TTC & Manual/Physically demanding jobs

[PostieGal]

Just a thought, but has anyone in manual and/or physically demanding jobs considered what (if anything) we should be aware of or doing differently whilst TTC (or early stages of pregnancy)? I know it might take a long time to conceive, so we can't really do much about our work, but I've been actively trying to be more careful with manual handling, and staying properly hydrated, am I being daft/over cautious??

What manual/physically demanding jobs do you do? And how did you modify (if at all)?

Thanks in advance! 📮✉️

Dammit I’m disappointed to see no answers on this thread as I would like the exact same advice! Currently TTC and doing quite a physical full time job, lots of heavy lifting and riding around in a bumpy golf buggy 😬

Not in a manual job but I thought the advice is that physical exertion/exercise doesn't affect it unless super strenuous or new to your routine?

I ran a livery yard with 34 horses while TTC. I was on my feet for 8+ hours/heavy lifting/getting dragged about by horses/riding throughout the TTC process.
Had two chemical pregnancies (and had had an early miscarriage in a previous relationship doing the same job) but I very much doubt any of that had to do with my job, just one of the odd things with the miscarriage and my old eggs with the two chemicals.
Anyway, I’m now 10w with twins. I worked as normal, rode etc until 8w, at which point my lease ran out and we decided not to renew it as my husband has a very well paid job and we’d feel terrible if something happened due to my job that I didn’t have to do.
If it was just manual labour I felt I could have carried on, despite feeling knackered til last week, but the added danger of 3/4 of a ton of horse dragging me about felt like a risk too far.
I’m now renovating a house to keep me busy, so knocking plaster off walls and crowbarring door frames off. Still feel fine, I just rest if I feel like it.
I don’t think it makes a bit of difference, if you were doing it before TTC then you’re fine to carry on after.

The manual handling stuff is mainly to protect you from the effects of pregnancy hormones that make ligaments etc relax and make you more likely to strain yourself. As pregnancy progresses the symptoms and then the bump help guide you as to what you feel capable of! I was doing most of my animal jobs, then dropped off carrying feed bags, then dropped off bales, then stopped climbing the gate... It was a gradual thing that my body kind of led me along. I was still helping with sheep shearing at 8 months though 😂

As far as TTC goes I think it's more about a healthy lifestyle, possibly vitamins and generally being as fit and well as you can, which a job with a manual aspect to it is likely to be helpful for, if anything.