Eleven weeks into our Baby Belly Challenge, and I’ve been splint-less for 3 weeks now. It has been a major adjustment for my body, but it seems like the worst is behind me. Many things have changed over the past 3 weeks, one of them being the way that I’m carrying my children.

I always knew it was important to keep my belly pulled in while holding them, but when wearing a splint it’s easy to slack a little, especially when you feel like the band is preventing your belly from bulging. Well without my splint on over the past several weeks I’ve realized how hard it is to keep my stomach all the way in while holding my 9 month old and 3 year old. I’ve always held them on my hips rather than in front because I didn’t want the extra weight near my belly with the diastasis.

I’ve shifted this now though, and find it to be a lot safer and more comfortable. I try to carry them with their weight centered against me in front, and if possible, one leg on either side of my body. Feeling their weight pressed into me is a great cue to tighten up my entire core by pulling my ribs together and keeping my belly pulled in.

Have you been paying attention to your core when you carry your children? Do you experience back pain when holding them? See if trying this makes a difference. Hopefully it’ll yield positive results for you like it has for me.