When you have pelvic instability and you want to lift up your child, you should do it by straightly lifting up the child with bent knees and a straight back. Always lift up the child closely to your torso and with two hands. Don’t make turning movements and always stand straight in front of your child when you want to lift him/her up. Never carry your child on your hip, because that way you will overload the pelvic ligaments on one side.
If you’re looking for pelvic floor exercises or go to the exercises page. If you’re looking for products for your pelvis and go to the Pelvic Store.
Imagine you’re busy cleaning your house and then your crying toddler comes running to you because he or she wants you to lift them up for a hug. How are you going to do that? In this article, we will tell you some more about lifting up your children when you have pelvic instability.
How do you lift up your children when you have pelvic instability?
When it’s about lifting a child, it’s important that the child is being lifted up straight. You bend down through your knees with a straight back while your child stands or lays between your feet/legs. Make sure that you lift your child with a straight back and close against your body. Never place your child on your hip, because you overload your pelvic girdle and your pelvic ligaments on one side. When you lift up your child, always keep him/her closely against your chest or torso with two hands, for stability and safety.
Tips for lifting up your children when you have pelvic instability:
Tip 1: Keep your back straight when you pick them up
Lifting up children when you have pelvic instability is being done by bending through your knees and keeping a straight back.
Tip 2: Never turn during the lifting
Always stand in front of your child when you want to lift him/her up. Don’t make any turning movements with your back.
Tip 3: Don’t carry your children on your hip
You’re overloading your pelvis and the pelvic floor muscles when you carry your child on your hip. You’re leaning into your pelvic ligaments and it’ll only hurt more the next day.
Tip 4: Lift your children symmetrically
Make sure your torso is as symmetric as possible when you lift up your child. Don’t turn your body through your back, but through moving your feet.
Tip 5: Keep your child close during the lifting
Keep your child close against your body when you lift him/her up. For example, closely stand behind their chair when you want to put your child in it or when you want to get them out. The same counts for on the floor. The closer you keep them, the less overloading it is for your pelvic girdle.
Tip 6: Limit lifting up your children
Let your child climb (when they’re three years old they’re mostly capable of walking) by themselves when possible. When your child needs to wash their hands, for example. Instead of lifting them up, place a stool or a little step-up in front of the sink.
Lifting up your children when you have pelvic instability
Do you still want to lift up your child, but you can’t bend over or you’re scared something will go wrong? By lifting up your child from a higher level, you aren’t overloading the pelvis as bad. This counts for everyone who wants to pick up their child. Make sure that your child is higher than your hip level, for example on the stairs or a chair. You won’t make weird movements and your pelvic ligaments won’t weaken more this way.
Lifting up your children when you have pelvic instability… when they’re angry
Sometimes you have those moments that your children aren’t listening to you, when you need to leave, for example. You then have to pick them up and take them with you against their will. And what happens then? Your kids start to kick and scream. During that moment you know it’s not safe for your pelvic ligaments. Lifting up your very movable children puts your pelvis at risk. You already aren’t allowed to make turning movements, and then to have them rebel against you causes your body to make odd movements. Apart from that, you also have to put effort into your already weakened pelvic floor muscles.
Tips for lifting up your angry children when you have pelvic instability:
Tip 1: Don’t make odd turning movements
When you make odd turning movements when you have pelvic instability, you’re overloading your pelvis and because of that you’re in more pain the next day and you won’t be able to do as much.
Tip 2: Take them by the hand
It isn’t always a nice thing to carry around angry kids everywhere because of their rebelling, especially when you have pelvic instability. You can also put on a stern demeanor and take them with you by taking their hand. You have the lead.
Tip 3: Make sure the father is present
Is the father present? Then let him lift up your child and take them. That way you prevent making odd movements altogether.
Tip 4: Pretend you don’t care they’re angry
You often need to take risks as a parent with pelvic instability. When you just carry on with walking despite your kids not wanting to, you’ll notice that they’ll still follow you anyway. Children are still supposedly attached to you with the umbilical cord, and are often more scared to lose track of you than you’re scared of losing track of them.
