Heavy lifting & c/s scar???

[JFTB1177]

Someone on the recent UR thread mentioned heavy lifting as a UR risk. I have been carrying around my 25 lbs toddler this entire pregnancy! Is this a threat? I have never heard of heavy lifting as a UR risk. I had a successful HBAC 2 years ago (but my first child was too big at that time for me to carry), does this make a difference? I am over 40 weeks now and am preparing for another VBAC and I don't want to be worrying about this! :(

[HariB]

Hmmm, maybe I don't understand my anat and physiology well enough, but I don't see how this can be true.  The uterus is not involved in lifting--the abs are.  I can see how possibly heavy lifting might cause excess strain on a csec mama's scarred abs, but not on the uterus itself.  The uterus has only a couple of jobs: to expand to carry babies in pregnancy, and to contract rythmically during orgasm, pregnancy, birth and postpartum.  I dont' think it's tied into the system of muscles involved in lifting.

Besides, anything you've been lifting all along, is probably not too heavy for you.

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by HariB 

Hmmm, maybe I don't understand my anat and physiology well enough, but I don't see how this can be true.  The uterus is not involved in lifting--the abs are.  I can see how possibly heavy lifting might cause excess strain on a csec mama's scarred abs, but not on the uterus itself.  The uterus has only a couple of jobs: to expand to carry babies in pregnancy, and to contract rythmically during orgasm, pregnancy, birth and postpartum.  I dont' think it's tied into the system of muscles involved in lifting.

Besides, anything you've been lifting all along, is probably not too heavy for you.

THANK YOU!!!! lol You don't know how much this post has helped calm me! :)
 

[KempsMama]

I think this is probably one of those cases of good advice gone twisted.  Post C-Section, heavy lifting is a no no because of the incision through your abdomen.  Sometimes people just twist things around or get them mixed up.

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by KempsMama 

I think this is probably one of those cases of good advice gone twisted.  Post C-Section, heavy lifting is a no no because of the incision through your abdomen.  Sometimes people just twist things around or get them mixed up.

Good point, Kempsmama!! Thanks!! :)
 

[dezprincesscc]

I need to find my source for this, but I have also read that after a successful VBAC, the chance of UR is less than that of a woman who has never given birth before.

[tonttu]

That was probably me , who posted that . And I am saying again , that normal activities , like lifting an older child does not increase the risk , HOWEVER , I personally feel , that in order to achieve a vbac , we should try to avoid any kind of overexcertion , which is not good in any pregnancy , vbac or not .

Because  lugging really heavy stuff around can put a strain on the scar . After all , the muscles on the abdomen as well as the uterus (which is also a muscle) are all connected and so it´s a better idea to avoid overdoing it

[womenswisdom]

Once you are healed, lifting is not going to rupture either the skin scar or your uterine scar.  You cannot voluntarily "flex" your uterus (if you could, we wouldn't need inductions, right?).

[tonttu]

No , of course , it will not cause the scar itself to rupture right away , but there are ligaments attached to either side of the uterus and I am quite sure , that any mother who ever picked up anything heavy in late pregnancy and  felt the strain on her belly , knows what I am talking about !

The point I am trying to make is , that you should try to avoid anything possible , that will put pressure on the pregnant womb , scarred or not and since scar tissue by nature is not as flexible as "normal" tissue , I would be extra careful with it .

After all , there have been (very few) reported cases , where the mother´s womb ruptured before she was in active labor . And even though , that is extremely rare , I simply believe that we should be kind to our bodies and do anything we can to avoid any additional pressure , after all , it´s already a lot of work being pregnant and carrying around an ever-expanding belly

[JFTB1177]

Originally Posted by tonttu 

I simply believe that we should be kind to our bodies and do anything we can to avoid any additional pressure , after all , it´s already a lot of work being pregnant and carrying around an ever-expanding belly

The thing is, I cannot avoid carrying/lifting my toddler. He needs to be put in his crib, in the bathtub, in his highchair, etc. And he likes to be held a lot. My DH works a lot and it's just me at home most of the time...
 

[KempsMama]

I think that the most important thing is to not lift beyond your ability.  So if you are conditioned to lifting your LO, you will most likely be just fine. 

While I have heard of many people pulling muscles in their back lifting, I have yet to hear of anyone tearing a tendon in the abdomen lifting, pregnant or not.  I have torn a whole in my chest wall muscle while pregnant with my first though.

I think if this was a risk at all women would be warned by their OB's, especially in our paranoid state where anything that has a chance of hurting you or the baby is off limits.

[tonttu]

And that´s what I meant , there is some stuff , that you have to and can lift , like your older baby , the garbage , a grocery bag or a basket full of laundry .

On the other hand , it probably wouldn´t be a good idea to move the living room couch around by yourself , when you are pregnant .

Those things , I would put under the "let´s not lift that while pregnant" category !

If you stay away from those , you are probably just fine