The breastfeeding It is an ancient practice with countless benefits for both the baby and the mother. The World Organization of Health recommends exclusively breastfeed during the first six months of the newborn’s life, followed by adequate complementary feeding.
Breast-feed not only encourages bond mother-son, but also provides nutrients essential and defenses against various diseases. Besides, reduces the risk of certain pathologies in the mothersuch as type 2 diabetes or different types of cancer, and speeds up your recovery after giving birth.
It also helps reduce the incidence of postpartum depressionsince it generates hormones such as oxytocinwhich improves the well-being of the mother.
Despite these great advantages, the habit of lactation is decreasing worldwide. One of the reasons is the pain of back, especially in the lumbar and cervical area. The position It is a key factor in these discomforts, and knowing how to avoid them can make a difference in the breastfeeding experience.
Factors such as the size of the baby, whether the delivery was by cesarean section, and the experience of the mother influence the choice of position. Furthermore, the general physical condition of the mothersuch as muscle tone and flexibility, can make some positions more comfortable than others.
Sitting or lying down
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommends two main positions for breastfeeding: sitting and lying on the side.
Within the seated options, mothers can choose to place the baby on their belly, support it laterally to their body (under the armpit) or lie slightly back while the infant feeds.
The choice of one or the other depends fundamentally on comfort and the individual peculiarities decade lactationthe sitting position being much more common.
The problem is that maintaining this position for prolonged periods increases the pressure about the column spine, especially if the back he hunches forward. Increases the load on the intervertebral discs and can generate accumulation of metabolites, which contributes to pain.
Approximately 70% of women choose breast-feed sitting, and of them, almost half experience lower back painespecially when the back It is not well aligned.
It has also been proven that the positions in which the mother tilt head forward are associated with cervical discomfortdue to the strain accumulated in the neck.
This is frequently observed in first time motherswhich usually adopt postures more forced due to lack of experience, or when there is a poor attachment of the baby to the breast.
Adopt the best position
In order to find out which is the best position during the lactation, we have carried out a biomechanical study in real situations. To do this we analyze the most common positions, studying the placement of the back and the pelvis and the activity of the lumbar muscles.
Thus we observe that the position Lying on your side significantly reduces muscle demands, which can minimize fatigue and pain. This position allows the mother relax, improving your experience lactation.
However, it is essential to ensure that the baby is positioned correctly to avoid a poor latch that causes discomfort to the mother.
And although there is not one position “ideal“to breastfeed, we do know that maintaining it for a long time increases discomfort. The human body is designed to move, not to remain static.
In this sense, incorporating small movements adjustment while breastfeeding is helpful. For example, modifying the inclination of the back or adjusting the position of your legs can relieve the pressure accumulated.
Recommendations to avoid pain
- For mothers who prefer to breastfeed sitting, a chair with good support and the use of pillows in the lumbar area can help reduce the painsince they allow maintaining the back aligned.
- For their part, maternal clinical practice guidelines recommend using nursing pillows. These allow the baby to be adjusted to the correct height, reducing the strain in the backarms and neck. This prevents the mother have to lean forward and overload the column.
- Another way to relieve strain accumulated is to give walkspractice exercises mobility and perform stretching simple for back and the neck. Besides, exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles they prevent the pain lumbar in the postpartum.
- In general, resuming activity physics quickly, always depending on the capabilities of each woman, it is of great help in relieving joint discomfort and pain. pain of back during the period of lactation.
To obtain more personalized advice, it is recommended that mothers consult both their matron like a physiotherapist specialized. Both professionals can offer a comprehensive approach, addressing both the general needs of the lactation such as the prevention and treatment of pain associated musculoskeletal.
