Common Postpartum Aches & How Chiropractic Care Can Help New Mums

Many women expect exhaustion after having a baby, but fewer are prepared for the physical aches that can linger in the weeks and months postpartum. Pelvic instability, wrist pain, tailbone discomfort and upper back tension are all common as the body adjusts after pregnancy and birth.

Understanding what is happening in your body during postpartum recovery can make a big difference, and gentle support such as chiropractic care may help restore comfort and alignment.

All of the pregnancy chiropractors at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman have additional perinatal training and are Webster Certified. We care for mums and mums-to-be from all over Sydney including the North Shore, Northern Beaches and Greater Sydney.

Let’s talk about the physical side of postpartum that rarely gets airtime: the real aches, pains, and biomechanical challenges that can linger (or suddenly appear) in the days, weeks, and even months after birth.

From coccyx pain to “mum wrist,” these issues are common, but not normal. They’re signs that your body is adjusting to the enormous transformation it’s been through. And thankfully, chiropractic care can offer safe, gentle solutions to help you move, feed, and heal with more ease.

Pelvic Instability and Pubic Symphysis Pain

During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin loosens the ligaments of the pelvis in preparation for birth. After birth, these ligaments don’t immediately “snap back.” If pelvic alignment is off, especially around the pubic symphysis or sacroiliac joints,  you may experience:

• Clicking or pain in the front of the pelvis

• Sharp pain when walking, climbing stairs, or rolling over

• A feeling of instability or “wobble” in the hips

Dr. Steve Williams notes that misalignments in the pelvic girdle are among the most common musculoskeletal issues seen postpartum, especially when birth involved long labour, uneven pushing positions, or instrumental delivery.

Chiropractic care can help realign the pelvis and support the surrounding muscles to stabilise the area again. Many women notice relief in walking and sleeping comfort after just a few sessions.

Coccyx (Tailbone) Pain After Birth

The coccyx (tailbone) is a small but significant structure at the base of your spine. During a vaginal birth,  especially one that’s fast, involves forceps, or includes extended pushing,  the coccyx can become compressed or slightly shifted.

Signs of coccyx misalignment can include:

• Pain when sitting, especially on hard surfaces

• Sharp or shooting pain during certain movements

• Referred discomfort into the pelvic floor

At Nomad Chiropractic, low-force sacral and coccygeal adjustments are used to gently restore function. Sitting pain after birth is common, but with the right support your body can recover.

“Mum Wrist” (De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis)

New mums often develop pain on the thumb side of the wrist from repetitive lifting, feeding and carrying their baby. Known as De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, this condition can present as:

• Sharp or aching pain along the wrist and forearm

• Swelling or stiffness near the base of the thumb

• Discomfort when lifting or rotating the wrist

While rest, bracing and ice may help in the short term, chiropractic care can address the biomechanical causes, which are often related to spinal or shoulder alignment and repetitive strain.

Care may include:

• Wrist and elbow adjustments

• Postural correction

• Nerve release techniques

• Ergonomic advice for feeding and baby handling

Upper Back, Neck and Shoulder Pain After Birth

The postpartum slump is real. Feeding, holding and rocking a baby for hours each day often places the body in awkward positions.

This commonly leads to:

• Thoracic spine stiffness

• Neck tension and headaches

• Rounded shoulders and upper back pain

Research by Dr. Heidi Haavik highlights how chiropractic adjustments may influence motor control and brain-body communication, helping the body move and adapt more efficiently.

Chiropractic care can help reset postural patterns, improve spinal alignment and relieve accumulated tension in the upper back and shoulders.

Core Healing and Diastasis Recovery

While chiropractors do not treat abdominal separation (diastasis recti) directly, spinal and pelvic alignment can play an important role in supporting core healing.

When the rib cage, spine and pelvis are aligned, intra-abdominal pressure can normalise, which supports:

• Better breathing patterns

• Pelvic floor coordination

• A safer return to exercise after birth

Many chiropractors work collaboratively with women’s health physiotherapists to ensure integrated care during postpartum recovery.

What We Do Differently at Nomad Chiropractic

At Nomad Chiropractic on Sydney’s North Shore, we understand the unique physical challenges of the postpartum body.

Our approach includes:

• Baby-friendly appointments where feeding, crying or resting are always welcome

• Gentle, neurologically informed adjustments suitable for postpartum recovery

• Home-based rehabilitation strategies tailored to your healing timeline

• A personalised approach that honours each woman’s birth experience

Supporting Your Postpartum Recovery

Postpartum pain and physical discomfort can impact far more than just the body. They can affect your energy, your confidence and your ability to move through early motherhood with ease.

You don’t have to simply push through or wait for things to improve.

Gentle support from experienced practitioners can help restore alignment, relieve pain and support your recovery after pregnancy and birth.

If you’re looking for trusted professionals who support mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, you can explore the Not Another Onesie directory of postpartum support services across Australia.

Explore more here 

Nomad Chiropractic – Mosman, Sydney

Nomad Chiropractic is a family-focused chiropractic clinic in Mosman, Sydney. The clinic provides gentle, evidence-informed chiropractic care for adults, pregnancy and postpartum, babies, children, teens, and seniors.

Care focuses on the spine and nervous system, which influence movement, stress regulation, adaptability, and development across all stages of life.

You can find out more about them here and here.