Lumbar back brace

Submitted by ricearoni on January 4, 2007 - 8:39am
Body: 

I was just wondering if using a back brace designed to support the lumbar curve would help with learning the right posture? I'm still a little confused as to the correct posture, even after reading the FAQ's many times and really want to do it right. Once we have more money, I'm going to buy the DVD and hope that helps some too, but was just curious about the back brace. Thanks.

Cessie

Christine

January 4, 2007 - 10:25am

Hi Cessie,

No...the point of the postural work is to pull the body into its natural shape and keep it there by the strength of the spine itself. Braces and back supports are counterproductive to this effort.

I know it's not easy to learn the posture in this way - I can only offer to clarify any further questions you may have.

Christine

alemama

January 4, 2007 - 1:52pm

cessie- just thought I might tell you all the things I think of while in the posture. okay- first I stick out my booty. I know this probably isn't politically correct but- I think of the latina mama's i know. if you can get the booty out you are about 1/4 of the way there. then I lift my chest- and stick my boobs out and lengthen my neck- now when I do this neck thing I think of those african tribes where they put neck rings on. the boob thing is pretty easy to do but it is tricky to drop your shoulders while you do it but it just takes some practice - for me the chin just naturally comes in when I stick out my butt and boobs-
It was really amazing for me after about 2 weeks(which is how long it took to not have pain when in the posture) because my lower back quit hurting- and my tailbone. B

Christine

January 4, 2007 - 2:15pm

B...thanks so much for this colorful description. I can't talk about the posture in these terms and be taken seriously, but your grasp of it is right on. In my new book I did add "lift the breasts", because this is really what it is more than the "last pair of ribs".

I'm working on the self-check article as we speak, which will be up on my blog (the only place I can link from at the moment) soon!

ricearoni

January 4, 2007 - 4:06pm

Thanks for the visual. I do think I'm doing it mostly right, then, according to your description. I just forget to do it sometimes, mostly when I'm sitting down. How do you sit, like on the couch? Should I not lean against the back of the couch anymore? Also, how about while in the car? Should I get some time of pillow or something? And how about when laying down? Sorry for all the questions, but I really want to do this right, since so many of you say it's really helped you. I'm currently 5 1/2 weeks postpartum and through my own diagnosis (my OB said I'm normal, but I don't look or feel that way at all), I have a cystocele and rectocele, and want to stop the full, tampon feeling I have and also the "falling out" feeling too. Thanks.

alemama

January 4, 2007 - 8:26pm

okay - sitting- I have just about given up the couch- but when I do sit on it I do not lean back, I can't manage to keep the posture on the couch- I also scrunch down on the couch to read stories to my kids-but all other times I sit on the floor -cross legged or when I get tired of that I put my legs out straight and stretch my hamstrings - or I sit on my heals with a pillow between my butt and my heals(I learned all that from this sight) or I just get on my hands and knees for a break and do some butt exercises. it feels pretty good to sit on a lower stool- I kinda stradle it.

The Car- I have the best vehicle ever...... It is a dodge ram pick up truck- with 5 different adjustments. so I can get it into a position that is almost perfect. In all other cars I just suck it up and hold my body properly- I know I look really goofy but....

Laying down: personally I don't think it really matters- but I sleep on my tummy- and during the day if I get to rest I do it on my side and nurse the baby.

I can't stand that tampon feeling- It is going to get better - today I baked bread and afterwards I didn't feel that tired feeling in my vagina- and I definatly did at 5 weeks pp-I am 3 months postpartum now- so give it time - and above all rest when you feel that way- soon that baby won't let you:)))B

ricearoni

January 5, 2007 - 9:11am

B, can I ask you something? What type of prolapse(s) do you have? Is it all a result of your last baby? Also, do you just feel better or do things actually look better, that is if you've looked "down there" as much as I have? I'm so desperate for this all to just go away, but I know that unless God chooses to do a miracle, I'll be living with this to some degree for the rest of my life. Anything you have to share would be so wonderful. Thanks again.

