Aching from carrying my 7wk old!

[Gingerbreadpixie]

My 7 week old weighs a healthy 11lb 4oz but I am really struggling with the strain on my body of carrying him around, lifting him from his crib, putting him in the bath etc etc. I was not prepared for this! My arms, shoulders, neck, back, knees and even wrists ache from holding and lifting him.

I'm only 5ft tall and have a petite frame. I'm starting to really worry about how bad it will get when he grows.

Am I just a total weakling?? Or is this normal??

Are you BF? I only ask as this can sometimes this can cause your joints to stay soft (as they did in pregnancy) and can cause them to ache. FWIW I suffered from horrendous rib flare after I'd given birth and it seemed to get worse after I'd spent the day carrying my LO.

If you find you're carrying him around a lot, try getting a sling like a moby wrap, it keeps them close but leaves your hands free - made a huge difference to me when mine were babies.

You need a sling! Try a Moby wrap, Kari-Me wrap or a Close Caboo.

That happened to me too! I felt my shoulder muscles were on fire sometimes! I found the having to lower them down so gently onto surfaces the killer. Anything else as heavy as that you'd just put down any old how.

The good news was that my muscles got stronger and it was a temporary problem. Hope that's the case for you too.

Hello!
I was the same with my son, everyone who held him had arm ache, i know its rubbish advice but i put him in his pram and pushed him round when i could and so i could maintain closeness with him i hold him when sitting down as much as i can, now he is a bit better with head support i sit him on my hip in a sling so i only need to support him with one arm.

Another thing that i found boosted my upper body strength was holding him by his torso lying flat on my back (on the bed so its a bit safer) with his face infront of mine and bench pressing him, he loves it as he gets to see my face and it strengthens my arms. Maybe you could give that a go when your baby is a few weeks older.x

Thanks for the replies :)

I struggled with breastfeeding due to low milk supply so have FF with small amounts of expressed breastmilk. I'm starting to wind the expressing down now as its really dwindling.

I thought of a sling but always thought they don't look very supportive for the back. Have I got that totally wrong? I've got a baby bjorn miracle carrier but my neck was hurting after using it.

Lol at baby bench-pressing! I'll give it a go when he's older

slings are supportive. not baby bjorns or the same type ones though. you need one where they are in a squat position. I use a close caboo
If there legs dangle down then it will put all the weight in your shoulders and strain your back (and put pressure on their hips).

I found the BB agony on my shoulders. Slings are very different.

The only sort that worked/works for me is an Ergo tbh.

My friend with a 3mo saw it with my 9mo in it and said 'wow! It stays there!' as in, it doesn't sag or slip down, you don't have to use a hand tosupport it when you bend over or anything.

It is easy as pie carrying him even at 9mo and he is a hefty lad...mainly, it just is so high up it puts all the weight in the right place, and holds the baby against you rather than lower down or farther away.

I would really recommend them.

Get thee to a sling library OP! If there are none near you, have a google at postal sling libraries. It is always best to try before you buy with slings.

Thank you all so much. One of my NCT ladies mentioned a sling library so I'll check it out. I don't know why my impression of slings was that they're flimsy and only for light, small babies! I think we've really wasted money on the BB. Though my husband is fine with it.

X