Heavy lifting

[kathryn85]

Hi all,

I think I just want some reassurance but basically, I lifted a few heavy bags this morning as we had a delivery and they were left on the driveway. I could feel my stomach muscles when I picked them up and they still feel a bit tight now.

However I've not got any cramping or anything like that. I now feel a bit stupid for doing it but just didn't realise how heavy they were. I wasn't moving them far at all, literally about 3 metres away into the house.

I'm probably just being paranoid and am sure baby is fine - have read it's more likely to harm me than the baby but I would just like to hear other's views!

 

[candymycandy]

Yeah baby will be fine. Muscles and ligaments are a bit looser so you've probably strained something so just try and rest up x

 

[kumber]

As above, you've probably just strained a little but you'll be fine

 

[kathryn85]

Thank you both! I am not telling my OH as I am under strict instructions not to lift anything heavy!

Thank you for the reassurance!!

 

[Mel32]

I wouldn't recommend this to other people because im not a medical professional but i pretty much lifted as normal in first pregnancy.

Often people do stop you lifting but i remember lugging furniture around when decorating and carrying alsorts of things as it came up. The only trouble i had was really bad joint (i think) aches and pains at the end of the day which were always (from memory) completely back to normal next day.

The internet is also saturated with pregnant women heavy weight lifting though their bodies are probably used to it and generally you'd imagine they have perfect form/technique.

What im saying is, i imagine youd be totally fine but if you are concerned mention it to midwife/ doctor. xx

 

[Belfa]

I'm another one who was very guilty of heavy lifting throughout my first pregnancy. I coped fine but this pregnancy everything is a bit looser and I've really felt it afterwards so have had to admit defeat!

 

[Karenb]

I'm always lifting and carrying my toddler - can't just completely stop, she weighs about 2 stone so prob shouldnt x

 

[Mel32]

Interesting you say that Belfa... Literally moved sofas and bookcases and units in first pregnancy and built flatpacks etc, on the days i over did it i would ache so much it hurt to walk until i slept it off.

This time round... Just a day of walking about and carrying my 1 year old is setting off what seems like joint pain and i can end up finding it super hard to move so seems similar to your experience... It's taking a lot less to set it off this time. I feel like an old lady at 26 ��

 

[firstfreakout]

I think the main concern about pregnant women doing any lifting is because of the hormones relaxing the muscles and joints making us more prone to injury. And as you get a bigger bump your centre of gravity is obviously shifted so it makes us more accident prone to falling or walking into things etc.

I would say that if you're following ordinary manual handling rules (only lifting something you can easily nudge with your feet/knees first, bending your knees, having your back in the right position and holding it at the right height etc) then you're more than likely going to be fine, but I'm guilty of asking others to lift for me because I suffer with sciatica during this pregnancy!

Remember that a pulled muscle should resolve itself fairly quickly with ice and rest, anything else more serious may linger longer. I pulled a muscle in my back at work last year and was in A&E for it, the next day it was pretty much back to normal. Saying that though, if you lift anything and feel like the aches or pains you have after aren't normal aches and pains, talk to your MW/GP just to be sure.

Hope your muscles are back to normal now! Take it easy

 

[kathryn85]

Thank you everyone! This is why I love this forum - it's so reassuring! It's fine now, can't feel anything (apart from flutters in my tummy which is very welcome!!)

 

[mylullaby]

The advice not to lift anything heavy isn't really to do with a risk to the baby. It's because when you're pregnant, the increase in progesterone in your body makes it more likely you'll pull a muscle. You'd probably know about it if you'd done that- so chances are you'll be absolutely fine. Sometimes for practical reasons you just need to lift stuff and as long as you're sensible about it, just crack on. Personally, I'm reluctant to wait around pathetically for someone to help me lift things when a bit of common sense says I can do it myself. I'm sure you'll be ok. Xx