Heavy Lifting During Pregnancy?? (Loss mentioned)

krzyriver · February 2016

Hey guys! So today I spoke with one of the nurses at my doctor's office about some concerns my husband has about my job. I work in assisted living and my boss has moved me to a position that has minimal physical labor involved, but I still am required to lift a handful of people into their wheelchairs (with assistance, I don't lift anyone alone). Some of them are quite large and can't support any of their own weight. My nurse was very concerned because they do not like women lifting more than 15lbs during their pregnancy.

I've had multiple losses, but the last one is the only one that they are stumped as to why I miscarried. So, of course, my husband is freaking out that my job might have had something to do with it. Everything that I've ever read has said that if a miscarriage is going to happen, it's going to happen. And that things like bending and lifting are not dangerous when done correctly. So I was surprised that instead of advising me to lift correctly, she was scrambling to think of solutions like switching shifts, switching jobs, or having my coworkers take the brunt of the work.... none of which are possibilities.

So here's my question: Have any of you talked to your doctors about lifting? And what did they say about the dangers of it?

I know many of us haven't been in to see the doctor yet, but perhaps some 2nd time moms discussed this with their doctors in the past?

sparklegrump · February 2016

There are women around the world who do strenuous labor during their entire pregnancies and deliver healthy babies. I would tell you that if you are used to it and in shape, safe lifting is not going to cause you to miscarry.

That said, if I had had multiple miscarriages, I would be taking exactly 0 chances with lifting more than 30-40 lbs, no matter what the evidence says.

PrimRoseMama · February 2016

I would imagine your job has very little to do with the miscarriage. You are used the work so it shouldn't be a strain. Usually miscarriages are completely random & nothing the mother did (or did not do) causes them.

PeggyOlsonFTW · February 2016

If I can't lift 15lbs, I can't lift my kid. How are pregnant women with toddlers supposed to manage that? My feeling is that if you were doing it pre-pregnancy, it's fine to continue now. But, if it doesn't feel good, don't do it.

kaimee072712 · February 2016

could your employer buy a hoyer lift ? Or if you work at a facility that has PT/OT I would let them take over.

krzyriver · February 2016

Thanks ladies! Maybe I just needed some reassurance. The nurse kind of freaked me out. And, unfortunately, I'm not in great shape, although I've been doing this job for over a year now so I'm pretty used to it.

@sparklegrump Yeah, I really don't want to take any chances. If I could afford it, I would quit and start job hunting. But my husband does landscaping, so I'm the main source of income in the winter. So I'm stuck until about April.

@kaimee072712 We use a hoyer lift for two patients and a sit-to-stand lift for two others. So there's only two other patients that concern me and, unfortunately, I'm not allowed to use a lift on them without a doctor's order. And I work midnights, so there's only two of us working in the assisted living wing. We have RNs down in the SNF wing, but the nursing staff and the assisted living staff do not get along, and the nurses will not come down unless they are required, like if a patient falls or passes away.

I work tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday and then I'm off for 8 days. So I'll see how those nights go and if something feels off, I'll speak to my boss.

klv · February 2016

You need to speak with your employer. I am pretty sure that pregnancy qualifies you for accommodations at work (like a chair if you need to sit, or a reduction in the amount you had to lift). Especially since it is somewhat short term

My last pregnancy the doc told me not to lift more than 10 lbs. I laughed and told her I had a 20 lb cat. She said that was ok, since I was used to lifting the cat. This time I have a 35 lb kid. I can't not pick up my kid for 9 months

sparklegrump · February 2016

@krzyriver I didn't mean to imply you should quit. But I think accepting any and all changes in responsibility that could affect your pregnancy would be a good idea.

krzyriver · February 2016

@klv Unfortunately I don't think there's anything else she could do short of approving a leave of absence for me. I'm able to rest as much as I need (honestly we sit about half of our shift cause there's nothing to do on midnights lol) and she's reduced the amount of lifting I do. But the residents have to be helped out of bed and into their wheelchairs in the morning. If we had even one other person, I wouldn't have to lift anyone at all. But the number of staff members is a corporate decision, not my supervisors.

