Neck pain

Osteopathic treatment can prevent or relieve this common problem.

It is not uncommon to be sitting for up to 6 hours a day feeding a baby. Make sure you have a good chair. It is not necessary to have a chair designed specifically for feeding but a chair with arms where you can put your feet on the floor is preferable. If you are rocking and carrying a small baby for many hours you may also consider putting him/her in a sling.

Make sure you are sitting well and if you are breastfeeding to make sure the baby's nose is at nipple height and your elbow is supported with cushions. This usually means 3 cushions even if one is a 'V' pillow. A footstool lifting the foot on the side where the baby is at the breast can be useful.

At night if you are sitting up in bed and falling asleep you might find it easier to sit in a chair and have a pillow behind you. Many mothers fall asleep whilst breastfeeding at night and next morning wake up with neck pain- beware of your head dropping forward as you nod off.

During the day remember to keep looking up whilst feeding (a book or TV may help). It will stop you looking down at the baby all the time preventing continuous strain on the neck.