If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to continue to carry a toddler while you’re pregnant, the answer is a qualified “Yes.”
As with all aspects of pregnancy, you should always speak at length with your healthcare provider about anything giving you cause for concern. While you can get general advice from friends and family or through your own research, your doctor can direct you based on your personal circumstances. These differ from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy.
So, we’ll kick off with a few quick facts about lifting during pregnancy…
The Facts
For the most part, if your toddler is not yet tipping the scales at more than 15 kilos, you can safely carry them while you’re pregnant. As with all aspects of lifting any heavier weight, though, stay well within your normal safe limits.
You should feel perfectly safe continuing to lift and carry your toddler until you start to feel uncomfortable doing so. Again, this timing will vary. As a rough guideline, it will likely be around the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy. The moment it starts to feel strained, discontinue carrying or even lifting your little one.
As soon as you enter the third trimester, you should strictly limit lifting any heavier weights, your toddler included.
So, having established that it’s safe – as long as you speak with your doctor to confirm this -how can you make things easier on yourself?
Well, it’s all about technique and we’ll give you some handy pointers next.
Recommended Method for Lifting and Carrying Your Toddler While Pregnant
When you pick your toddler up, make sure you bend from the knees. As you lift, straighten your knees.
Make sure you keep your back poker straight to avoid putting any undue strain on your spine. Let your legs do all the work.
Take your time while you’re lifting and be absolutely sure not to make any sudden or jerky movements. This will minimize any chance of you taking a tumble.
Since the increased blood flow during pregnancy can make you feel light-headed or dizzy, make sure to move slowly, especially as you stand up. Again, the last thing you want is a fall when pregnant for obvious reasons.
So, now you know it’s generally safe to lift your toddler while you’re expecting, and how to most effectively do it.
How about possible flashpoints?
Forewarned is forearmed.
Potential Problems
- Complications for You: Be sure to monitor for any feelings of vertigo and put your toddler down immediately if you feel in any danger of falling. Your blood pressure might rise as well, so keep tabs on this.
- Injuries to Your Toddler: To avoid any danger of dropping your toddler and injuring them, put them down the moment you feel like you’re struggling.
- Miscarriage: Miscarriages can be brought on by lifting excessive weights, so be sure to operate well within the limits of what you feel is a safe weight to lift for you. There’s no right or wrong answer here so stick with what feels comfortable and never overdo the lifting while pregnant.
What Else to Consider
There are a few more simple factors to bear in mind when you’re thinking of lifting your toddler while pregnant:
- Only Lift Your Toddler When It’s Necessary: Don’t lift your toddler unnecessarily. Your body will already be under considerable stress, so don’t add to it.
- Show Affection In Other Ways: While carrying your toddler is a great way to show them affection and intimacy, there are plenty of alternatives that might make more sense while you’re pregnant. Hug them, bathe them, read to them, play music or read them a story, instead of instinctively pulling them up in a hug. This is not to say you shouldn’t do it, simply limit lifting for your own sake.
- Know Your Limits and Don’t Be Afraid NOT To Lift: There are very few occasions when you’ll genuinely need to carry your toddler so never be afraid to say no and never push yourself beyond the point you feel comfortable. This will change as you advance through your pregnancy.
Take note of the above guidance, employ the correct technique, and know that lifting your toddler while pregnant should be safe. Remember to always speak to your doctor, just to make certain.