Cessie

alemama

January 5, 2007 - 10:43am

Hey- I have a rectocele- I was diagnosed with it ( and softening of the anterior vaginal wall as well and a low uterus) at about 6 weeks pp. My husband says I've had it since my first pregnancy but I never checked it out myself (stupid stupid stupid). he said it went away after the first and second babies and this time is isn't going away. so my guess as to the cause is the really significant tear (through the deep muscle layers) I had all three times. and this time the stitches didn't hold-so now I have very little support in that area. and 3 babies in three years probably didn't help either. we wanted 3 more in the next three years but now we are talking maybe one more a few years down the road.
lets see as to feeling better and looking better-
I have good days and not so good days - some days at the end of the day the bulge takes up the entire opening (ahh) which is freaks me out- and other days it stays inside so far I have to go looking for it to know it is still there.(today I could really feel the anterior wall starting to bulge so I will do some firebreathing and hopefully that will help)
but even on the days where I can really see it- I still don't feel that tired feeling from the early pp time. and since doing the posture my back and tail bone never hurt now. and when it is really visable if I have sex and then sleep for 6 or 8 hours it stays in the whole next day (yey) and I usually try to take it easier after one of those falling out days. and I can say I am having less of the falling out days and more of the can't hardy see it days.
as long as it doesn't fall out I feel like I can live like this forever. Is this your first baby?B

ricearoni

January 5, 2007 - 2:28pm

Thanks for writing back. No, this is not my first...she's my third, but my first girl. I feel so depressed some days about this because I wonder if I would be in this situation if I would have had a repeat c-section. My second baby was born via emergency c-section and the recovery was so yucky compared to my first vaginal delivery that I had a VBAC. I live in Florida, and it took until I was 6 months pregnant with my daughter to find a doctor who would let me have a VBAC (we have a lot of malpractice issues here). Anyway, I was so excited to have had her vaginally, but we also didn't know that she was so big...9 pounds 6 ounces, 22 1/4 inches long. My boys were only 7.7 and 7.11, so she was a shocker. I'm assuming that her being so big caused the cystocele and rectocele I now have. Most days, even if it's not true, because I guess I'll never know, I have to convince myself that I've had some degree of prolapse before she was born so I don't feel like an idiot for choosing a VBAC. I keep wondering if I'd just have had a c/s, would I be dealing with this. Anyway, I do wonder about how sex will be (still haven't done that yet) and whether I'll ever be able to enjoy it again...will it hurt with things being rubbed that never were being rubbed before? What if I get pregnant (we do/did want another)? I've never been able to go natural (had a epidural each time) so how would I be able to have a "gentle" birth like I've read on here? AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!! So many questions and worries and fears and blah, blah, blah! I know I'm driving my husband crazy with all my worrying. He pretty much figures this is something I'll just have to deal with so I need to get over it (in a nice way, though...he's really wonderful), but I just want it gone! Well, sorry for all the rambling. I guess it feels better to just talk about this stuff with others who are in similar situations. God Bless!

Cessie

alemama

January 5, 2007 - 5:11pm

hey I live in florida too!!! baby girls are so wonderful arn't they?. I have 1 girl and 2 boys. Listen you should read some more about elective c sections- I read on this sight that a c section compromises pelvic floor function as much or more as a vaginal birth- congratulations on your vbac (for what it's worth I think it was the right decision) and your big old baby. my first two were 7 even and the third 8lbs 8 oz- so, much bigger to me:)
your husband sounds kinda like mine- god love um.
I worry about getting pregnant too- I hate any kind of birth control-
there are a few women here who have had babies after prolapse and their stories make me think I will probably try one day to have another baby.
I had a hypno birth for this last one and it was amazing- and really gentle except for about 2 minutes of it-so maybe you could look into that. I had that "if only" feeling too- but I'm here now and better late than never.B

ricearoni

January 5, 2007 - 5:52pm

Thanks for the encouragement. Again! I hate birth control too. I read the book, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and that's what we used, (charting my cycle, cervical fluid, etc.) before our daughter was born, but now that I'm nursing, I'm nervous about it. I'm considering the pill now, even though I have some ethical issues with it, just to have some peace of mind. Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I'm actually feeling a lot better this evening (walked the mall in posture this afternoon), so I'm hoping to start to add walking in the posture into my daily routine. If nothing else, it'll help me get these baby pounds off.
Cessie

louiseds

January 8, 2007 - 9:37pm

Hi Cessie

I have used a back brace for extended periods in the past when I was recovering from a ruptured disk. It was useful as a reminder to stand properly (or what I then understood 'properly' to mean), and useful in stopping me from moving past the point where the healing area would get squashed and cause further inflammation and pain.

However, it did prevent the muscles around the pelvis and lower spine from strengthening themselves during everyday movement, and it didn't allow the lumbar curve to sit naturally because it is designed to keep the lumbar area relatively rigid and straight. in addition to that it seriously compressed the whole abdominal area which prevents the abdominal wall from absorbing intraabdominal pressure that results from coughing, sneezing, laughing, breathing etc. This is also not good.

In summary, don't use a lumbar brace if you have prolapses and certainly not for trying to make prolapses 'less worse'. I believe the V2 Supporter belt works in quite a different way if you need a support garment, though I have not used one.

Cheers

Louise