@sparklegrump Oh I know you weren't implying that. But my husband and I have decided that this is our last pregnancy, regardless of what happens. So if I could afford to quit, I would. Because there's really no way around lifting at my job and I don't want to take any chances.

AshleyGemini24 · February 2016

I work as a tech in a nursing home. One of the first questions I asked my dr was about the risks of my job. She said I should be fine as long as I lift properly. She told me that miscarriages usually don't happen because of something you do. It's usually an internal thing, wether it be hormones or a thin cervix or what have you. Usually miscarriages are not caused by something you do or don't do.
Best of luck to you.

kelliott09 · February 2016

I've heard "women shouldn't lift things while pregnant" is an old wives tale. Unless your doctor specifically tells you not to for whatever reason, I'm sure it's fine. Pregnant women carry around toddlers all the time. I'll be one of those women during this pregnancy. My son is nearly 30lbs. While I was pregnant with him, I worked a very physical job with regular heavy lifting. When I asked my doctor about it, he said anything that your body is already used to doing, is fine. Just don't decide to become a weightlifter while you're pregnant. I didn't, lol, and I continued to work that job until 6 days before my son was born.

Edited for bad grammar

PCOSbaby · February 2016

I am an Occupational Therapist which requires lifting patients all the time. My doctor told me I should be fine as long as I continue to use proper body mechanics. By that I mean lift with your legs and not your back.

Use a gait belt for added safety!

mrsman2018 · February 2016

I work as a Health Care Aide and have to lift, turn and transfer. I have not talked to my Dr about it yet, but I am just going to use proper technique, lifts and transfer belts.
Best of luck.

PrairieGirl45 · February 2016

Not lifting more than 15lbs isn't true. That is a myth. Just focus on technique as has been suggested so you don't hurt yourself.

SLou24 · February 2016

I'm surprised the nurse told you 15 lb, that seems like an awfully light limit. What I've been told is that anything you were doing before pregnancy regularly should be fine when pregnant. For instance, I'm a power lifter (non-competitive, just for fun), and I've continued to train after getting my BFP -- I just listen to my body a little bit more now. I don't do max lifts, and I decrease my training loads in general a little bit so that everything feels "good". Before, I would push through no matter what, but now I'm much more careful and in tune with how I'm feeling, and that's what I'm told is important.

Now, I will probably use the pregnancy as an excuse to not help a friend move in a couple months... I mean, I just can't lift anything heavy, right?

Good luck at work though, I'd say speak with your employer again, listen to your body, and don't be afraid to get lots of help when you need it. They have to accommodate you if necessary, right?

krzyriver · February 2016

Thank you for all the advice and reassurance ladies! I've always heard that bending and lifting could not cause miscarriages, so I was confused and paranoid when the nurse reacted the way she did. Especially because I'm not good about using proper lifting techniques because we're usually in such a hurry. But I slowed WAY down this morning, made sure to bend at my knees instead of my waist (when possible, which it isn't always when I'm getting people dressed lol) and lift with my legs. And I don't take as much of their weight as I used to.

@SLou24 Unfortunately they don't have to accommodate me at all. My boss switched my position and the other girls wait while I get all the proper lifting equipment for the guests that are allowed to use it. But if I am unable to continue working as time goes on, I will be considered unable to do the job, a risk to my own safety, and a risk to the guest's safety. My boss has let everyone who has gotten pregnant (or who has any other restrictions) know this. It's not a problem for the pregnant girls who work other shifts because there are more people working at those times and they don't have to lift if they really can't. But there's only two of us working during the midnight shift. And my boss' hands are tied because she has to answer to corporate and because of liability issues.

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Heavy Lifting During Pregnancy?? (Loss mentioned)

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