"Don't lift heavy" rule...can you define "heavy lifting" here?

[carlablack]

Ok so I started exercising but this issue is buggering me. Doctor told me not to "lift heavy objects" as it's a generic pregnancy rule, but what does that mean exactly? I used 2 pound dumbbells while exercising, does that count? Or do they mean housework stuff like lifting milk jars and pushing sofas?

Everytime I touch a dumbbell I get a side eye from my DH, whereas the pregnant ladies in videos are working with 5 pounds in each hand? This is getting annoying lol

[LovingLola]

My toddler weighed a lot more than a few kg when I was lugging him around at all stages of my 2nd pregnancy !
Keep using your dumb bells.

[MrsRogerLima]

5lb is not heavy lifting 😂😂😂😂 they mean hauling furniture or carrying an entire load of shopping or pushing a car.

However how do you think single pregnant women manage? I lifted a heavy chest of drawers with my dad at 6 months pregnant.

It's so that you don't damage you by the way as your joints and ligaments loosen. no harm will come to baby at all.

[BabyG123]

I think they mean lifting beyond the weight you usually lift. My toddler is much heavier than that but I lift him constantly anyway.

Some ladies are weight lifters before pregnancy and go ahead throughout because they're use to it 🤷🏼‍♀️

[ImFree2doasiwant]

As above I had a large 18 month old by the time I was due to have my second. I also had 3 horses, so was regularly pushing barrow loads of poo, lifting 25kg bags of feed and bales of hay. But that was normal for me.

[Fatted]

The guide with exercise and pregnancy is if you did it before you were pregnant, it's fine. But it's probably not the best time to start on a fitness regime when you've previously done nothing.

Two x two pound dumbells is probably about four tins of beans. So if you regularly carry shopping bags you're fine OP.

Was the doctor you saw male out of interest?

[GenevaMaybe]

I had placenta previa and was told not to lift anything over 5kg

[carlablack]

Thanks everyone! I'm gonna up the weight today as I used to lift over 10 pounds each before I got pregnant :D

@GenevaMaybe I have this restriction due to low lying placenta as well (not previa though) so thanks for mentioning that upper limit! Will still ask the doc though.

@Fatted Yes! How did you know?

[maria2bela]

Like with anything in pregnancy, proceed with caution. Early stages are most advised not to lift etc, but having a toddler and being pregnant for the second time around has made me realise that my body can definitely handle a bit of heavy lifting. If you feel pain after exercising or during, then that would be an indication to stop, go very slowly and listen to your body

[toomuchteaandcake]

I helped my husband lift a fridge downstairs at 6 months pregnant 🤣