Lifting while pregnant

[macdat]

Why can't you? I know people always say you shouldn't, but I've never heard anybody give any real reasons why not.
I'm 23 weeks now, and really need to shuffle some furniture around. It's not too heavy for me as I've moved these items a few times in the past. Is it safe?

[CarShare]

I've just realised the consequences of too much lifting after spending three days with my niece (3) and nephew (8 months) carrying and cuddling them- my back went and I'm now in a fair bit of pain and unable to get about. I'd not recommend it. I'm 34 weeks and should have realised I was being a bit silly before it was too late.

[randomsabreuse]

Overdid it at 7 months with carpet cleaner - pulled rib muscle and it never really recovered until after the birth - felt like tiny foot was constantly wedged in it!

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

I think it's to do with the increased relaxin when you're pregnant. You're more likely to pull something, do your back on, or some other injury.

[ShowYourSeams]

Scientifically it's because the relaxin or whatever is called weakens all of your muscles and tendons so more likely to do damage while pregnant.
Realistically sometimes you have to lift stuff. Like when I had a toddler and had to move house while 30 weeks pregnant with twins.
If it feels ok, do it! Once it starts to feel even slightly uncomfortable STOP! but only you know your body so common sense is key. 😊

[Junosmum]

NHS guidance is now to be careful when lifting (lift with your knees etc) rather than don't lift.

Your ligaments are more relaxed when pregnant, to help your pelvis widen for birth and this places you at more risk of injury, however there is no risk to the baby of you continue to lift things safely.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Just be careful. Shove rather than lift, avoid anything that feels wrong. Don't be lifting beds or huge bits or furniture though.

[macdat]

Thanks! Good to know it's not a risk to baby. At least I know when I need to do things I can now, instead of waiting around for help

[Junosmum]

I find shoving flares up my spd much more than lifting though, so just be careful. (I think it's to do with unequal distribution of weight for me, I.e. I 'shove' with my side or with one foot in front of the other).

[YouStillLookLikeAMovie]

Agree with others. Normal safe lifting with your knees is fine. You are just more likely to pull a muscle or put your back out. So go careful.

[SnozzberryMincePie]

Yes it's not a risk to baby but you are much more likely to injure yourself. In my second pregnancy I had to lift my two year old quite often and had terrible backache as a result.

[skankingpiglet]

I'm a carpenter so avoiding lifting throughout pregnancy wasn't really an option. I asked my mw about it who said to just listen to my body, but that I could carry on doing what I felt comfortable with, presumably because I was used to it and it wasn't a one-off over-exertion. In reality, this turned out to mean still hauling 25kg of my tools around at a time in the 1st tri, 15kg in the 2nd, and around 10kg in the 3rd. By the end I could definitely feel that my joints had been loosened from the relaxin, so didn't push it. I gave up being on the tools at around 36wks to work in the office, but that was more to do with my ability to get down and up again off the floor than the lifting!
This time I'm feeling my joints loosen much much earlier, as I'm only 13wks, so I've already really started cutting back on what I'm doing. Just listen to your body and you'll be fine. As my mw said, pregnancy isn't an illness or disease although it bloody feels like it sometimes! You'll know as soon as you try to shift the furniture if it's going to be too much.

[mumchkin]

I wouldn't be blasé about this. The hormone relaxin literally makes all your joints and ligaments ease up so it is so easy to hurt yourself without even realising you've done it. I moved a box (not heavy just awkward) by shoving it along with my foot and ended up with costochondritis, which was not fun (so painful I thought i was having a heart attack) and took weeks of physical therapy to get over. Be really cautious is my advice.