Can Breastfeeding Habits Impact Back and Neck Pain? Exploring the Connection
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
Can Breastfeeding Habits Impact Back and Neck Pain? Exploring the Connection
How common is breastfeeding for infants?
In Poland, the latest statistical data from 2014 shows that 98% of women breastfeed their newborns in the first week of life. However, by the sixth week, only 46% of women still breastfeed their infants, and from the second to the sixth month of a child’s life, this drops to 42%
In many countries, especially those with higher incomes, this percentage is even lower
What are breastfeeding positions?
The main feeding positions are the cradle hold, the cross-cradle hold, the football hold, the laid-back position, and the side-lying position.
Regardless of which breastfeeding position women use, it is important that it is comfortable and does not overload the musculoskeletal system.
Can breastfeeding cause back pain?
The research concluded that the long-term use of non-ergonomic postures and the occurrence of overloads on the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments during pregnancy makes breastfeeding women sensitive to back pain and therefore requires monitoring of the condition of the musculoskeletal system
How Common is back pain in pregnancy?
Of the breastfeeding mothers- research found the following:
Neck Pain
48% suffered neck pain
Upper Back - Thoracic Pain
36% suffered back pain
Low Back Pain
66% had low back pain
Women with back pain spent significantly more time feeding during the day
Among the breastfeeding techniques, the highest percentage of women often or always used the cradle hold or side-lying position
Women who breastfeed their children in a sitting position using a bed or couch and women who breastfeed their children in a lying position experienced significantly lower maximal neck pain than women who breastfeed their children in a sitting position using a chair or an armchair
What causes the pain whilst breastfeeding?
A probable cause of back and neck pain during breastfeeding, in addition to muscle weakness after pregnancy, is the adoption of non-ergonomic positions during feeding.
Non-ergonomic positions may consequently overload parts of the body, especially if the breastfeeding lasts for many months or if the mother has breastfed many children.
Just sitting in an inclined position places a load on the intervertebral discs that is much more than that experienced when lying, standing, or sitting in a relaxed position with a backrest
Pregnancy Chiropractor
Q: Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy?Yes, we use gentle, safe techniques specifically designed for pregnant women.
Q: How can chiropractic help in pregnancy?It relieves back pain, pelvic pain, and helps maintain balance and posture.
Q: Can chiropractic help with labour preparation?Yes, by supporting pelvic alignment and reducing muscle tension.
Q: Do you use special tables for pregnancy?Yes, we have pregnancy-safe equipment and techniques.
For more information about how we can help. Please call Health Wise Chiropractic 03 9467 7889 or book online to see one of our Chiropractors in Sunbury or Melton/Strathtulloh Today!
We are also really proud to offer our patients an APP for their Mobile- iPad. With access to your rehab exercises and our health tip blogs with over 500 articles.
Chiropractic has moved online. We offer our online program -STAND CORRECTED- To help you through the day.
We have over 30 programs on different health conditions
Each program contains
- Information about the conditions
- things to do and things to avoid
- nutrition advice
- all the stretches that are needed to help
Reference
Ratajczak, M., Górnowicz, R. The influence of breastfeeding factors on the prevalence of back and neck pain: data from an online survey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 25, 675 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07785-4
Aguirre-Rodríguez VH, Pinal-Covarrubio JP. Evaluación sistemática de la cadera dolorosa [Systematic evaluation of the painful hip]. Acta Ortop Mex. 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):246-256. Spanish. PMID: 39222949.
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