Lifting heavy things?
We live on a farm so I regularly lift things like hay bales, feed bags, calf pails, etc. The heaviest thing is probably 75 lbs. Since I found out I was pregnant I only lift things I can without straining (about 50 lbs). I thought this was ok.. I went to the drs last week for the sonogram and everything is perfect but I asked just to be on the safe side what I could lift. They wouldn't answer me. They basically said don't lift anything. Um..if I can't lift anything they might as well put me on bed rest. We have a small family farm. If I don't help in the barn that leaves my husband to do all the work on his own. The doctor actually gasped when I told him I was still milking cows. Women in DH's family have worked on the farm until they popped so I don't understand what the big deal is.
Has anyone else ever asked this question? Did your doctor give you an answer? I'm only 9 weeks. Me and the baby are perfectly healthy.
Re: Lifting heavy things?
They always have said that any physical activity that you were doing before you were pregnant you are safe to continue doing. I do think that there is a weight limit, but I don't know it. Do you milk by hand or by machine? Either way although it is tough work, it isn't overly strenuous. Perhaps his concern was over the getting kicked part in the off chance that hit ever did happen.
If it was me, I would continue to do as much as I felt I could without putting me or LO in danger. If that meant that DH had to pick up the hay bales while I shovel poop then I guess that is what I would do. I know this probably isn't much help to you, but I just thought I would tell you what I would do. I hope you get an answer from your doctor soon. Good luck and give the cows a pat on the head for me! They are my favorite farm animal besides the horses!
1/12/13 DD was born
4/9/16 DS was born
9/17 CP
6/23/18 BFP EDD 3/4/19
If this was my limit I wouldn't be able to get through the day. All of my crap that I carry to work easily equals 10 pounds, not to mention hefting the vacuum cleaner, mowing the lawn, giving the pup a kaboose boost when she is too lazy to jump in the truck (she weights 92 lbs by the way), and one recipe of buttercream frosting that I make easily weights upwards of 8 lbs...add that to a cake...we are talking a 20 pound cake minimum! Nope....10 pounds wouldn't cut it for me.
Some physicians (including my own) will tell you not to lift anything ... if you ask if you can run... some will say no. This is not what the American College of Obstetrics and Gyn recommend, however these doctors are covering themselves for insurance purposes. H&H 9 months to you
I think it's okay to listen to your body...if you are uncomfortable or have tightening after, you've overdone it. The doc probably doesn't want to give you an "exact" number because of liability issues...but in general, at 9 weeks you should be able to continue with many of your same activities. You are smart to start limiting to 50lbs or lower. I don't see the issues with cow milking. It's not like the unpasteurized milk sprays in your mouth...I assume you wash hands before and after.
Later, when your belly gets bigger, you'll be naturally restricted by your body since you can't balance/push heavy loads against your belly (it just doesn't feel good). A 10-20lb limit seems a little excessive unless you are on bed rest...toddlers are easily 25-40lbs.