slipped neck discs and caring for a 12 week old baby

[Fashpackmum]

Does anyone have any tips on caring for a 12 week old baby when suffering from 2x slipped discs in my neck??

Am already seeing osteo and physio but have been told I cannot carry or lift my baby girl for at least 2 weeks to give my neck a rest (this is the second time I have slipped these discs).

I have ordered a bath stand but any other top tips to reduce bending/lifting would be greatly appreciated.

thanks xx

I have sympathy for you as although I don't have slipped discs in my neck I have had facet joint irritation in my neck since the birth of my third baby. I am aware of the discomfort everyday but now and then it flares up very badly and I can hardly move my neck for days, sometimes weeks. Breast feeding certainly makes it worse, the posture involved for that is terrible! I had to prop ds right up to breast height on cushions. Get a push chair that has a handle at the right height so you are not pushing with your arms down low. I avoid lifting ds as much as is possible (he is now a very heavy, very wriggly 16 month old!) - I ask DH to do as much lifting/changing of nappies as possible. I found chiro and osteopathy only helps on a temporary basis - I ended up paying for private physio and now go to Pilates to build up my core strength which definitely helps.

Thanks. Yes, it is excruciatingly painful. I have been doing Pilates for the past 3-4 years and love it. I have used a crazy amount of cushions so far with breastfeeding to get the right height. Did you find a good lightweight pushchair? Any other things that reduced your pain and would recommend?xx

I have a nipper pushchair which is a three wheeler so not the lightest but with nice high handle bars. I alternate ice pack and heat packs when it's really bad and that helps. Have you seen a doctor or had an MRI? I just wonder if you can have any kind of nerve block for the pain ( that's a total random guess) - mine is just facet joint pain I'm told so no formal treatment it's all just conservative.

Oh and I forgot to mention that when driving I found actually removing the head support helps as they were pushing my neck forward and making it worse.