Accidentally lifted a chair during pregnancy

[Nmcl40]

I accidentally lifted a chair during pregnancy. I’m nearly 14 weeks. I forgot myself. It wasn’t overly heavy but I did struggle a bit as it was more awkward than heavy and now I’m seriously worried. Would this have caused much damage? I’m not in any pain and no bleeding.

I expect you’ll be grand OP. Lots of people do all sorts of sports. If you haven’t got any symptoms then I’d not put any more thought into it.

No it won't cause any problems. It never occurred to me to not move slightly heavy objects during pregnancy and in fact I went to the gym until about 32 weeks in pregnancy with no problems.

I doubt it

I often lifted a 2 year old toddler when I was pregnant with DS2!

You'll be fine

Chill out OP or this is going to be a very long 9 months.
Most women are carrying other children around who weight way more than a chair. Or they are lifting suitcases off a belt at an airport, going to the gym or even moving house. You are not an invalid.

I’m 18 weeks and am going to my weights class, and plan to go up to term. I’d be more worried about injuring your back than your pregnancy, especially if you’ve had no symptoms.

Ok thanks everyone

You'll be fine. I used to lift and carry my 1 year old niece around all the time throughout my pregnancy no issues.

What has made you think you can’t lift a chair whilst pregnant? How do you think the human race has survived if pregnant women are risking their baby by moving slightly heavy things? Think about it rationally. Do you think serfs in the 1600s put their feet up or went on light duties for 9 months every year or two? Women in developing countries? Women in lower socio economic groups?

Woman carry heavier things when pregnant and are fine. As long as you didn't get a sharp pain in your back, groin, aren't having vaginal bleeding etc.

I mean this kindly, but do you have health anxiety OP? Are you having any support for it? If not, please speak to your GP/Midwife about it now, before it progresses and gets much worse.

I agree and as gently as I can I'm going to suggest that you get some help for your anxiety

Remember this moment when you’re pregnant with your second and you’re carrying when your first one 😂😂

I'm constantly lugging my 15kg toddler around at 25 weeks and I will be up until the end (when she'll likely be heavier again). Unless you've been told to rest, you'll be ok.

I move full grown arse adults in my job (nurse). Moving a chair isn’t going to do anything.

The reason lifting heavy things in pregnancy should be avoided is because your body is now producing a hormone called relaxin, which allows all your ligaments to expand and move for baby, but also can increase likelihood of you straining or injuring your muscles/ligaments. If you haven't injured yourself, then there's nothing to worry about, certainly you won't have harmed your baby if that's what you're worried about. Just don't do it again. And congrats 🥳

Don’t give it a second thought. Wait til you’re pregnant with your second and carrying around a 2 year old! If it makes you feel any better, I had to climb over a 6 foot wall when I got locked out of the front door of my house at about 18 weeks pregnant. Everything fine!

Pregnant women with toddlers/older children don’t have the luxury of not lifting anything in pregnancy. Or after a c-section for that matter. You’ll be absolutely fine. It’s going to be a long pregnancy if you’re already this anxious and I’d advise getting help for that from your midwife long before it spirals. There is no shame in suffering with pre or post natal anxiety or depression.

Christ, I've just packed up an entire house ready to move. I tried to be sensible and not lift heavier items and furniture but there was plenty I did lift and move, including chairs.

If you feel OK then nothing to worry about

Being pregnant does not mean you can’t lift things! I continued to weight train throughout both my pregnancies, and during my second, I was constantly lifting my enormous toddler.

As others have said, you should mention your anxiety at your next pre-natal appointment.

A chair?!

Some women do hard physical work throughout pregnancy. I laid carpets and flooring. Stop worrying and enjoy your pregnancy!

To be fair to OP, she hasn't suggested she has anxiety. When I was pregnant with my first, another woman was horrified when I lifted a chair to move it. It does get spouted as if it's a fact that you mustn't. (I ignored her and carried on as before - also moved house when pregnant which involved a lot of lifting, although I avoided the heaviest things just in case)

I was handing on a next to me crib along with a pile of baby stuff to another mum - I was maybe 5 weeks so I was being very cautious, she was over 5 months. I said we could lift the crib together and she said don't worry, piled everything into the crib, and lifted it one handed into her van! I was in awe!

Additionally, if you have more children you will be lifting them in awkward positions, having them crawl over you, head bump your bump...

Baby is well protected and will be fine! I think I've read not to start any new sports without doctors supervision or jump on trampolines, but that's pretty much it.

This reminds me of when I was 25 weeks pregnant and still tiny, but wearing baggy clothes and fitting carpets for a living. Got to a woman's house, she hadn't moved a stick of furniture because "I'm 6 weeks pregnant". I moved all her furniture, then asked when her baby was due. Then told her mine was due in less than 4 months. Cue much guilt face. I felt like saying "you are pregnant love, not disabled".

That's classic motherhood. You get stressed about the most curious things. I was so worried when my baby was little that someone would throw him in the river! Naturally no one did.

It's the protective instinct. You're totally fine to handle a chair, of course. Be easy on yourself.

Chair as in you picked up a kitchen chair? Or chair as in like you moved a massive recliner or something?

The second probably isn’t recommended, but I doubt would actually harm you, and definitely wouldn’t harm the baby. The first one is just a normal part of life and probably no heavier than the millions of pregnant women carrying around toddlers.

Unless you've been specifically told you have a high risk pregnancy and should avoid any lifting, then just about your day to day life. I too have moved house when pregnant and had a toddler and yes I had to be sensible and leave DH to the actual heavy lifting, but I certainly could move boxes and smaller bits of furniture by myself