Stretching arms above head

[HannahBlack1992]

I know its an old wives tale to raise arms above the head but this morning I stretched my arms above ny head to relieve tensiob in my shoulder blades, I didn't feel stretching in my abdomen but could this have harmed the baby? I'm week 16 so in that horrible phase of no symptoms.

No it will not have harmed your baby. How could it?

no, it couldn't have harmed your baby.

Think of athletes who train when pregnant, they do all sorts.

No, your baby will not be affected by this. Try to relax and just enjoy your pregnancy.

My mother always said not to stretch in pregnancy as it could tighten the umbilical cord round the babies neck.....

She wasn't amused as l pissed myself laughing at her ridiculousness.

No, I would have thought it would just be your round ligaments stretching. If you Google, you can see how they support your uterus. That will do you no harm.

It's a while since my biology Alevel but from memory I'm at least 85% certain that your arms aren't directly connected to your uterus.

You’ll be fine :)

I’m almost 38 weeks and still stretch my arms above my head to click my shoulders back into place. Sometimes you can just feel the stretch in your tummy, but it won’t do any harm x

I have never heard this. And have stretched my arms well above my head in many a pregnancy exercise class. Do you intend not raising your hands above your head for nine months? How will you do things, get shopping etc?

If doing normal human movements hurt your baby, there wouldn’t be many babies born... But if it reassures you, I have lifted and indeed stretched my arms above my head multiple times in antenatal yoga classes and this is as instructed by a trained, qualified person.

Have you looked into any counselling or therapeutic ways of handling your anxiety about everything as has been suggested in previous threads? I hope you start to feel a little better soon x

It's an old wives tale they used to say that stretching your arms above your head would make your body stretch and the baby would have more room to twist itself or get the cord stuck around its neck. I've heard it before my nanny used to keep saying it to me, but it's just one of those things you have to ignore because everyone stretches their arms above their heads you can't not go 9 months not doing it. I would also as above, suggest you go to either midwife or gp and tell them about your anxiety as have seen alot of your posts pop up worrying about things when you really didn't need too, best to get it sorted sooner rather then later. All the best

One of the more ridiculous old wives tales. Wave your arms above your head all you like.

Be careful lifting heavy things above your head, as that can result in injury. Lift your arms all you like!!!

Seriously!?

My late MIL was panic stricken when she found me, mid pregnancy, reaching up to get something down off a high shelf. She was utterly convinced it could harm the baby.

It's complete rubbish of course.

You said yourself it’s an old wives tale.