How much weight can I pick up while pregnant?
The thing I like best about this one is that everyone rushes to help you pick up a cotton ball when you're pregnant but if you need to haul your 25lb screaming toddler out of the room, does anybody step in then? Noooo.
Not unlike exercise, skiing and falling, the risk of heavy lifting in pregnancy is not injury to your baby, but injury to you. Pregnancy hormones cause your ligaments to soften, which helps your pelvis widen to make room for childbirth (if you listen closely I'm sure it makes the same sound as cavernous, steel door opening). As a result, your joints may be less stable than usual and you're more likely to hurt yourself. Your baby on the other hand, is well padded in there so it's unlikely you'd do any harm.
That said, if you don't want to pick crap up, why the heck should you? Simply forget you read any of this and embrace the rubenesque Goddess you are and make the people around you your step-and-fetch peasants. Be sure lift with your legs when picking up that double banquet burger though.
search: heavy lifting and pregnancy
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Reader Comments (10)
Even when I WANT help my hubby knows full well its safe and is extremely unlikely to help at all PERIOD unless I leave his pop and chips in the trunk........
Early in my pregnancy, I was carrying groceries in the house, lost my balance and went crashing onto all fours. My belly was the only part of me I didnt' hurt, so the little bean was okay. I was bleeding and torn up everywhere else though, and four months later my knee still hurts.
Needless to say, my husband refuses to let me carry ANYTHING now. I take full advantage of it. :-)
So Amanda, what you're saying is, we should take one mammoth fall during pregnancy in full view of the husband, and it's clear sailing from there on out? I bet you get bonus points if you crush his chips and explode his pop on the way down.....
After a miscarriage I had someone I worked with tell me it was because I lifted cases of soda. Why did she watch me do it and not tell me then it was going to end my pregnancy. I get especially annoyed at this one now.
Kathy, that woman needs a punch in the mouth. First of all, she wrong. Secondly, she's an asshole for implying that you had anything to do with your miscarriage and just adding to the pain like that. Fuck her and you can tell her I said so.
I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope you're feeling better.
The first thing my MIL said to me when I told her I miscarried was "What did you do? Did you lift something heavy?!" actually no, I didn't but thank you for implying this was my fault.
Good thing it's safe for me to drink now...
I work at my local PetSmart where heavy lifting is a must. Not only have I lifted 40 pound dog food bags for MEN but also pregnant women themselves as if we're not in the same boat. I think it depends on the person you are & whether or not you're up for it. It's my job so of course I HAVE to do it but if I had to choose, shit I wouldnt even be working.
Thank you!! This is my first pregnancy so I'm pretty clueless about EVERYTHING. Early on I asked my brother (who has 2 + 1 on the way) what the deal with heavy lifting was- why it's dangerous? How much is too much etc. He told me, "Basically you don't want to push the baby out of you" WHAT?!! For weeks I was freaked out thinking if I lifted something to heavy my baby was going to slip out. I'm so glad there are a few sane people willing to share information with the rest of us :)
Please add something to this about diastisis recti. No, not everyone gets it's when they lift heavy stuff, but here I am at week 28 with a gap I can fit 3 fingers in. I don't match any of the "you're more likely if's" but I've done it to myself anyway.
I actually didn't know anything about it until a pilates instructor told me to be on the look out for it happening due to work outs. No harm to the baby, but a FUPA I shall surely have. Herumf
love the blog!
Yes, I think it is worth mentioning. I did a lot of work while pregant and at times had to lift my 2, 3 year olds on and off the potty. I have a slight uterine prolapse which makes me wonder if lifting heavy things should be an "out" for expecting moms...