Lifting heavy objects

nelliev · August 2014

Hi, I am 12 weeks pregnant (2nd pregnancy) and are aware that one should not lift heavy objects. My question is....does that include my 3 year old son. It would be hard to stop picking him up.

nymom1015 · August 2014

i'm wondering the same thing, but my girlfriend is due any date now with a 17 month old. hes about 23lbs, she lifts him up all the time, shes a stay at home mom, and shes fine. i mean what do moms do that are pregnant with kids? I just found out im pregnant and have a 17 month old too, and i'm constantly picking her up. hopefully it's ok.

fiscally3 · August 2014

With my second pregnancy, the OB said my toddler was the one exception to the rule (not that you should carry them all the time). @Idani is right about listening to your body. I would use this as a great time to teach your kid some independence (going up and down stairs, climbing into a car seat) it will make your life much easier once the baby is here. I did have one friend who would use a Beco carrier on her back during her pregnancy, but I don't think I'd be up for that.

MommyOfAMiracle · August 2014

I've never heard that pregnant women shouldn't lift their children. I am pretty sure you'll be ok unless your high risk and ordered by the doctor to take it easy.

vrj0522 · August 2014

I don't even know where that advice comes from but it seriously annoys me. You can continue to do whatever you were doing pre-pregnancy, including lifting your child. I'm on my second pregnancy and have lifted weights all through my first pregnancy and so far this pregnancy and it's perfectly fine. The reason why you have to be careful with lifting is because you don't want to develop an injury on your hands, arms, leg, back, etc, not because it would be harmful to your baby.

PrimRoseMama · August 2014

If you are used to doing the lifting then you can continue. Just don't try to tackle lifting anvils, safes & other things that you don't normally lift. /:)

thegoodpotato · August 2014

PrimRoseMama said:

If you are used to doing the lifting then you can continue. Just don't try to tackle lifting anvils, safes & other things that you don't normally lift. /:)

@PrimRoseMama all I could picture was Wile E Coyote after reading your comment.

OP - You're going to have a long, hard pregnancy if you spend the whole time avoiding lifting anything heavier than a toddler. I don't know about you, but my 3yo weighs about 30lbs, and I'm pretty sure I lift things way heavier than that on a daily basis.

heatherwhite1984 · August 2014

I still wear my ~36lb toddler on the front in my Ergo. When LO is not in the Ergo, I am carrying him on my hip at times. And I just rearranged our entire living room by myself - yes moving couches and end tables all over the place.

jaz464 · August 2014

I continue to deadlift in the gym and have no intention of quitting. Lifting properly is good excercise.

Ndm410 · August 2014

This ^^^^^
I think this is more of what the limitations are about. Because our center of gravity changes we need to be more cautious. Besides falling or tripping, that shift also makes it easier to strain muscles, etc. I don't think it's about hurting the baby as much as it is injuring the mom.

hazelrora · August 2014

In general, I believe it's safe to continue lifting if you're used to doing so. Obviously listen to your body and know your limits.

TashaPlusNika · August 2014

It really depends on whether you feel your body can handle it. I'm a little bit biased, because I was never lifted or carried much as a child, so with my 6 year old, I still lovingly pick her up and twirl her around and stuff, she's 45lbs now. I don't carry her distances or give her piggy back rides, well, more like, I stopped when I hit about 16 weeks of pregnancy, mostly because I was tired a lot. Now at 22 weeks, she feels kind of heavy to me, so I don't lift her much, she doesn't exactly need me to, but anyway - you get my point, it's different for everyone.

I have a 30lb French Bulldog that I lift perfectly fine, but I don't attempt to lift the 54lb English Bulldog anymore.

I'd guess lifting or carrying your 3yr old is fine, but that's my standards/my body, you'll just have to slowly figure out what your limitations are for yourself

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