lifting a toddler while pregnant?

[TryinFor1]

My almost 15 month old weighs about thirty pounds, which I know is the guideline of heavy lifting while pregnant. Realistically, I can't not pick him up and carry him. I am only five weeks but I have been bending, lifting, and carrying him like I normally would.

I will start to do better about it but when he is upset and wants me, I am not going to just let him sit there and cry. I also have to carry him like to bed, or if we are going to the doctor and I carry him from the parking lot, up the stairs, to his doctors office... I actually bend, pick up, and carry him a lot.

I will ask my doctor about it but what did you guys do in situations like this? He is too young to understand that I shouldn't pick him up all the time. I looked it up on Google and all I really got were a bunch of stories about women saying they miscarried because of picking up their toddlers. Now whether that is true or not, I don't know. But it still frightens me as I don't want to experience another miscarriage.

What would you guys do?

 

[menageriemom]

Pick him up if you need to, just make sure you are bending at the knees and carry him on your hip of you can. Also use this time to start teaching him to hold hands and walk, just a little at a time. When you have to cart 2 around you will really not be able to carry him much at all. This was suuuuch a hard age because they don't really understand hand holding and sticking around but the more you try it the better it gets.

 

[lovelylaura]

Try not to worry about it! You cant avoid it. My youngest now is always all over me elbows in my belly and climbing all over my belly. I do try and stop her but its unavoidable. I don't pick her up much but i do probably take the pushchair with me more than if i wasn't pregnant. Just remember it's about how you feel, so if you body feels sore or uncomfortable just try and limit how much you pick them up. Some days i just can't carry Freya upstairs shes too heavy so she has to climb, she might whinge but she's fine.

 

[brownlieB]

I lift my 3 year old still, and I'm 35wks now, it gets harder as the bump gets bigger and she barely fits on my hip now, if it's needed it's needed.

I always thought it was more to do with putting your back out than causing a mc because all your muscles have loosened it's easier to pull one xx

 

[SazzleR]

I've been lifting DS all the way through when he's upset or up to no good & needs moving. I don't think there's any way around it tbh. I wouldn't be able to carry him upstairs at this late stage in my pregnancy but I certainly was doing until I had a prominent bump. They still need us so as long as you're sensible, I think you have to continue to be their mummy first & foremost.

 

[lilmissdanni]

Pick up like normal! My toddler weighs about the same and I've been picking him up like normal. As for the not being able to carry up and downstairs, I have no choice coz I live in a 1st floor flat. I let him climb up the stairs but never down. Yesterday however, I slipped and went about 6 stairs on my bum whilst carrying him and have bruised my cocyx which is very very painful. Ds was fine albeit hysterical and im back at hospital later for a scan

 

[pinkpolkadot]

I am 31 weeks and still lifting my 2.5 year old. I try and only do it when I really need to and am careful how I lift her but it is unavoidable really!

 

[TryinFor1]

Thanks guys!

Lilmissdani our kids have the same first name! Its lovely!

 

[hanelei]

The above poster is right, the reason they don't recommend heavy lifting during pregnancy is not because it might cause a miscarriage, but because it's easier to strain ligaments and put your back out while pregnant. Anything you were lifting regularly before you became pregnant should be fine.

The people on the internet who say lifting a toddler caused their miscarriages can't be sure- people miscarry all the time for various reasons, and the idea that lifting a toddler is one of those reasons is just another old wives tale!

 

[the why bird]

Plus thirty pounds is just a guideline. It's not like 29.5lbs you're fine, 30.5lbs you'll injure yourself.

Some people are so unfit that carrying around 30lbs would injure them, people who are in good shape before pregnancy can probably carry far more without issue. Since you are used to carrying your toddler, I don't think you need to worry.

 

[aimee-lou]

if you were carrying him fine before you're fine during. i have a picture of me holding my then 2.5yo on my hip when i was 7 days overdue with ds2. as long as you lift correctly you're fine.

 

[LoveMyBaby786]

Im not sure about that but ive been lifting my son up since day 1 im now 22 weeks pregnant and get out of breath quicker but it doesnt hurt me or pull any of my muscles when I pick him up.

 

[TryinFor1]

Thank yall so much!

 

[SillyMoo1983]

I still lift my DD who is 2 years 8 months and I'm 35 weeks pregnant. I think she weighs about 28lb? Yeah it's harder but it's never for long. It's putting her in the cot that's the hardest thing and tucking her in, but we've just bought a bed so will be putting her in there soon. It's been easier since she's started walking to the car, walking upstairs and sometimes gets into her car seat herself instead of lifting her every time. Now how we'll manage after a c section I'm not sure!

 

[Blizzard]

I'd rather not lift my son. Nothing to do with miscarriage, or even pulled muscles! He's just really heavy .

No, as others have said, please don't worry about it. If you can avoid it, well it's good for them to walk anyway . Xx

 

[Tor]

I carried DS1, changing bag and pushchair whilst pregnant with DS2 he didn't walk until about 18 months and even then I needed to carry him a lot still and up and down stairs etc. I didn't try to pick him up less either, it was never a problem.

 

[sequeena]

Honestly I think you're best just going about your daily life. I honestly don't believe lifting him so often will cause a miscarriage

 

[Cinnamon Girl]

I am 37 weeks and carry my 13 kg toddler all the time. I got pluriesy and over did it carrying hime a couple of blocks and ended up injuring myself at work that I ended up in the emergency room. It was more pluriesy related but carrying him was the straw that broke the camels back soto say. I am bbetter now and back to carrying him. But I couldn't even bend down foe a week


So in the end do what you are able and take care

 

[LaughOutLoud]

I read its fine so i've carried on. I have chronic bad back so am aware of weight proportioning and basically carrying safely. I have a 4.5yr old, who doesnt weigh much and doesnt really need carrying but we were out and she got tired from a long day out so I just carried her on my back until she she got bored of it.

I think you'll be fine if your body is already used to it.

 

[KJM2]

Iam due in 4 days and I have lifted my son who is just over two throughout my whole pregnancy. I try and get him to walk and climb stairs himself if I can but in some cases it is unavoidable. However, I have had no back pain or pelvic pain during my pregnancy. If I did it would be a different story.