Placenta previa - how heavy is heavy lifting?

[StanleyR38]

Found out yesterday at 20 wk scan I have placenta previa.

Midwife went through all the don’t s; heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, no sex etc but it’s only just hit me today - how heavy is heavy?!

I have two cats so am regularly lugging about cat litter in and out of my supermarket trolley into the car. I have to take my two cats to the vets tomorrow up weight 10kg together. I work hybrid as well so have to carry a laptop/chargers etc in to work a few times a week.

Don’t want to be over react but don’t want to be doing anything that could put me at risk either.

As a separate question, has anyone adjusted their working pattern with placenta previa? I commute into the office on a busy train and through a busy train station full of people who are always rushing around, running up stairs etc. Feeling a bit paranoid that someone is going to run into me and bump 😵‍💫

I had placenta previa with my first. I worked in retail so was moving and carrying heavy boxes and stock daily and I never even considered what might have been too heavy. I walked to and from work everyday right up to the day before my c section. I basically just carried on as normal!

That doesn’t mean this is what you should do though OP, it’s not good advice! Everyone’s situations will be different and some people end up in hospital for weeks with this condition. Personally I’d contact your community midwife and ask for advice, and if you employer will allow you to adjust your working to remove some commute then I’d go for it. It’s a short period of your life so I’d take the precautions that you can.

It can vary person to person. Some people have previa and never really notice. Others bleed for seemingly no reason. I could hoover or even have a nap and have a bleed. But sex and cardio never seemed to start anything 🤷‍♀️. I was told basically don't do what causes a bleed. Wasn't hugely useful for me as seemed to be no reason at all.

Generally make sure you carry well. Don't sling a laptop etc in a briefcase style bag, get a proper backpack.

My work are really flexible so I don’t think that will be an issue - suppose it’s more convincing myself that it’s not an unreasonable worry. But you are right it’s only a short period.

Thanks will try and get in touch with the hospital- I don’t actually have a community midwife. As an extra challenge, we are moving in the next couple of months so I registered to the new location hospital and am classed as out of area. It’s my first so things are confusing enough 😂

I had complete placenta previa, my midwife told me not to lift anything more than 10kg at most and no overhead weights (I was in the gym a lot). I would have lifted a manageable shopping bag but not a big heavy box, as an example. I did stick with lifting no more than 10kg in the gym and regular life. In the end my bleeds happened when I had been doing absolutely nothing, literally sleeping or lying down a lot with no exercise or lifting things at all just because I was 33 weeks and knackered.

@TeaKitten when did I say that was my advice to the OP?! I purely stated what I did!

No but OP was asking for advice and obviously without any advice or other comments it gives the impression you think OP is fine to carry on as normal.

It’s great that your work are flexible OP, and take extra care with the house move. Hopefully the midwife will give some clarity.

Thanks all 10kg seems a good reference point but will check with the midwife.

Have roped in extra help for the vets tomorrow and I think I’m just going to have to drag OH with me shopping! To be fair he has been very good from the start with doing all the heavy jobs around the house.