wwyd regarding work and heavy lifting...?

[Haylebop12]

I have just found out I'm pg so around 4/5 weeks.

I have a dilemma. I work as a shift manager for a well known supermarket convenience store. (Think Tesco express) I have a job that requires A LOT of heavy lifting and pulling. If I'm on early, which is maybe 1 or 2 shifts out of my 3 I am responsible for pulling in delivery. This can be anything between 5 and 16 cages of stock inc cases of pop. The delivery drivers are not allowed to assist (although some will but this is rare). Other members of staff are also unable to help as you have to be trained in taking tail lift deliveries. Only management are trained and only one management member is on to take delivery.

So my question... how long can I do this for before it becomes a risk to my baby? I don't want to not work hard just because I'm pg but this is physically demanding.

I am wary of telling my manager yet as my last pg ended in mc at 9 weeks. I am also waiting for him to sort out my pay rise and knowing him this news will cause a delay in that happening! I have only worked there 6.5 mo so telling him is gonna be shit anyway.

Wwyd?

Bump :-)

Seriously anyone :-(

Feeling lonely in here!

Last bump before I pOst in somewhere more trafficky!

Hopefully someone more expert will be along soon.

With exercise, you can usually carry on doing what you're used to (with tweaks) and avoid getting your heart rate too high for too long until your body says stop. But you might want to consider informing work earlier than 12 weeks as they are obliged to do a risk assessment & make necessary adjustments.

That was my thinking. Maybe 9-10 weeks? I'm just not sure at which point the heavy lifting becomes a risk?

Ok, it's not a risk to your baby but it is a risk to you. I have permanent mild SPD which I suspect is still a problem because I didn't ease up on physically tough work at all during my first pregnancy. At this early stage of pregnancy I don't know how much risk it would be. Could you all a physio for advice?

I'm going to book in docs tomorrow so he can get my first mw appt sorted. Maybe ill mention it to him.., I'm on 3 earlies next week! After an early mc 8 mo ago I'm so worried about everything!

pregnancy.familyeducation.com/general-health-and-safety/things-to-avoid-while-pregnant/57438.html

Thank you :-)

That article gave me a link to another which suggested that 20wks is around the time your body struggles with the train as the muscles in your pelvis soften and loosen in preparation for childbirth.

I would say that you should have a quiet word with your supervisor or boss. When I told both of mine (I have two jobs) they both said that they prefer to be told as soon as possible, so they can make adjustments and in case there's an emergency or whatever. And if (God forbid) anything like what happened last time was to happen again, presumably you'd want some time off so you'd have to tell them then anyway. I'm sure they'll understand.

I'm not 100% sure but, as far as I know, in the early stages, heavy lifting is a risk to you because pregnancy hormones cause ligaments to relax and this can make you unstable. As your bump grows, your centre of balance shifts and you're more susceptible to falls and injuries, and in later pregnancy heavy lifting can cause placental abruption, which can be deadly for baby. So definitely make sure they know!

Oh, and congratulations!

Thank you. Only member of staff above me is My male, child loathing manager! I kinda know how ill be dealt with towards The ater stages, eg, no lifting cases of pop/alcohol, no standing on stools.

In an ideal world I would tell him after 12 week scan but like you say, better they know in case anything does go wrong.

I was planning to wait until 12 weeks too, but in one job I work with one of my best friends, and I told her as soon as I found out, but forgot to tell her that I wanted to keep it quiet so she told everyone else. And in my other job I left it until about 9 weeks but I had really bad sickness and they probably had figured it out anyway. I was really worried about "jinxing" my pregnancy, and I was convinced something would go wrong if I told people and allowed myself to get excited and buy things too early, but I'm almost 37 weeks now and all is well

I think you should do only what you are comfortable to do.
That said I am a nurse and we do a lot of manual handling, my colleagues are often telling me off as I'm working as normal.
I'm just under 30 weeks and this is my first pg.
It hasn't been an easy pg, I had severe hyperemesis and was off work for four months, so when I was well enough to go back I was keen to do my normal routine.
Now though, I have got a vaginal prolapse!
I believe it was the HG that weakened my pelvic floor although GP said he didn't think so and I know for sure heavy lifting makes its worse. So now I'm not even lifting a bowl of water for the fear my baby might fall out lol!

I am a manager for a well known supermarket chain. Im not pregnant anymore my son is 11 weeks old now but just wanted to share my experience that your body will tell you what you can and can't do!!
I was up ladders, filling and launching events at 32 weeks still very active, then at 34 weeks I couldnt even bend down to pick my pen up off the floor! Finished at 35 weeks then had him at 37!
Good luck with your pregnancy and DO NOT do anything you don't feel comfortable with. With jobs like ours your manager should carry out a risk assessment as soon as you tell them you are pregnant and have regular reviews as to how you are doing / coping and any support that you need.