now reach the toys she wants to play with. I just have to watch what is on the floor as Toby has lots of little toys.

In other news last week I had an open day at my Chiropractic Clinic to raise money for Isabel Hospice a local cancer charity. We raised £236 which was great. It was lovely to see lots of friendly faces and to celebrate the clinic’s 4th birthday and surviving the recession!

Going back to work has been hard leaving the kids but it is great to have some time to be myself. The children go to a local childminder who is wonderful and on a wednesday even baths the kids and puts them to bed! Its so nice coming home to two sleeping children.

Christening

louisehampton — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:36:16 +0000

This time it was Zara’s turn to be Christened. As she was younger than when Toby was Christened she was able to wear the family gown which is over 90 years old. This made the day very special so thought I’d share some pictures with you all.

Bank Holiday

louisehampton — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:36:10 +0000

Hope everyone has a great bank holiday weekend and if you are planning on a long journey make sure you take plenty of breaks with time to stretch and walk. In the car you could do some shoulder shrugs and buttock clenches to keep the blood flowing.

My website now has a like button please go to http://www.attend2health.co.uk and like my website it would be great to get the numbers up.

Many thanks Louise

Best baby carrier?

louisehampton — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:08:31 +0000

Hi Mums and Dads
Just wondered what baby carrier you have found to be the best? With Toby I tried on from Mothercare which I clipped Toby into.
Not the best photo but shows how his head wasn’t supported that well.

With Zara I decided to use a different carrier. This one criss crosses at the back and is a lot more supportive it’s called a close baby carrier and has been great from birth onwards.

Would love to know what carrier has worked best for other people. The close carrier has certainly been the best on for my back due to the fact it criss crosses at the back.

What a week!

louisehampton — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:47:18 +0000

So after Toby escaped with mild chicken pox poor Zara wasn’t so lucky. My poor little girl started coming out in spots last Saturday and she is absolutely covered. The main things to watch for with chicken pox is a high temperature and secondary infection so i made sure I kept bathing her and gave her calpol to help keep her temperature down. Luckily most of the spots seem to have dried out now but she has a nasty cough and is very uncomfortable. Bicarbonate of soda in the bath is good as well as the usual creams. Just can’t wait for her to be better!

With all the extra carrying of Zara I’ve had to do my poor back is definitely feeling it so I have had a few excellent treatments from Adrian which have really helped. Apart from using a sling to carry her in its been hard to carry her without it affecting my back as she is now quite heavy. I try to carry her in front of me but even then I find I am leaning slightly backward which puts pressure on the joints. It’s so important to keep doing pelvic floor exercises and to strengthen the stomach muscles to help the back.