By Kristin Kennedy, PT, DPT
Baby carriers, wraps, and slings are often marketed as essential postpartum tools, but is baby-wearing safe for your healing body — especially your pelvic floor?
We often don’t think about the impact that baby-wearing can have on our body during this vulnerable time while healing, whether you've had a vaginal delivery or a C-section.
What Happens to Your Pelvic Floor After Delivery?
Regardless of whether you gave birth vaginally or via C-section, your pelvic floor—the group of muscles that support your bladder, uterus, and bowels—underwent significant changes during pregnancy and childbirth. These muscles can become weakened, overstretched, or tight due to the weight of the growing baby, hormonal changes, and the impact of delivery.
In the early postpartum period, your pelvic floor is in a fragile state as it heals and regains strength. That’s why extra care is needed during activities that add pressure to this already vulnerable area—including baby-wearing.
How Baby-Wearing Impacts Your Pelvic Floor
While baby-wearing is a wonderful way to bond with your newborn and free up your hands, it does place additional weight and pressure on your body. For moms with a healing pelvic floor, this added load can lead to or worsen certain issues if not approached carefully.
Here’s how baby-wearing can affect your pelvic floor recovery after childbirth:
1. Increased Intra-Abdominal Pressure
When you wear your baby, especially in a front-facing carrier or sling, the additional weight increases intra-abdominal pressure. This pressure can strain your pelvic floor, which is still healing from childbirth. If your pelvic floor muscles are weak or overstretched, they may struggle to support the added weight, leading to symptoms like urinary leakage or pelvic pain.
2. Potential Aggravation of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (when pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum drop and push against the vaginal walls) is a common issue for some women postpartum. Baby-wearing can aggravate prolapse symptoms, like heaviness or bulging in the pelvic region, due to the extra downward pressure on an already weakened pelvic floor.
3. C-Section Recovery and Core Weakness
For moms who’ve had a C-section, baby-wearing can pose additional challenges. After major abdominal surgery (not to mention 9 months of a growing belly!), your core muscles are weakened, and your incision site needs time to heal. Baby-wearing without proper core and pelvic floor support can strain your abdomen and pelvic floor, increasing your risk of muscle separation (diastasis recti), back pain, and pelvic discomfort.
4. Overstraining Too Soon
In the early postpartum period, your body is still recovering from the physical changes during pregnancy and childbirth. Baby-wearing, especially for extended periods or with a heavy newborn, can lead to overstraining. Even if you feel like you’re doing well, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too soon.
Safe Baby-Wearing Tips for Protecting Your Pelvic Floor
Just because baby-wearing can affect your pelvic floor doesn’t mean you have to avoid it entirely!
Here are a few tips to help you baby-wear safely:
1. Wait for Your Body’s Cue
In the immediate postpartum period, especially within the first 6 weeks, it’s important to give your body time to heal. Listen to your healthcare provider’s recommendations about when it’s safe to begin baby-wearing. Start slowly, and if you notice pelvic discomfort, heaviness, or leakage, take it as a sign to give your body more time to recover.
2. Choose the Right Carrier
Look for a baby carrier that evenly distributes weight across your hips, back, and shoulders to minimize stress on your pelvic floor. Carriers that allow you to adjust the weight distribution, such as soft-structured carriers or wraps, are often better for postpartum women than slings, which can place too much pressure on one side of the body.
3. Limit Carrying Time
Especially in the early postpartum days, limit the amount of time you spend baby-wearing in one go. Start with shorter periods of baby-wearing (10-15 minutes), and gradually increase as your body feels stronger. Taking breaks helps prevent fatigue and overstraining of the pelvic floor muscles.
4. Support Your Pelvic Floor
When baby-wearing, engage your core and pelvic floor muscles to help provide extra support. This is just one of many reasons why it’s so important to see your pelvic health physical therapist following delivery, so that you can regain your strength in your core and pelvic floor.
5. Stay Mindful of Your Posture
Maintaining proper posture while baby-wearing is crucial for both your back and pelvic floor health. Make sure to stand tall with your shoulders back and your core gently engaged. Avoid slouching or leaning too far forward, as this can increase pressure on your pelvic floor.
How Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Can Help
If you notice pelvic pain, pressure, or incontinence while baby-wearing, it’s important to seek help from a pelvic health physical therapist. They can evaluate your pelvic floor function, teach you proper techniques for supporting your recovery, and provide individualized exercises to strengthen your core and pelvic floor.
At Wellest, we specialize in postpartum pelvic floor care and can help you safely navigate baby-wearing and other postpartum activities. By working with a professional, you’ll ensure that you’re protecting your pelvic floor health while still enjoying the many joys of motherhood.
Click below to contact us today!
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