Lifting toddlers whilst pregnant?

[hattyyellow]

Sorry if this has been asked before, did a quick archive search and couldn't find anything...

Just wondering what you do about lifting toddlers whilst pregnant? I know that official advice says don't lift anything heavy whilst pregnant..but obviously you can't avoid lifting your toddler for the whole nine months..so what is the compromise?

Trying to ttc a third child at the moment and worrying about this (we have twins who are now 2.5 months so starting to get heavy!)

Cheers..

lifting in these circumstances is impossible to avoid, but what you maybe can do is think about how you lift - so that you lift with as little strainon your back as possible.

I have been lifting DS, as Belgo said it's how you lift really... I am sure people have been lifting toddlers for millions of years whilst pregnant, as long as you lift "properly" (no idea how you do, guess bending your knees and all that) I am sure it'll be fine, unless for some reason your GP/midwife says otherwise. Just be abit more careful over it.

and also be careful bending - for example changing nappies and putting car seats in and out of the car.

Swimming is an exercise that is good for your back. And I also used an exercise ball to help make my back supple- but I did have the advantage of a physio therapist showing me how to use it.

I am 23 weeks pregnant with number 2. My son is 16 months and a very big, heavy boy who still isn't walking! I have tried to reduce all lifting to a minimum by moving all his nappy changing stuff etc downstairs so I don't have to carry him upstairs. I now sit on the floor with him so he doesn't want picking up to sit on the sofa with me. I'm trying to go out with friends who can lift him in/out of car seat for me. There are still obviously occasions when I have to lift him, i.e. into his high chair, but with some careful planning I've managed to reduce it to the bare minimum. Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Thinking ahead (as you are) I encouraged DD to do things for herself (she doesn't need much encouragement, mind you), like climbing up into her car seat herself, sitting at the table on a chair instead of a high chair etc, and a few months ago, moving to a bed rather than being lifted into her cot. Am now 30wks and DD (2.7) doesn't need picking up all that often, so it's working out well so far. I realise it might be a different kettle of fish with twins and coordinating their efforts to do things themselves though!
Good luck with TTC!

The luxury of being "fragile" because you're pregnant is confined to the first time only . I didn't lift a thing when expecting DS1 - didn't do much either TBH.

With DS2 it was business as usual and if it wasn't for the sickness, I think days could have gone by without me even remembering I was pregnant. You know how with the first you can say how may weeks you are to the day, 2nd time around, I could have guessed to within a month or so.

I carried DS1 as usual. Towards the end, the bump was a handy shelf to rest him on!

Keep your back straight and bend your knees to squat down, then straighten up. Avoid swinging toddlers up. And take care with car seats and lowering/lifting children into cots or beds when you really can't avoid bending over. A few gentle stretches in the morning will help keep your muscles primed.

I've never hurt my bump/stomach/groin muscles but frequently pull the muscles between my shoulder blades - which is awful and will prevent you holding children.

As perpetualworrier just said, you only get to be fragile with 1st pregnancy! I'm on my 4th and will still be mucking out the ponies and shifting bales of hay until my due date. I am being VERY careful though!

At 36 weeks I'm still lifting ds (20 months), but trying to do it as little as possible. I lift him into and out of his highchair, the car seat, supermarket trolley, and the bath, and that is it. He takes himself up and down stairs, and in and out of bed, and any cuddles have to be on the floor or sofa.

Must be a lot harder with 2 though...

Thanks all this is so incredibly useful, I really appreciate your thoughts..currently waiting to see if this month's baby efforts have been successful...

The girls are good at climbing up into their car seats and highchairs most of the time, so sounds like that'll help...

I took them for a walk yesterday and the neighbour's huge and badly trained dogs came bursting through their knackered fencing...both the girls were terrified, I think by the suddenness of it and the sheer size of the dogs and both started clambering up me and I picked them both up at once, very awkwardly it was just instinctive as they were so shocked...

Hopefully that won't happen again - I don't think that's ideal!

Good luck with all your pregnancies

We trained DS1 to climb into his high chair, buggy and car seat and put the nappy mat on the floor.

but he still wanted lifting, and I felt sorry for the poor little love whose life was about to change. I just got piles sooner and for longer while I was PG with DS2.... No luxury in being PG for a second time, as others have said!

Hi

Im pregnant with Number one and work in a Nursery school. I look after babies and toodlers ranging from 6mths to 3 years. I have tired to limit the amount of lifting i do. Thankfully the 2 other girls i work with help me out alot. When the toodlers need a hug i tend to squat down to thier level for a hug and this usually works.
The heavy 2.5/3 year olds and even some of the chunkier little ones are changed on the changing mat on the floor instead of the unit. However sometimes i agree.. Some lifting is just unaviodable.