Lifting arms up too high?

[Charlyfrog]

I am just wondering what the consequences are for lifting too high above your head when pg? Whether it's lifting an object or reaching up to get something.....

Has anyone else been pulled up on this (my DH has become the height police )

Am interested to know the medical reasons and am happy to admit that I may just be having a pg brain moment...ie loss of function!!

Seriously though, can it affect the baby (over reaching/lifting) or is it just the effects on our own muscles??

Thanks for your thoughts

[~Trish~]

I'm not sure if there is any truth to it or not, but during my last pregnancy I was told (by a non-medical professional) that you shouldn't raise your arms too high as you can risk the cord going around your baby's neck. I have a feeling this can't really happen though! I'm sure there is a more reasonable explanation!!

[Tobily]

Yep the cord around the neck thing is definitely an old wives tale!
Reaching above your head is fine, and if your lifting something just be sensible about it and don't overdo it.
Usually your bump will get in the way if you try to do something you really shouldn't be

[Karina]

I was never told not to reach high...?
I felt terrible one day when I did filing at work at about 34 weeks, and I filed all the stuff on the top shelf.

I did find that if I did it too often, I felt dizzy.

[AnyDream]

I thought it was because it makes you dizzy. Dunno why but it does! I've never heard the cord thing tho.

[LuluHB]

Yep - cord is definitely an old wive's tale, which is a shame cos it would have got all of us out of hanging the washing on the line for 9 months!!!

I was told by my OB that you just shouldn't reach too high because your muscles are already loosened, and you're more likely to do yourself muscle damage - so no stretching, reaching too far etc

[sportychick]

There's nothing wrong with reaching up high - I think the reason some people feel weird about it is they think they're 'stretching' their uterus and are going to detatch the baby or some such idea! (my GP even told me not to do freestyle swimming because too much reaching up was bad, but both my physio, who specialises in obstetric physiotherapy and my obs have said its all rubbish and reach as much as I want!)

Having said that, be careful when lifting heavy things high, because that can put strain on your lower back, and your abs are unfortunately not in any state to support your back at this stage! I haven't heard about the "arms above your head makes you dizzy" thing, but it could be true - so if it happens to you, don't do it!

[Rachel]

I'd heard the old wives tale of the cord, hadn't heard about the dizziness though. I didn't bother about it too much, but just be aware to stabalise your central region if lifting above your head so you don't injure your back.

[SSmiles]

I asked my obs about this one and he laughed at me...he said that it is an old wives tale and that I should ignore it... But he did say not to lift heavy weights too high because of the ligaments/muscles being 'soft' etc.

[Alan]

Its an old wives tale
BTW I would say that for every 8 or so births that I have attended the cord would be around the neck on 1 of them It is very common and not really much of a problem

[sportychick]

yikes! that's a bit of a scary statistic! But you say it's not normally a serious issue?

[lj268]

Many years ago it was common practice not to lift your arms above your head, I never did ask why tho, now I wish I had of. A friend of mine was pregnant and wouldnt hang out the washing because of the risk to bub????? Good excuse I guess if nothing else lol.