Cradling your baby when you have pelvic instability
One of the best ways to put a baby to sleep is by cradling it. But how do you cradle a baby when you have pelvic instability? A handy way is by using a baby sling. Slings properly divide the baby’s weight. Of course your body will get a bit uncomfortable when you’re carrying your baby to cradle it the whole afternoon. Try out a yoga ball or a rocking chair. Maybe you’ve already used the yoga ball during your pregnancy, because it’s beneficial for your pelvic floor. You can still cradle your baby to sleep by the moving sensations on the yoga ball or in the rocking chair.
The rocking chair is a handy solution as well. You can calmly sit, but because you’re rocking back and forth, your baby is able to fall asleep. It’s a win-win situation; your baby can sleep nicely, and your body is able to rest. Especially try to relax.
Are you experiencing pain in your tailbone with your pelvic instability? Then of course sitting isn’t an option. Try to have your baby lay on your belly while you’re lying on a soft surface. That way you aren’t putting pressure on your tailbone. Do you want to know how you get pain in your tailbone? You will find more information in the article pain in the tailbone.
Lifting up children on the stairs when you have pelvic instability
Walking the stairs is often a problem when you have pelvic instability, let alone if you also need to carry your child upstairs. How do you do that? I’ve summed up a few handy tips below.
Tips for carrying children on the stairs when you have pelvic instability:
Tip 1: Go down the stairs while you’re seated
By going down the stairs while you’re seated, you aren’t making painful turning movements with your pelvis. If you’re carrying a baby, make sure you’re carrying it in a sling.
Tip 2: Go down every step with both of your feet
Another way of walking down the stairs is to put your feet together on each and every step. This way you’re walking up and down the stairs with a straight position which makes it easier for you to maintain your balance.
Tip 3: Let your toddler walk the stairs by themselves
Sometimes it can be a challenge, but is your child able to walk yet? Try to let them walk the stairs by themselves. Your toddler can go down the stairs while they’re seated and you can walk closely behind them when they go up the stairs. You’re putting less pressure on your pelvis this way, and your child is learning how to become more independent at the same time.
Lifting or carrying your children when you’re shopping
Maybe you’ve already given birth and you’re experiencing pelvic instability for the first time during your second pregnancy or after it. You really want to shop, but your first child doesn’t want to go in the stroller but also doesn’t want to walk. How are you going to do that? Children aren’t the lightest after all, especially when you have to walk quite the bit while you have them in your arms. Sometimes it isn’t comfortable and your muscles are sore after all the carrying. It also isn’t handy to walk around with a child on your hip when you have pelvic instability. You’re going to walk in a tilted manner and it also creates a hollowed back. Like it’s been mentioned in this article before, the best thing you can do is walk with a straight back. Next to that you’re also overloading your pelvic floor muscles because of the carrying. You’ll find a few helpful tips below.
Tips for lifting or carrying your child when you’re shopping with pelvic instability
Tip 1: Always take the stroller with you
It’s smarter to take a stroller with you. This is a good way to carry less and to cause less pelvic issues. It isn’t only handy for taking your child with you, but you can also place bags in it or hang them on the handles/bar.
Tip 2: Properly bend through your knees if you do end up lifting them
You often still want to hug them anyway. It’s quite logical as to why, they’re very adorable after all. If you still want to pick them up anyway, bend properly through your knees and keep your back straight. You can also lift them up from a higher level, e.g. from the stairs or couch. You won’t make odd movements with your weak pelvic ligaments this way.
Tip 3: When possible, preferably take them by their hand and let them walk
Imagine, your child is able to walk, but in a rush you still forgot to take the stroller with you. It’s recommended that you encourage them to walk independently. Sometimes it’s hard to say no, but this is the perfect moment to try it out. It doesn’t immediately make you the bad guy. They still need you for a long time and even little kids find it hard to see their parents be in pain.
Tip 5: Arrange a sweet grandmother to babysit them
A sweet grandmother who enjoys babysitting her grandchildren doesn’t sound bad either. That way you won’t have the stress of having to keep an eye on them all the time, and you’re able to get your necessities without getting distracted. You also won’t experience as much pelvic issues when you come back home and when your baby returns to your arms.
Do you want to go shopping with pelvic instability but you don’t know what’s best to do? You can find more information in the article shopping with pelvic instability.
And lastly, are you looking for more information?
Hopefully this information was useful to you! If you’re still looking for some more information, feel free to take another look around on the website. It’s filled with in-depth information, tips a webshop and also exercises. I still have a lot of articles with lots of information about other symptoms and issues. Feel free to click on the blue words to take you straight to the right page.
