Bad back

One of the bad sides of a c-section is the bad back afterwards.... (you've lost your stomach muscles to hold everything together...)

I've been trying hard to walk to school to get the big sister, at least twice a day (i.e. nearly 4.5kms a day) to drop a few post baby pounds. But, this has set off some aches in my lower back / pelvis.

The GP gives me a prescription (not needed I find actually) to go to the physiotherapist - you are allowed, free, 10 appointments at the kiné under your maternity cover - so off I go.

If I'm lucky I get a lovely massage and the tens machine, after I've had a hot bag of cherry stones to warm up the muscles placed on my back for 10 mins.
If I'm not so lucky: 10 mins on the bike, then on my back for stomach / leg / breathing movements and then on all fours for arms and legs out in front and behind.

Actually the day after I feel worse than before... so I hope it's doing some good! - the massage is great though! I've just go to remember to hold in my stomach when I walk (not easy!)

Tens Machine

I see on the previous post that they've translated Tens Machine (to Tens Machine in fact).

For my first pregnancy I went onto the internet and bought for something like GBP50 a LADY TENS from Babycare Tens - which I found to be really good for pain relief and it worked well. However, 4 years ago, not one of the doctors or midwives in the clinique knew what it was - I wasn't asked to take it off for monitoring or anything - but everybody asked about it.

After an injured shoulder I was prescribed a visit or 6 to the physiotherapist, and there she had a tens machine...

For my recent birth, in the clinique I saw they had birthing balls - big blow up balls you can buy in Decathlon or another sports shop they usually use for Yoga or Pilates etc.. they weren't there 4 years ago either.