LIfting?

[nadia105]

I am a baker and my job regularly requires lifting 50+ pounds (I have some batches of dough that weight 80-125 pounds) and I am wondering when the 50 pounds is too much.  I have been doing this for 8 months now (4 months before I got pg, I'm 19 weeks now), so my body was used to it, but it seems logical that there is a point where I should stop.

I gave up the 80-125 pound lifts pretty early on, just b.c that is such a large amount and the angle I have to contort into to get it out of the mixer is challenging. 

There is usually someone arouns who can hlep me, but I am admittedly bad about asking for help b.c I technically still can do it, I'm just not sure I should.

Anyone BTDT?

[nova22]

As soon as I was pregnant my chiropractor wrote a note for my employer saying I shouldn't lift more than 35 pounds. I think he was being conservative and I probably could have done more without risk, but he wanted to be on the safe side. If you're already seeing a doctor or midwife I'd bring this up at your next appointment and see if it will be necessary for you to make modifications at work; with a doctor/midwife's recommendation, it might be easier for you to ask for help without feeling like a burden. 

[lifeguard]

I'm a powerlifter & lifted much heavier weights throughout my pregnancy. The rule I stuck to was to not increase the weight I was lifting for the duration of the pregnancy but continue with what my body was accustomed to.

35lbs would be tough to adhere to - I have a 2 year old & if I was pregnant now I would constantly be over 35lbs 'cause he's 33 & I often have him plus other items, bags, etc. in my arms.

[Twinklefae]

I work in child care and lifted children throughout my whole last pregnancy - some more than 35lbs.  I didn't worry about it, though their parents did.  I would sit them on top of my belly too.  When I went into labour he was well down in my pelvis and I've always wondered if that helped.  (I plan to do the same through this pregnancy.  DS is 36lbs now and I pick him up at least daily.  Another child I have is over 40lbs.)

[Virginia884]

This is one thing that really irks me... people at work seeing me lifting something and FREAKING OUT. I also work in childcare and have been lifting heavy things/children since before I got pregnant and have continued throughout. I can understand people not wanting me to lift 100lbs, but when I go to stack a chair and someone goes "Put that chair down!" like I am a child, I just get ticked off!

What exactly is the 'danger' of lifting??

[LovingSky]

I'm a dog groomer and regularly lift over 100lbs to get the dogs into the tub and sometimes onto the table.  My OB said not to worry about it because my body was used to it.  He said that he had some patients that were out of shape and couldn't lift more than 10 lbs their whole pregnancy but then on the other hand he had a pt that worked in a capret store that regularly lifted huge rolls of  carpet. 

It's best to listen to your body.  He said it will tell you when too much is too much.  I'd rather be a litlle on the cautious side and am no longer lifting the 100 lb guys but I will continue to lift in the 40-60 lb range until my belly gets in the way.

Hope this helps

[Liora]

Originally Posted by LovingSky 

It's best to listen to your body.  He said it will tell you when too much is too much.  I'd rather be a litlle on the cautious side and am no longer lifting the 100 lb guys but I will continue to lift in the 40-60 lb range until my belly gets in the way.

Hope this helps

I agree with this!  Within reason, your body will tell you.  Same thing with sleeping on your back - I think your body will alert you that you are doing to much or doing something wrong through fatigue, pain, etc.

[jessica_s]

My DS is between 45-50lbs and I just recently stopped picking him up or doing anything besides a piggy back ride. I'm 31 weeks and the last couple of times I felt strained so I'm probably not going to do it unless absolutely necessary (I'd pick him up in a heartbeat if he was hurt or in danger). 

So I'm all for listening to your body, I think that if your used to it it's really no big deal. 

[gummibears]

I just asked this at my 15 week appointment last week since I'm in the midst of moving house. I was told nothing more than 30 pounds. If that was difficult to lower it.

[Ravin]

I've had people riding me at work about lifting since they found out I was pg. I wasn't even showing yet and they'd be all, "Should you be lifting that?" These weren't my supervisors, though. I've pretty much gone with "my body tells me what's okay and what's not." If it gets to the point that it interferes with what I need to do to do my job, I'll get a letter from my doctor. Until then, I haven't even brought it up with her.

[MO_Bookwyrm]

I got the whole, "don't lift that you could miscarry" thing right after I let folks at work know I was pregnant.  And the things I was lifting wouldn't have been more than 15 lbs.  I just told them my doctor said  it was  fine.  Then, when I was about 12w, I started having issues with my back.  That was it.  Someone else could pick that stuff up for me. LOL. 

My point is to listen to your body.  It will tell you if you are trying to do too much.