ARGH!! Just because I'm pg doesn't mean I can't do things!!

[cj'smommy]

We got about a foot of snow last night and DH wasn't home to do the driveway, it was getting cold and I didn't want it to freeze and make it that much harder to clear so I got out the snowblower. It's a new one, it's not heavy and it's a lot less stress on me than shoveling. DH did make it home to do the very heavy stuff at the bottom of the driveway.

We got more snow overnight and the driveway has a few more inches. DH won't be home tonight and it is supposed to freeze, right now it's still pretty warm and the snow is easy to clear. I pulled out the snowblower again and am cruising along and my neighbor comes out (one of the few people who knows I'm pg) and starts screaming at me to stop because I'm putting the baby at risk. :( Am I? I know I need to take it easy and not do excessivly strenuous things, but it doesn't mean I have to stop everything. I'm not lifting the snow at all (that I wouldn't do) but using a self-propelled snowblower. I only do half the driveway (about the size of 2 cars) so it's just enough for me to get out and DH to pull in. He would do it if he were home, but he's not.

The last thing I want to do is put my baby at risk, but I really didn't think this was too much. If I did I would just leave it and not worry about it. To me this is less strenuous than vacuuming, all I do is head the thing in the right direction and it does all the work.

Am I being a bad mommy? :(

[CaliMommie]

I don't think you did anything wrong at all! My midwife says it fine to continue with normal activities. When I was pg with ds1 that meant caring for my bedridden great-grandmother & even lifting her. The midwives said that since my body was used to doing it, there was no problem. You are NOT a bad mommy. Besides, I'm sure if you felt ovely strained or any pain, etc you would stop! I would just ignore your neighbor~ you know your body better than they do! :hug mama

AmiBeth

[Harper]

I shoveled snow with a shovel when I was pregnant. I trusted myself to be able to tell if I was over doing it. I might have taken it a little slower than if I hadn't been pregnant but I was fine! Of course you're not being a bad mommy but maybe you should give up vacuuming!!

[cj'smommy]

Hee, hee I don't vacuum!! I don't like doing it so DH does it! :)

:love Thanks, I pretty much knew it was ok but when I hear things like that I take them to heart.

I'm a fairly active person anyway so this wasn't a stretch. Of course I wouldn't do anything that I don't normally do, but I don't think this falls outside of fairly active. I grew up in Chicago, I've spent half my life shoveling! :LOL

Thanks ladies!

[alegna]

Ditto. If you're used to it, it's fine. I ice skated up to 40 weeks, but nobody had the balls to say anything to me about it :LOL


Proof! (http://www.halfabee.net/skating/)

I don't deal well with anyone telling me what I can and can't do... :mischief

-Angela

[sm3247]

Ditto what everyone else said. You know your own limits and if you didn't feel comfortable doing it, you wouldn't. Besides, the exercise is good for you. You would be more likely to put your baby at risk if you sat in a chair all day.

Although I get a little annoyed at the "you shouldn't be doing that" attitude, I have been known to take advantage of DH's offers to take out the trash and carry the laundry down the stairs.

[LadyWulf]

during my first pregnancy i worked at a dry cleaners. I did everything there. That uncluded working in 135 degree temps, lifting and throwing around 50-80lbs sacks of dirty clothes and plenty of HEAVY work 6 days a week. I was in better shape and had a MUCH easier pregnancy with that one than i did with my DS or than i am having this time. I only WISH i could still do all that now but i am totally out of shape now :(

Do what you want to do. ONLY you know your limits. Don't let anyone tell you anything. You are a GOOD Mommy for keeping yourself in shape and keeping up with normal activities.

[kater07]

You are definitely NOT doing anything wrong. All my neighbors and friends keep telling me, DH and DS what I can and can't do b/c I am PG. It's fricking ANNOYING! I am not DYING. You aren't doing anything wrong. Just be careful, and if you feel like you are overdoing it, then stop.

