Neck and shoulder pain

Neck and shoulder pain after childbirth: "Nursing mother's neck"

A constant throbbing neck pain, shoulder tension, and headache radiating from the occiput is an extremely common complaint among new mothers, which has earned the informal name "nursing mother's neck" (nursing neck). This discomfort is a direct result of prolonged staying in a static, uncomfortable position while caring for a newborn.

Why does the pain occur?

The main cause is incorrect posture during feeding. A young mother, especially at the beginning, instinctively leans toward the baby instead of raising the baby to breast level. She sits for hours in a tense, hunched position, looking down at the infant. This creates a huge load on the neck and shoulder muscles. The weight of your head is about 5 kg, and each centimeter of forward tilt multiplies the load on the cervical spine several times.

Other daily activities add to this:

• Constantly holding the baby in your arms.
• Low bends over the crib, bathtub, stroller.
• Sleeping in an uncomfortable position, fearing to move so as not to wake the baby.

All this leads to muscle spasm, overexertion, and pain. Often this condition is accompanied by tension headaches and can provoke migraines.

Prevention and relief

The key to solving the problem is ergonomics. Set up a comfortable feeding area: use nursing pillows to raise the baby to breast level, place pillows under the back and elbows. While feeding, try to keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed.

Regular breaks, gentle stretching for the neck and shoulders, and a gradual return to physical activity will help relieve tension. Read about general aspects of physical recovery in our guide.