Is it safe to lift a heavy shopping basket in the first trimester?

[firstlittlebub]

I have just carried an exceptionally heavy basket of shopping around the supermarket and then struggled with the heavy bag to the car. I’m 6 weeks. I was chatting to my mum who was horrified and told me I shouldn’t have been carrying anything heavy as it can be risky! It never even came to mind but I googled it and now I’m starting to worry about the baby. What is the limit for lifting in early pregnancy?

How do you imagine women have babies when they have a 14kg toddler to carry around

what a stupid thing for your mum to say

What does your mum think will happen?
When I was pregnant with my second I often had to pickup my heavy toddler
there’s a small risk of strains and sprains, as you go further into your pregnancy and your ligaments etc start to loosen (body prepping for labour) if you lift something or move awkwardly

carrying heavy stuff cannot cause a miscarriage or anything like that
your mum sounds like she worried you for no reason

It's generally okay to lift weight that you've lifted before you were pregnant. I believe the advice not to lift anything a lot heavier than you're used to is based on the fact that you could hurt yourself more easily due to hormones rather than affecting the pregnancy.

I do think some older generation have a lot of outdated advice.

Of course it is. I use to live in a 3rd floor flat and had to bump pram, toddler and shopping up to the 3rd floor because there was no lift did that right up until I gave birth 😅

I carried a massive bag of shopping for about 15 minute walk yesterday and it easily weighed 8-10kg and I’m 23 weeks pregnant. Lifting heavy items is fine if done correctly. You’re more likely to hurt yourself is what they say. Don’t worry x

To the best of my knowledge (not 100%) there's a slightly increased risk you could hurt yourself lifting heavy things, but no real risk to the pregnancy.

Ditto other posters - my 12mo was still stuck to me like Velcro at this point in my second pregnancy, and that pregnancy resulted in a very loud 2yo currently tantrumming because he's hungry, he doesn't know what food he wants and everything I offer is met with "Noooooo mummy I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT FOOD I WANT"

The danger of lifting heavy things in pregnancy is to you, as your ligaments soften, not to the foetus. That doesn't really apply in the first trimester anyway. Your mum is being bonkers.

Unless it was full of god ingots you will be fine.

Did you call your mum to tell her you carried a heavy basket around the supermarket? If so she may have felt you were promoting her to say "Ooh no, you need to look after yourself!"

No just came up as I was walking along, she said I sounded out of breath so I just said I was rushing around carrying my shopping to the car

Only if you are at risk of miscarriage then you would be told. No idea how old your mum is, but I was nursing 70s/80s,no fancy hydraulic beds,we lifted the patients in and out. We lifted them into high trolleys to go to x ray or the theatre.

I was 8/10 weeks pregnant and climbed over a stair gate that my mil had in a doorway. My brother in law who is a doctor said he didn't think I should be doing "that" movement i.e. lifting my leg up as I was getting over the gate...when I asked him what you exactly he though was going to happen as the baby was about 2cm and protected in my womb he couldn't answer! It was hilarious watching him squirm....I'm medical too.

My point being people say daft things

I was still deadlifting at the gym in early pregnancy! Also wrangling my 3 year old when he threw a tantrum and had to be forcibly removed from the playground.

Pregnant women have been lugging heavy things (children) around since the beginning of time. You'll be fine.

It's fine, don't worry. Inappropriate of your mum to say that. It's such an inaccurate view of miscarriage, to think there's anything that can cause it.