Any tips for recovery/strength building carrying a heavy baby all the time?

[FunnyOrca]

Hello, my baby is 8 months and about 8.5kg. She is a “Velcro” baby. This has led to me carrying her (sling, carrier, hip) a lot. Basically whenever we go out but also around the house a lot. She is also EBF aside from BLW. I feed on demand so just anywhere the mood takes her. She feeds a lot, more than what I’m reading should be expected at this age but it is usually very short stints. We also co-sleep, so I have been in the “c curl” for months.

I love her so much and we are having a great time but as she gets bigger my body is protesting. Just lying flat on my back for a few moments I’m feeling all the pains. It’s particularly bad in my knees, which really protest her weight these days. Does anyone have tips on how to improve “weight bearing” or whatever this is.

I don’t really have any tips but commenting in solidarity. I feel like I’ve been carrying constantly for over two years and my body aches, especially my knees. I did find a sling library very helpful for showing me how to adjust my slings to minimise shoulder pain.

Pilates. Start with some postnatal stuff on YouTube and find a class once you've built a little bit of familiarity. You need to rebuild your core.

I didn't carry my baby in a sling because it was crucifying my back even early on. Au eight months, my LO loved being front facing in the pram instead.

Thanks for the solidarity. I found today that there is evidence sleep deprivation causes knee pain! Over time less than 4 continuous hours can cause lethargy biochemically, which leads to muscle weakness and laxity around joints. This study suggests that sleep deprivation proceeds worsening knee pain, rather than knee pain disturbing sleep, as previously thought.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7225049/

Curious to know if your baby is also a bad sleeper?

I realise this information is not at all helpful if, like me, you don’t have a way to get more sleep.

@OtterMummy2024 I am a big fan of Pilates too. My core is just about the only thing working for me at this point. Unfortunately my baby hates the pram, basinet, seat, parent facing, world facing, all of it. She also hates the car seat. We have an ophthalmology appointment as we think it may be due to not being able to see well and therefore more frightening to be in her own space.

Switch to a back carry with the sling, she will suddenly feel light! Plus she'll be able to see more so might like it. I guess she can roll well and maybe even crawl. I gave up curl sleeping at that point which made life so much easier. Ours sleeps in the middle between us with the mattress on the floor so there's no chance of him escaping even if we both have our backs to him.

Otherwise, make sure you're eating well and taking plenty of vitamins.

Fascinating! And yes, poor sleepers, don’t think I’ve had more than four hours of sleep since 2023…