lifting heavy objects

[Silver Bell]

Need help...

Just want some advice on lifting heavy objects (things at work) to lifting up your doggies for a cuddle to lifting children up and walking around with them.

I know you have to be careful but for example, holding your kids... in this instance, its my niece. I always lift her up and cuddle her and carry her (she is about 13kg) and the other day my sister said as my niece put her hands up to me for me to pick her up, (think trying to get out of me if I am pregnant or not as I haven't said anything to family and friends this time round until I reach 12 weeks in case something happens a fourth time) 'your not pregnant are you????'

And I thought, well what if I am... does that really matter???? what do mothers do with their kids when they are pregnant? not pick them up???

So any help will be good. I need to know if I should be avoiding picking her up or anything else heavy...

[Onelittleprincess]

I pick dd up she's about the same weight. I'm 10 weeks along.

I still drag tables around at work but if someone around they either stop me or offer to help

Personally I stick with the theory I did it before so I'll keep doing it. If I don't feel comfertable then I won't. For example I'll drag a table but won't lift a carton of beer

[Nai]

I picked up my DD1 when pregnany and didn't really do anything differently at all. If you are lifting extremely heavy things then maybe try to avoid it but most day to day things are fine. If you think you might struggle with it though then I would go the old "oh I tweaked my back last week and it still hurts so I'm trying not to do any more damage" line to avoid lifting anything.

[Pholi]

Trust your instincts. If it feels ok, and doesn't cause uncomfortable pressure or feelings of strain, then it will be fine. Like you said, pregnant mums lift their other kids all the time!

[sloane]

i wouldn't overdo it but i've lifted my 15kg DS for the whole of this PG. there are times, though, when it's a bit awkward or i have to twist & i may ask my DP to do it instead but for the most part, it's felt ok. i try & make small allowances such as sitting down & for a cuddle rather than picking him up & walking round with him. your body lets you know fairly quickly if it really doesn't feel right/they're too heavy.

i'd avoid heavy lifting at work if/where you can & follow normal guidelines like bending your knees to pick things up so the strain isn't all on your back

[jacklicky]

I pick up DD when I have to but try not to carry her much....Just a quick cuddle then back to the ground....
If I can avoid lifting/shifting heavy things I do...but sometimes when your child is crying and needs comfort you just have to do it....

[Novella]

I'm a nurse so manual handling is part of the job, if I could do something comfortably before pregnancy then I do it when pregnant. Relaxin can make your joints more loose but so long as you keep in mind proper lifting technique you should be fine. The further along you get it does get harder as your centre of gravity shifts and your tummy gets in the way of keeping weight close to you. If it feels to heavy or uncomfortable get help like you normally would

[Silver Bell]

Thank you all so much for your responses. They have helped heaps. I lifted something heavy this morning at work and felt a bit of a twinge low in my (sorry TMI) vajaja area so I wont be lifting that anymore. I will try and listen to what my body is telling me. Haven't let anyone at work know yet but I like the idea of an injury idea until I can 'announce' it.

thanks again

[Onelittleprincess]

I told my 2 immediate supervisors and one told our next boss up. That way I wasn't asked to do anything and if I said I'd prefer not to they understood.

[Kirley64]

I pick dd up she's about the same weight. I'm 10 weeks along.

I still drag tables around at work but if someone around they either stop me or offer to help

Personally I stick with the theory I did it before so I'll keep doing it. If I don't feel comfertable then I won't. For example I'll drag a table but won't lift a carton of beer

This is my philosophy too!. I even had ppl tell me with DS that I shouldn't hang washing out....because two mums who are friends with my mum had miscarriages that started while they were stretching hanging washing out. apparently they blamed it on the cord moving up around the neck and strangling bub. I have no clue how far along they were, but it was so flawed.
Do what you feel you are comfortable with. DS is about the same weight and I still pick him up. I doubt God designed pregnancy to be so debilitating that we couldn't look after our older children which includes picking them up frequently!

[~ Mylitta ~]

I asked my Obstetrician about lifting things during my son's pregnancy as I was a surgical vet nurse at the time and often carried unconscious dogs of all sizes from theatre to recovery after surgery (or at least lifted them from the stretcher to their bed). He said that the risk is not to the baby, but to the Mum. Because of the relaxin in your body it's much easier to "pull" muscles and hurt yourself than before you were pregnant. If you have no other pregnancy complications it's just a good idea to be aware of what you are lifting and lift things in the safest manner, and also remember that it's more than ok to ask for help when pregnant

I have severely separated abdominal muscles and also pelvic instability so my Ob prefers me to avoid lifting basically anything, lol. But he also understands that I have a 12 month old that I carry a lot, and also a 2yr8mth old that sometimes needs picking up. Yes, it makes things worst for me and can flare up my pelvic instability, but us Mummies are tough hehe.