Handle the Baby with Care

From the time I had my first daughter, Becky, 32 years ago, I was fully aware that taking care of a newborn baby was not only challenging and new, but also physically demanding in more ways than one. Yes, you are sleep deprived, exhausted, have postpartum weakness and soreness throughout your whole body. What you don't need, is the beginning of a hand, wrist, elbow and/or shoulder strain because of how you are holding and caring for your newborn baby.

I noticed within 2 days after my first daughter was born, that I was starting to get some wrist soreness in my right wrist by my thumb. Because I am a Hand Therapist, I realized pretty quickly that I was positioning my hands awkwardly while holding my daughter, breastfeeding in particular. I quickly made some simple changes, that reduced and eliminated the strain. I was fortunate, because I knew what I was doing wrong and I changed it. When I returned from maternity leave, I began to see more moms coming in with wrist tendonitis, elbow tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome, usually 2 months or more AFTER their child was born. Their symptoms were moderate to severe, sometimes in both hands. I remember one young lady, same age as I, who started therapy. Her son was about the same age as mine, about 5 months old. She had so much pain in both wrists from improperly using her hands to care for her son, she almost was unable to care for herself. Her husband had to help her with simple things like buttoning, tying shoes laces, cutting her food. It took her 6 months to recover from this injury. It was because of her case, I began formulating the education of how to care for your newborn and prevent strain and injury.

Up to about 5 years ago, I was a speaker at our hospital's New Mother's Support group, twice a year, to educate the new mothers on proper hand positioning when breastfeeding or bottle feeding, holding and carrying the baby, picking up the baby from the crib or floor, using the stroller and many other tasks. There were usually 20 women there with their babies and almost 1/2 of them had hand and wrist pain to some degree. I realized that the information I was teaching was great but the audience I really needed to be talking to were the young ladies that were in their last trimester of their pregnancy....... BEFORE the baby was even born. This has been a very difficult task to do because I tried many times to be involved with the Preparing for Your Baby class at our hospital, but could not get the individuals running the class to let me be a speaker. I did try to educate the instructors of the class, the important information, but I don't think they ever included it. I have also sent letters to OBGYN's but that didn't really go anywhere.

The new mothers that we have seen in our Hand Therapy Clinic over the past 30 years, all say the same thing...... I wish I learned what you are teaching me now, before the baby came. These strains are TOTALLY preventable, if you just know what to do . And it is not just the new mothers we have seen. We also see new dads and grandparents who are also incorrectly carrying, lifting and holding the baby, and getting these strains.

For the longest time, I have wanted to do a video on the topic, to try and get the information out that way. Because of the Covid-19 time off from work, I have been able to have my younger daughter Paula, film and edit several videos on how to use your hands correctly to prevent strain, one being Caring for your Newborn. I am happy to say that this video is now completed and has been uploaded to my youtube channel. I hope you will be able to watch and enjoy the lesson that we teach all of the patients that are new parents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu-3CPHUp6E

So 32 years later, my eldest daughter, Becky, just had her first child and with the help of my suggestions has learned how to care for her son without straining her arms and hands. If you or anyone you know will soon be having a baby or just had a baby, please forward the link to my video...... it really says it all. And remember..... all you new grandparents and new fathers..... this is for you too. Being a new parent is hard enough. Enjoy the new baby pain free by learning how to use your hands correctly.