How much is too much??

jennypenny1014

So I have 2 gargantuan dogs and a cat...ok gargantuan is a little extreme, but they are both large breeds...and large breeds require a large amount of food...which my dogs ran out of last night.

I just went to PetSmart and picked up my usual 35lb bag of kibble, and made the helpful employee bring it out and place it in my car. Now, the dilemma...I live in a condo...one with a tall flight of stairs that leads from my garage door to my living room. I have to somehow get the dog food from my car, into my foyer, and up these stairs. BUT...how am I supposed to do that when we're not supposed to lift anything heavy? 35 lbs may not sound like much, but boy it sure feels like it when it's 35 lbs of dead weight slung over your shoulder while climbing a flight of stairs.

My question is: what is our heavy lifting weight limit?? How heavy is too heavy for a pregnant lady??

MissLMS

I'm not sure.. but I lift my 27-pound toddler a thousand times a day and I think that is fine.... I'm sure there are other pregnant moms on here who lift their children who are even heavier. I'm sure the dog food is fine.

eesome

My OB said 25lbs max.
However, she is well aware of my 40lb toddler, and she said "Everything is fine in moderation. Just don't make a habit of holding him all the time."

Meehanbride

My OB stated early on to not lift more than 20lbs. I have a 40lbs 5yo that loves to be held but I just cant.

A friend of mine who goes to the same OB was told no more than 15lbs.

I think it is different for everyone so I would ask at your next appt. Until then, is there some young buff neighbor that could help you? lol

robnnoel

I have a 33lbs toddler that my Dr didnt seem to mind that I lift on a daily basis.  My Dr. said that as long as my body was used to doing whatever it is that I am wanting to do then it is find to continue to do it.  So, my doc would tell you that if you were used to lifting the dog food then it is ok to continue to lift it.  But, i would say if you have someone else that can help you out I would ask for their help.

DarrenAndMelissa

Oops... my daughter is 31 pounds. Put that together with my purse, her backpack, and whatever else I'm carrying, and I'm sure I'm up to around 40. I think everything is ok in moderation as long as your doctor doesn't tell you any different.

Fuzzy21

I also have two large breed dogs.....they eat through a bag of 35lb - 40lb dog food every two weeks.  I pack the bags from the store, to my car and into my home all the time.  I actually haven't thought twice about it, since it has to be done.

I also have horses and lug the hay bales around all the time.  Unfortunately, I don't see that stopping anytime throughout this pregnancy.

jennypenny1014

Meehanbride:

I think it is different for everyone so I would ask at your next appt. Until then, is there some young buff neighbor that could help you? lol

LOL! I have my "young, buff" (not to mention inconceivably hot) BF who has offered to carry it upstairs tonight when he gets home from work.

*sigh* I love him.

jennypenny1014

Fuzzy21:

I also have two large breed dogs.....they eat through a bag of 35lb - 40lb dog food every two weeks.  I pack the bags from the store, to my car and into my home all the time.  I actually haven't thought twice about it, since it has to be done.

I also have horses and lug the hay bales around all the time.  Unfortunately, I don't see that stopping anytime throughout this pregnancy.

WOW! That sounds like a lot of work! How much does the average hay bale weigh, out of curiosity??

sapphirewolfkdv

My dr. said no more than 25 lbs, but she said the lifting only mattered after a certain number of weeks. My personal opinion would be that as your bump gets bigger and your balance gets worse, you may not want to be carrying that dog food up the stairs because of the risk of falling.

SarahPLiz

My dr. normally says 25lbs, but she knows how in I used to lift before getting pregnant, so she just told me not to strain. She said if I have to brace myself to pick it up, leave it down. I helped move our couch last night when we sold it, and I'm fine. My DH is not the manliest of men when it comes to things like that ( I open all the jars in the house) so I'm the one that lifts the most. As long as I'm not straining, I don't see an issue. However, I'm sure the amount I'm lifiting will get lower as I get farther along. 

JenJar

I was told 30lb limit with the exception of my toddler since my body is used to lifting him on a daily basis.  (He isn't quite 30 lbs though...)  I would have been hesitant about lifting the dog food, too.  

betsy538

I lift a lot for work (I manage a pet food and livestock food store) so I carry 50+ pound bags all the time.  I have also been doing all the shoveling/snow blowing at home since DH plows snow and is never home in the when morning we get snow.  My OB said as long as I lift carefully and make sure I have good balance that I can continue doing so until I'm not comfortable.  He said the main reason they say no lifting is because your equilibrium or center of balance becomes distorted and pregnant ladies fall quite often. The lifting itself this early in pregnancy can't cause any real harm I would think, unless you're high risk. 

betsy538

Fuzzy21:

I also have horses and lug the hay bales around all the time.  Unfortunately, I don't see that stopping anytime throughout this pregnancy.

I'm glad I'm not the only one hauling hay bales for the horses too!  I used to always grab two at a time, but now I'm only carrying one at a time.

Skibunny07

my doctor said a little bit of extra weight in moderation is ok. I specifically asked her because we have a 40lb great dane puppy at home (she's only 4 months) who still hasn't figured out things like getting into or out of the car so I have to lift her to do those things). She said as long as I'm not carrying her around then its fine. 

maronesa

I am a paramedic and we have 40-50 pound equipment to carry in addition to the patient and the stretcher.  My OB said to use caution, but there is no real evidence behind the lifting restrictions that so many people have.  However, I do let DH do a lot at home, I am so tired at that point after teaching all day or working a medic shift that I don't want to lift anything else!