pelvic floor & babywearing

What influence does babywearing have on our pelvic floor?

Our pelvic floor is a floor of muscle plates and connective tissue in the human pelvic cavity. It closes the pelvis downwards, supports the internal organs and thus enables our upright posture. You can already train your pelvic floor with small exercises during pregnancy so that it is well prepared for the birth and the time afterwards. Tightening and relaxing the pelvic floor is easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Pelvic floor training during pregnancy has a positive influence on the birth. A good, strengthened centre helps to get through pregnancy well.

The pelvic floor supports our organs and must also hold the increasingly heavy baby, the placenta and the uterus during pregnancy. It is put under a lot of strain during pregnancy. During birth, it carries the baby through the birth canal. It is often slack after the birth and must be stabilised and tightened again through specific exercises. A healthy pelvic floor is elementary in order to be able to reliably control bodily excretions. There are some exercises you can do alone at home or in a group, e.g. during postnatal gymnastics or special pelvic floor courses. But you can also do a lot for your pelvic floor in everyday life so that it is quickly "back to its old self".

Especially when it comes to babywearing, there are a few important things you should know:

• It is especially important that you tie the baby carrier or baby sling tightly enough. This supports you in keeping your body upright and thus creates a good relationship with your pelvic floor. When erect, the diaphragm works well with the pelvic floor and relieves it because the organs remain in place. However, if the baby carrier or sling is tied too loosely, you will go into a bent position. The organs are pressed down and put unnecessary strain on the pelvic floor.
   
• Make sure you have a good centre of gravity when carrying your baby in a baby carrier or baby sling. Carrying your baby at the optimal height relieves the pressure on your pelvic floor. The "head kissing height" is certainly a good indicator for a comfortable and healthy carrying height of your baby. This is not only good for your pelvic floor, but also for your back.
   
• The best way to carry your child is in a baby carrier or baby sling, provided, of course, that it is fastened tightly enough. This type of carrying is always preferable to "carrying in the arms". Arm carrying puts much more strain on the pelvic floor than carrying a child adequately in a sling. This also applies to carrying heavy and unwieldy baby carriers. These are, strictly speaking, poison for the pelvic floor.
   
• With older or heavier children, it makes sense to carry the baby on the back. Carrying the baby in front of the stomach for too long is unnecessarily stressful. After a certain point, children usually feel more comfortable on their backs anyway. This again combines two positive aspects. Happy child - relieved pelvic floor.

The most important thing: take care of your body!

If you feel a foreign body sensation, have pain in the pelvic ring, rump or symphysis, feel downward pressure or feel weak and tired, then it is time for a break! Don't put yourself under pressure and start carrying slowly after the birth and increase the duration according to how you feel.   If in doubt, consult your gynaecologist or midwife, or if you have particularly severe symptoms, go to a specialist.

 Happy and healthy Babywearing