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.

my DD is a gym bunny and she lifts heavy weights.. and she did so all the way through her pregnancy... in fact she was in the gym lifting 'heavy' at 39 weeks and the day before she gave birth!

obviously if you are anxious, or there are any signs that appear out of the norm, then speak to someone, maybe ring 111.. but generally speaking, you'll be fine

Thanks. It was a kitchen chair not a recliner. I’m just a worrier. I also did lift a few shopping bags which weren’t really that heavy but did make me panic again.

Hi OP, you do have to be more careful with 'heavy lifting' when pregnant but not just normal day to day life like moving a chair or carrying shopping etc.

The issue with lifting heavier loads in pregnancy is that pregnancy hormones impact your body, meaning you are more likely to pull a muscle. You aren't at risk of hurting your baby. I pulled a muscle in my back lifting a heavy pan out of the fridge at an awkward angle. It was annoying but not dangerous for the baby. If you aren't in pain, then all is OK! And if you are in pain then rest but don't worry.

I agree with this. It would be a good idea to seek help with your anxiety @Nmcl40 .

It's horrible and crippling worrying that every normal thing you do might harm the baby.

I know you're trying to help the OP but these examples are inaccurate and in very poor taste. Serfs (which began being wrapped up in 1381 in GB with the peasants revolt, so none around in the 1600s in GB) and women in developing countries had/have disproportionately high miscarriages, pregnancy complications, stillbirth, maternal mortality and infant mortality. Why do you think women in these situations are often culturally indoctrinated to have so many children? It's so some of them actually become adults due to their horrific conditions.

You are pregnant that's all - live a normal healthy life

So avoid taking up contact sports like rugby or going horse riding for the first time but otherwise there isn't much you need to do differently

This, OP. You're not consistently doing long hours of excessive physical exertion on a poor diet in an area with non-potable water. You've got nothing to worry about with the baby when it comes to lifting furniture occasionally.

I was lifting my 20kilo disabled dog throughout the first and part of the second trimester of my first pregnancy as I had no idea I was pregnant. Second pregnancy I had an 18kilo toddler who also got lifted rather a lot!

Appreciate the positive stories won't be 100% of the facts, but I'm hopeful you'll be fine

I would try and relax a bit more. Do you expect to through your entire pregnancy having other people move and lift everything for you?

I'm an anaesthetist and was lifting patients in theatre throughout pregnancy OP.
As a PP said, the issue is that, particularly in later pregnancy, your ligaments soften under the influence of pregnancy hormones - it's what helps your pelvis become a bit more flexible to let the baby out, but it does have the disadvantage of making it a bit easier to injure yourself. That and that fact that your growing bump changes your centre of gravity and makes it a bit more awkward to do some movements so you might hurt yourself by twisting or stretching into unnatural positions. You do have to take a bit more care of your musculoskeletal system when you're pregnant -for instance I had to give up work when my bump meant that I couldn't get close enough to the operating table to reach patients comfortably and I was getting a lot of back pain because I was twisting myself into an awkward position trying to do so - but it doesn't mean you have to stop doing normal activities. In fact it's generally good for you to keep active during pregnancy.
Remember your baby is tiny at this stage and cushioned quite deep inside your body, surrounded by amniotic fluid. Lifting a chair or shopping bags won't do him or her any harm. Pregnancy is generally not the best time to take up new, vigorous exercise but most of us can quite safely continue with our regular activities. Obviously talk to your midwife for individual advice for yourself, but don't stress yourself over things like moving a chair or carrying your groceries- you haven't done anything wrong.

DP didn't know she was pregnant until she went into labour. (Long story!)

She worked in retail the entire 9 months, carrying and moving heavy boxes. She went on rollercoasters, she went ice skating, she danced around at festivals like a loon. She drank alcohol.

DD was fine when she was born. She is now 17 years old and still absolutely fine.

Doctors tell you not to do these things because they're a risk. In most cases the risk is very small, but better no risk than a small risk.

The risk from moving one chair is miniscule, so the chances are massive that you've done no damage whatsoever.

This cant be serious OP? Unless advised otherwise you can just go about normal activities. In fact it's good to stay active if you can, I don't know where the myth that pregnant women lie down for 9 months came from but it's rubbish.

I wouldn’t worry OP you’ll be absolutely fine. I’m forever lugging around an 18kg puppy and a 2yo and no harm done so far! When pregnant with DD I was regularly carrying hay bales and horse feed, didn’t even think not to tbh.

It's easy when pregnant to sometimes keep perspective but if pregnant women in 3rd world countries can walk 5 miles carrying full water containers then you'll be fine to move a chair or carry some shopping bags especially if you are generally fit and healthy.

A chair and shopping bags are not what they mean by heavy lifting

I think it's easy to pick up misconceptions about this kind of thing. My PIL were horrified when I lifted both arms above my head. My own mother told my sister she shouldn't lift a light suitcase 'well you can't be too careful especially with what happened last time, you know, doing too much, carrying on as normal', referring to sister's previous miscarriage. I said don't you DARE imply she caused the miscarriage by doing something, that is completely impossible and unkind.
Don't worry OP, you and baby will be fine.