Lifting a heavy puppy while 4 weeks pregnant

[HowlingAtTheM00n]

My puppy got out this morning and I had to lift him and carry him back to the house.
He's a lab pup. Few months old. He's quite heavy. I'm so stressed thinking I shouldn't have lifted him as I keep reading lifting heavy objects increases risk of miscarriage. I only found out I'm pregnant yesterday and I've had several miscarriages in the past after a long fertility struggle

The pregnancy is the size of a poppy seed at this stage, lifting a puppy will not harm anything. Mothers regularly lift toddlers at all stages of their pregnancy. As you have around 6w to go until your midwife appointment, is there someone you can speak to about your anxiety? A lot of companies provide a free confidential helpline that could point you to someone to talk to.

It's absolutely fine. I'm sure my nearly 3yo weighed more than a puppy when I fell pg with my second and I was constantly lifting and carrying him. And the weekly shop.

I'm not an expert but I certainly wouldn't worry about that, unless you have specific issues relating to to carrying things when pregnant.

Remember, some women lift weights in pregnancy to maintain their health. What's likely to harm baby more is the worry - so try not to stress!

It’s absolutely fine OP. Now, from one mother who had pregnancy anxiety to another, now is the time for you to get support. Don’t let it rumble on. You want to enjoy your pregnancy and be mentally well equipped for mothering your little one when he or she comes. A good mum looks after herself first so she can look after her child best. Congratulations by the way

If lifting heavy objects could cause the miscarriage of a healthy pregnancy, why would we need abortion clinics? Why would women have gone to terrible, sometimes fatal, lengths when they couldn't access safe terminations to end a pregnancy? Your body will push itself to the brink of death before it lets go of a healthy viable pregnancy.

Lifting heavy objects in pregnancy can hurt you if you don't do it carefully because the hormones loosen your joints and ligaments. It doesn't hurt the pregnancy.

Thanks guys. That's really helped eased my mind a little.
Yes I do think I'm having bad anxiety. I think every little thing I do is putting me on edge and I don't really know where to turn to. I've had 3 miscarriages in the past 2 years around 4-5 weeks and just paranoid about everything I do. It's taken me 6 ivf rounds and 7 transfers In total and I just can't bear to have another miscarriage and go through ivf again so its putting alot of pressure on myself to make this pregnancy stick and I can't help but feel like im doing everything wrong

You'll be fine. People exercise, do manual work etc all the time when pregnant and they are perfectly fine.

When you are on your second and realise you are lifting wriggling toddlers while pregnant plus being in the workplace lifting heavy items you'll realise that it's all fine

I remember worrying just the same in my first pregnancy

I didn't know I was pregnant at 4-5 weeks and was deadlifting 100kg+ at the gym regularly. All was fine.

Picking a puppy up really won't make anything bad happen. I'm really sorry you've had such a tough journey to get to this stage, though, and I absolutely understand your anxiety. Have you spoken to anyone about it at all? I had very bad pre-natal anxiety, which translated into post-natal depression and anxiety, and wish I had done something about it sooner. There were classes my midwife registered me for that were helpful, but a little late for me, so try to speak to someone sooner rather than later if you can and find out what support can be made available to you. Your anxiety is understandable but will make you pregnancy very hard for you, you don't have to live with it taking control if you seek support now. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Please don’t worry. I’ve been lifting a large 2.5 year old child for most of my pregnancy.

There is really nothing you can do exercise related to harm your baby.

The reasons you should be cautious about exercise/ lifting in pregnancy is because later on your muscles loosen up and you could injure yourself, strain muscles or damage your pelvic floor. But any injury is to yourself, not the baby.

Hey OP,

this might sound unkind, and its absolutely not intended that way, but there is nothing you can do at this stage, positive or negative. Bean’s going to stick or not and that’s not in your hands. What is in your hands is preparing for the future, whatever it may bring. And whatever it brings you will need your support network, friends, family, advice, routines that help you find calm in the storm (babies bring the chaos!), pets (yay pup!), hobbies, whatever. Think of it as building your own space and resources for you and bean to grow.

wishing you all the best

Your puppy will not be heavier than a child, many women lift their older children throughout their entire pregnancy.

There is no risk to a foetus from lifting something heavy anyway.

Totally understandable given your history OP. I lifted 80kg deadlifts the day before I found out I was pregnant. 11 month old DD is fine. Good luck for a healthy pregnancy.

Don’t worry, I work in healthcare and continued lifting people off the floor until about 10 weeks when I told work I was pregnant!

How do you think anyone with a toddler stays pregnant?