The New York Times featured Karen M. Sutton, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, and Anna Ribaudo PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, clinical supervisor at the HSS Integrative Care Center, in an article about how parents can help prevent stress injuries from carrying a baby. 

According to the article, a women's abdominal muscles are stretched and separated during pregnancy. "Your body is completely changed…. You have basically no core after giving birth," Dr. Sutton explained.

Ribaudo noted that the weakened core decreases stability and could put more pressure on a person's back, hip or knees.

"I see a lot of postpartum upper back and shoulder and neck pain," Ribaudo said. To decrease the amount of bending, Ribaudo advised parents to adjust the height of where they change and dress their baby.

According to Dr. Sutton, exercises such as the plank pose, bridge pose, wall squats and pelvic floor exercises are beneficial for women who feel comfortable and have been examined by their obstetrician.

Read the full article at nytimes.com.

Additional Coverage:

• Red Tricycle: Here's How to Make Everything Hurt Less When Carrying Your Baby