How to Change a Baby’s Diaper
This is the second issue in the Postpartum Pain Clinic, with a multi-part focus on the treatment of pain and pain that occurs with the care of newborns and babies.
Changing a baby’s diaper takes some practice: you need to know when to lift your feet, how to avoid accidental jets of urine, when to throw napkins and spank your baby into the bathtub. But what ‘s the worst thing about changing a baby’s diaper? Leaning over and fighting a filthy, writhing creature can be fatal to your neck and back.
Some parents-to-be, for reasons of frugality or lack of space, do not buy a special changing table. I tried to give it up for my first child – we tried to save money – but changing it for a low suitcase was so hard on my back and knees that I finally borrowed an old chest of drawers from my parents and stuck a changing table on top. Having the surface at the right height (just below my elbows, ergonomics experts say) saved me a lot of trouble. My husband put a low Ikea footstool near the dresser and lifted one leg to relieve his own back pain (in fact, he did this while washing dishes as well).
To better understand how to change a baby’s diaper without damaging the musculoskeletal system, I spoke with Stephanie Leaf, a postpartum physical therapist and director of New Leaf Physical Therapy , for her best advice on protecting your back and neck. …
Do not do this:
“When you change diapers on the go and at home: do not round your back or bend over a baby with straight legs,” says Leaf.
Make:
“Kneel down on a lower surface or use a higher surface at navel level. Let your hips, knees, and elbows bend. Softer joints allow for more efficient muscle use and avoid joint pain due to weak ligaments. Use a neutral back position to protect your lower back discs and ligaments, ”says Leaf. “When you change a diaper while standing on a higher surface, stand closer to use a neutral wrist position, keep your elbows soft and soft open knees.”
I also found that the rush to change diapers – understandable since no one wants to be written on – made me tense. In order not to get caught in the stream of urine, I put a new unfolded diaper under the baby even before unbuttoning the dirty diaper, so the time between throwing the old diaper and fastening the new one was only a couple of seconds. This allowed me to take my time and focus on breathing and relaxation rather than clenching my jaw or straining my arms or neck.
You also want to have your interchangeable accessories close at hand – some people like the shelf above the table or the first drawer; I preferred to keep them away from the table at the feet of the child. And when the baby becomes a toddler, some people move on to changing diapers on the floor, but I found it much easier to lift him on his back at the top of the dresser (of course, your experience may be different).
Looking for some more tips on how to prevent pain while caring for your newborn? Here’s a helpful guide to creating an ergonomic baby room – and of course, look forward to the next issues at the Postpartum Pain Clinic.