Mother’s Day Reminder: Don’t Forget Your Spine!

Mother’s Day reminder: don’t forget your spine! Mother’s Day isn’t just about flowers, breakfast in bed, or cute handmade cards—though those are great. It’s also a moment to stop, breathe, and ask a vital question: how is your body really doing? If you’re a mother, chances are your spine, joints, and muscles are putting in overtime. From sleepless nights to lifting toddlers, the physical strain is real—and so are the risks.

Here’s what no one tells you on Mother’s Day: your spine is silently carrying the weight of motherhood. And ignoring it? That could cost you more than a sore back.

Let’s talk about why.

The Hidden Strain Behind the Smile

The modern mum juggles everything—baby carriers, strollers, groceries, jobs, school runs, emotional labour—you name it. But what’s happening under the surface?

Vincent and Hocking (2012) reveal that daily child-lifting activities in the home can be a direct trigger for musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the lower back. These aren’t rare issues—they’re happening in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms every day. Combine repetitive lifting with poor posture, and you’ve got a recipe for chronic pain.

What’s more alarming? New mums are particularly vulnerable. Algabbani et al. (2025) found that a significant number of postpartum women suffer from neck and upper limb musculoskeletal disabilities. These aren’t just aches—they’re disabling conditions that can interfere with everyday activities like feeding, bathing, and playing with your child.

And that’s just the beginning.

How Mothering Movements Are Hurting Your Body

In Indonesia, researchers coined the term “ErgoMOMics” to describe the specific physical demands of mothering. Widyanti et al. (2020) show that ergonomic strain from childcare routines—like breastfeeding, carrying, and cleaning—frequently leads to shoulder, wrist, and back pain.

Even the way you carry your baby matters more than you think. A recent 2025 study by Pehlivan et al. explored how infant-carrying methods affect maternal gait and joint mechanics. Mums using slings or uneven loads experience altered walking patterns and strain on their hips, knees, and spines. Over time, these small daily habits stack up, creating lasting damage.

You wouldn’t ignore a warning light on your car dashboard. So why ignore your body’s? This is a Mother’s Day reminder: Don’t forget your spine!

When Pain Disrupts Your Life

Some mothers suffer in silence, assuming pain is “part of the job.” But conditions like De Quervain’s tendinosis, often called “mommy wrist,” can be life-altering. According to Khama et al. (2025), women reported difficulty in basic tasks like changing nappies, brushing hair, or even holding their babies. It doesn’t just hurt physically—it chips away at your confidence and connection with your child.

So let’s flip the script.

What if instead of pushing through, you paused?

What if this Mother’s Day, you gave yourself the gift of healing?

Why Chiropractic Care Makes Sense for Mums

Chiropractic care can offer a professional, evidence-informed approach to spinal health and musculoskeletal function.

Many mothers seek chiropractic care for help managing physical stress, improving mobility, and supporting joint health. Chiropractors use techniques aimed at addressing spinal joint dysfunctions and guiding posture, lifting techniques, and recovery. Done right, chiropractic care can be a key player in a mother’s broader self-care routine.

Here’s the power move: don’t wait for pain to sideline you.

What You Can Do Today

1. Audit Your Movements

Start with awareness. Are you twisting when lifting your child? Slouching while breastfeeding? Holding tension in your shoulders all day?

2. Change How You Carry

Choose baby carriers that distribute weight evenly. Alternate hips. Take breaks. You’re not being weak—you’re being smart.

3. Prioritise Postpartum Check-ins

Post-birth, you had checkups for the baby. What about you? Pain that lingers beyond the “six-week mark” is a sign to see a health professional.

4. Consider an Assessment

A chiropractic evaluation can help identify joint issues, postural imbalances, or movement patterns that might lead to pain. Chiropractors can offer advice tailored to your lifestyle—not one-size-fits-all solutions.

Flip the Mother’s Day Narrative

Mother’s Day should celebrate strength—not sacrifice.

If you’re tired of feeling sore, stiff, or like your body isn’t your own anymore, it’s time to reset. Your spine deserves more than survival mode. This Mother’s Day, let it be about you, your health, and your future.

You’re not just a mum—you’re a powerhouse. But even powerhouses need maintenance.

So this May, skip the scented candle and book yourself something better: a posture check, a mobility assessment, a plan to move without pain.

That’s not indulgent. That’s essential. This is a Mother’s Day reminder: Don’t forget your spine!

For further information, speak to Richie Sanchez (Chiropractor) at New Farm Chiropractic 07 3254 3011 or book an appointment online (Click here).

References

1. Vincent, R., & Hocking, C. (2012). Factors that Might Give Rise to Musculoskeletal Disorders when Mothers Lift Children in the Home. Physiotherapy Research International, 18(2), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1002/pri.1530
2. Algabbani, M. F., et al. (2025). Prevalence and Risk Factors for Neck and Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disabilities Among Postpartum Women. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology, 52(2). https://doi.org/10.31083/ceog25833
3. Widyanti, A., et al. (2020). The ergonomics of mothering and child care activities (ErgoMOMics) in Indonesia: Individual and social factors influencing musculoskeletal symptoms. Work, 65(3), 625–633. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-203117
4. Pehlivan, S., et al. (2025). Infant-carrying methods and their biomechanical influence on maternal gait patterns and joint mechanics. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538127251321771
5. Khama, C., et al. (2025). “I couldn’t change his nappy”: New mothers’ experiences of De Quervain’s tendinosis and its impact on occupational performance. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 72(2), https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.70014