coping with toddler while pregnant.

[redbird]

Hello all. Any advice on how to cope with very active 2 yr old while pregnant. It seems impossible not to be constantly bending over, picking up, putting him in the car seat which is very strenuous operation. How do you limit it? And should you? Am worried about damaging myself. thanks

Not sure if its possible to limit it! I just got DH to do all the lifting when he was about, especially at the end. You do worry though.
My DS particularly enjoyed kicking me in the stomach when I was changing his nappy. Not good!

im in the same boat - 24 weeks with DS2 and DS1 is 15 months. it is impossible not to strain yourself sometimes with all the heavy lifting/bending/carrying/kicky nappy changing.
im finding it a great help to keep limber as much as poss - have a good stretch in the morning and if you've been sedantry for a while. a bit of yoga never goes amiss anyway i think. but also its a great opportunity to get child 1 to think a little more independently, which i think they relish anyway. for example, DS has mastered crawling backwards down the stairs so i don't have to carry him down, and he absolutely loves showing off how he can do it. and like tras said, defo get DH to pitch in when he's home.

Im 29 weeks and DD is 19mths.
Ditto what others have said about getting DH to do as much as possible. Try and get them to do as much as possible for themselves but there are some thing that are avoidable.

The trickiest is when DD has a strop when out and having to scoop her up kicking and wailing!

meant unavoidable!

34 weeks and DS is 14 months and has way too much energy! I'm trying to train him to do stairs etc to help me out but think it's going to be hard work for a while!

You just have to adapt to it, it's certainly not ideal.

When DS falls over and cries you have to stand there, while onlookers probably think 'isn't she going to pick him up poor child'.
I used to run to my child and hug him straight away when he fell, can't do that anymore.

Also chucking them in the pram when theyre having a kicking and screaming tantrum is too dangerous, so you have to just stand by untill theyre finished, upto like 20 mins at a time for my DS very tiring.

Things take a lot longer to do.
If DS decides he wants to lay down in the middle of the pavement while I'm trying to get to a doctors appointment, I'm screwed quite simply.
Gone are the days of being punctual.

I'm 34 weeks and have a 23 month old (rampaging) toddler. I feel more rested on the days I'm in work although now just sitting at my desk is extremely uncomfortable so I'm not 100% on easy street anymore. I too keep injuring myself and by the end of the week my bump aches and I feel like a cripple from all the lunging, lifting, strapping in car seat/buggy .. ditto what you all said above.

Part of me is really keen to have this baby as I'm so uncomfortable all the time (don't remember it being this bad with DS1) and part of me knows that once this baby is out the hard work really starts (in terms of lack of sleep/feeding etc... Obv. am very excited and happy - trying to keep positive!!)

p.s. in answer to original question, I don't think you're damaging yourself too much as long as you get as much rest as possible when you can and make a mental note to take it easy. Though I say this, I rarely follow this as acting on your instincts removes chances of "being careful"

i have a 21month old DD and still picking her up quite a bit, she's going through a really clingy phase. I dont think it's damaging to me or the bump at all, if something hurts then i wont do it, but baby is well protected. I have sustained quite a few kicks and bumps to the tum and baby moving around quite happily. Im more worried about what DD will do when the baby comes out, i;m going to need eyes in the back of my head!!

DD1 was 19 months when DD2 was born. I learnt a lot of 'tricks' to help.
We practised her climbing into and out of the buggy by herself. It helped witht eh tantrums as well as she was 'allowed' to click her straps herself and then she normally ogt a chocolate button or some raisins if she was good. (bribery always works for toddlers IME)
I put a pile of blankets/coats in the footwell of her side of the car so she could climb up onto the seat and get into her seat without me lefting her so I only had to strap her in, she got herself out as well so I just had to help her down the step onto the pavement, no lifting.

Changing went easier if I put them on a bed or sofa where they could climb up and I either knelt on the floor or sat on teh bed.

If she wanted a carrycuddle then I would sit down and she would sit on what was left of my lap for a cuddle.

oh and weirdly, i found it harder earlier on than i do now (am 39+4), i think i'm so used to being the size of an elephant and maneuvering a toddler in/out the car/buggy etc that i dont find it difficult anymore. of course maybe im just at the point of delirium!

Thank you. Very helpful. Will def try some "training" and see it as a way of making him more independent. I totally overdid it yesterday and made fatal mistake of letting him run round the supermarket which was a disaster and I felt so strung out at the end. Heh ho.

God - I know what you mean. I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old (DS1 and DS2) and am 33 weeks pregnant with DD1. think I have severely strained loads of different muscles and by the end of the day when i flop on the sofa I really cannot move!!! At least 5 year old can fend for himself, but have taken to telling 2 year old that "no - mummy can't lift you".....still doesn't help to be on my hands and knees picking up toys and clearing up the floor at the end of the day (not to mention hoisting 2 year old in and out of cot, and in and out of car seat, but can't be helped)......to think of how precious I was with DS1!!!! I don't think I lifted anything heavier than a plate back in those cushy childfree days!!!

I had a slipped disk a few months ago, and just recovering now. I am 24 wks, and baby is 15 mnths. I find it a struggle to look after him all day, so DH has been great, and does all the lifting when he is home.
The only way I can lift, and feel safe is by bending knees and holding in my stomach muscles (which physio says supports the back). Still worried about doing too much, incase the disk goes again, but how can any mum avoid some sort of lifting?
I don't fuss when he falls over anymore either ( unless it is a bad bump). And he gets up and down the stairs himself now.

I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly wet myself waiting for DS to get out of the car himself like a big boy!

Today after the dentist I had to carry him, even though he had dog poo on his shoe and I have been feet & cord presenting, so terrified of SROMing!

I'm thinking of getting one of those grabber-on-a-stick things your nan uses for high shelves to pick clothes and toys off the floor.

God that is genius. Where do you find a nanny grabber?

yup, 16 weeks and a tantrummy 23 month old. I think there are some things you cant avoid TBH! But millions of women have handled in the past I am sure.....

I am more worried about DCs crap sleeeping, we have to get it sorted before DC2!!!!

and coping when I have stitches.....

yes bribery! I know many will frown on it but a M&S choc lolly allowed me a 20 minute window to buy some maternity gear..... fuck it, sometimes you have to do it.....

then he threw it on floor as I was paying......