Hugs, I am sorry you got yelled at. You're not a bad mommy!

[ella-makes-3]

Ok, this post caught my eye as about 1 month ago I was shoveling snow ( about 6 " of fluffy stuff ) , I was probably about 30 weeks pg, and the next door neighbours came and told me off for shoveling. I was like " why ???" and she said that I shouldn't as I am pg.
OK, I think, but it is ok for your daughter to smoke and drink during BOTH pregnancies and you are going to tell me it's not ok to shovel. ???? WTF?????
Thanks I know my own body's limits.

[jocmtl]

HI there,

You know, I think most of us would know if we were doing a physical activity that was likely to hinder our pregnancies-- I don't know about you, but when I'm out of breath, I stop!

People have been driving me crazy with this "don't lift that," "don"t do that" crap. Honestly! I jogged across and small intersection because the light was turing the other day and my friend (who has been pg) looked at me and said, "what are you doing? You're pregnant!" Yes, I too have shovelled my car out of a snow bank, and while it was tiring, both me and my baby survived! I have picked up a box, garbage or grocery bag and carried it and lived! And you know what?? Yesterday, I emptied the cat litter because it stank to high hell and DP was at work! Even though I'm pretty sure I'm immune to toxoplasmosis from having had cats for the past 15 years, I still held my breath, wore gloves and made fast work of it, making sure to scour my hands after I did it. But I know people who would freak out if they knew I did that.

Phew. That was a nice little rant.

Anyway, yah, that whole scene is bugging me too. One of my aunts told me the other day she cross-country skied until the week before she delivered!

[TOmomma]

People are crackers, but I can't believe they have the nerve to yell at you for that. The least they could do is offer to do it for you :D.

[alliegad]

You definetly did not do anything wrong. I snow shoveled yesterday and like a PP said, I trusted my body to let me know if I was over-doing it and I took it slower and more carefully than I may otherwise.
I had to do it- I work from home barely part time and had 2 clietns coming before DH got home from work. So whoop-dee-doo, the driveway had to be shoveled.......
Don't worry about nosy neighbors/people who don't know you or your body. You know yourself better than anyone else and you don't do anything to hurt your precious baby.

[Yummymummy74]

Crazy!

Granted I have done things I probably should not have done when heavily pregnant like moving house and carrying half of a sofa up some stairs at 8 mos pregnant :shy ( I had no other other option and I was young and stupid) BUt! really if your overdoing it your going to know it! I rode my horse until I was coming on 6 mos pregnant with one of my daughters and continued my ballet with another until 8 mos.... so I would say shoveling is ok.

I guess all you can do is take it with a grain of salt.. I hate that whole "delicate condition crappola"

[wildfarmsmama]

Yes, very annoying! 2 winters ago I was 6 mos pregnant and it snowed. Our 2 cows escaped and I had to chase them back in a foot of snow-no choice. Yesterday my daughter had to get 2 crowded teeth pulled at the dentist and they wouldn't let me go wait with her until the sedation began to work (hubby went instead) because there was a flight of stairs :irked: As if I can't walk down stairs and up!!! I can still manage to lift up my 35lb 2 yo if I need to :LOL You know when to stop!

[AngelBee]

You didn't do anything wrong.

It is sweet that your neighbor is concerned.

Annoying, but sweet!

[cj'smommy]

It is sweet that your neighbor is concerned.

Annoying, but sweet!

Yeah, well that's my neighbor in a nutshell!! :LOL

Thanks everyone. I really thought I was ok, but I wanted insight from other pregnant mommies. I was really more afraid of having all that snow turn icy and have me slip on it than using the snowblower. I figured snowblowing would be less hazardous.

I don't mind so much when people ask if I need help with heavy things (like at the grocery store) what does sometimes get me is the "you can't do that!" tone. I know it comes from concern but I just don't like people telling me what I can and can't do!! :LOL