Lifting Baby Cause Miscarriage??

Hi T.,
I know it's so hard, but please try to relax. I'm almost 16 weeks along and have been carrying around my 27lb 19 month old the whole time, as well as bags of groceries, and a list of other things. It's all fine. With regard to the heartbeat, my OB's practice won't even see newly pregnant women until 8 weeks, simply because there's such a high likelihood of not seeing a heartbeat until then.
Good Luck with everything!

T. - congratulations! I had three little ones all in a row and never stopped carrying the older ones when I was pregnant with the younger ones. In fact, when I was pregnant with my third, I sometimes had to carry both of the older ones (ages 2 and 1) down the stairs because we had just moved out of hte city and they didn't know how to go down the stairs by themselves. I don't recommend that, but I had no problem carrying the kids when I was pregnant either time.

Good luck and hope it all goes well.

Actually, it's no more than 35 lbs. The 10 lb limit relates to post-caesarean activity. I think it MIGHT cause a miscarriage due to stress on the muscles, etc., but not until you're much more progressed.

Never heard of the 10 lb. rule. If women could not lift when pregnant, we would only have one child per family.
That being said, obviously if you are having a problem
carrying a baby, there definitely is a no lifting rule.
Generally speaking, carrying a child will not cause
a miscarriage. Good luck. Probably won't get a heart-
beat until 6 weeks.

Oh hon you seem so upset and distressed and I can totally relate, having a few miscarriages myself. Carrying your child WILL NOT cause a miscarriage.

Good luck mamma. Hope you have a healthy baby in that belly of yours :)

look at people that work in a stocking job.. or roofings people.. they say if the baby is meant to be... nothing will really hurt it...but I wouldn't bunji jump or anything.. good luck

been there done that...I had my first 4 kids in 4 years...no twins...so I was carrying baby/toddlers, pushing a double stroller while carring another baby...and on and on...i think the guideline for lifting is don't do something you normally don't do already...you don't start a new workout when you get pregnant, but if you already workout it's fine to conyinue as long as you're comfortable. Along with that and the lifting, if it hurts stop! You're probably fine for now, but as your pregnancy continues and the baby you have gets better at walking make him/her walk more...for 2 reasons one less pain for you and 2 because once you have baby #2 baby #1 will have to be carried less...so start that BEFORE baby #2 comes that way #1 doesn't associate it with the arrival of #2...boy was that confussing??lol!!! Good luck, and don't worry to much. It's not your or your baby #1 fault that you don't hear a heartbeat. Some pregnancies aren't meant to be no matter what you do(not that I think you're having issues other than the normal nerves...it's early still!!! patience!!but if something does go wrong, it's not your fault!!) I have been blessed with 5 healthy babies and also unfortunately felt the pain of having a failed pregnancey. Don't stress out because you're lifting your baby. Good luck!!

T.:

My son was 2 when I got pregnant the second time and I lifted him through my second trimester -- I had no choice. Don't sweat this too much -- they didn't even check for a heartbeat until after 6 weeks for both of my pregnancies. Worrying will only put undue stress on you and your baby. Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck. :)

Sometimes the Dr cannot hear the heartbeat before 10 weeks. Try not to worry!

When I got pregnant with my second, my 7 month old weighed 20lbs. I carried him everywhere. So, unless you are prone to miscarriages, carrying your baby shouldn't be anything to worry about. Also, my son went through a stage where he'd kick my stomach, and the baby was 100% fine at birth. You're very early in the prgnancy, sometimes the position of the baby makes it hard to hear the heartbeat. Don't worry so much. Say a little pray, it'll help.

stop worrying so much and enjoy the pregnancy and your 10 mth old. whatever happens happens. worrying life is not living it. unless there's an issue, picking up baby shouldn't cause miscarriage.

When I was pregnant with my first, I didn't lift a thing! I became pregnant with twins when my daughter was almost two---I had no choice but to lift her (I had a very healthy pregnancy with the twins, but worried constantly!).Then when the twins were seven months, I found out I was pregnant!!! I was lifting them, often together! I always brought up the issue of miscarriage with my OB, and he would assure me that lifting the kids would not cause one. Rather, he was more worried about back problems and getting a hernia from lifting the kids. I never lifted anything besides my children, the stroller, groceries-things I needed to take care of on my own. You know your limits! Best wishes to you!

I don't believe so. You were lifting your daughter before you got pregnant, while you got pregnant and now. I think that's more of an "don't SUDDENLY" type thing. Like they tell women who exercise it's fine to continue just don't do more than you do before. But they do tell you if you do not exercise not to start a regimen. Whatever your body is used to is fine to continue with. Unless for some reason you have a particular condition - which I'm sure your doctor would have told you about, there's no relation. Like you said, millions of women went through subsequent pregnancies while carrying around older kids!

And at 4-5 weeks, that really is early to hear a heartbeat. My doc had told me that he wont even check before 6 weeks, and prefers to wait until 8 whenever possible. Because while there is a slight chance some babies heartbeats will be seen/heard, it's unusual that early on.

I know it's impossible not to worry until you actually see/hear it, but try not to stress about it. I too have suffered loses, so I know how desperately you need to hear that the heartbeat is strong. :)

Picking up your child is not going to cause a miscarriage. A miscarriage happens (more times then not) when something in the development of the fetus goes wrong. Something in cell division or neurological (or other system) development goes wrong. It's sad to say, but a miscarriage is kind of a good thing. Because the things that would be wrong with that child, both physically and mentally, would make it's life unbareable for that child. I had a miscarriage. When the pathology report came back it said that it was an under developed egg. So, in a case like that, you wouldn't want that pregnancy to go full term. You need to stop worrying. That causes stress on your body. And stress on a pregnant body is not good. Just remember, if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be.

I am high risk & 7 weeks pregnant now with a 2 1/2 year old. They told me to limit how much I pick him up as much as possible, but even they know it can be unavoidable. I try to pick him up from something high - like the couch.

Hi T.,

I also had some Dr's visits when they did not hear a heartbeat & I have a healthy boy. I did have 2 previous miscarriages so I was as worried as you. I am overweight & the Dr thought that may be one reason for the difficulty in finding the early heartbeat. I also carried around my then 3 yr old the whole time I was pregnant. You may want to try a sling for your 10 month old to give you a little relief. Best of luck. Try not to worry.

I can't imagine it would. I was carrying around a two year old my entire pregnancy and had a healthy baby. Miscarriages this early on are usually from genetic and structural problems which are beyond your control. Also, I've heard its very common to not detect a heart beat until 7 weeks, it takes some time for the heart to fully form. I'm suprised your doc ould perform an ultrasound so early on...typically they wait until 8 weeks

No that won't cause a miscarriage. In the majority of miscarriages there is something wrong with the baby. In somecases there is something wrong with the mom 's body. I had a thyrouid problem that we didn't know about the complications of and I miscarried. I fixed the problem and had a very healthy pregnancy and the baby is now 2 months old. Hang in there and hopefully at the next ultrasound you will hear a heart beat. A.

Hi T.,

Others have already said this, but I just thought I'd add another voice saying it's fine to carry around your other child! There's no established limit on how much to lift, but "avoid lifting heavy objects" is a pretty common statement ... I've seen "heavy objects" described as anything over 10 kg (which is 22 lbs, much less than your son weighs :)

This early on, it's not much of a concern, but one the baby and the belly start to get a little bigger, it's generally a good idea to avoid lifting very heavy things. As long as you don't have a high-risk pregnancy, this basically means don't do heavy weight-lifting exercises, don't move furniture, etc.

Here's an article from Baby Center where an OB actually says moving furniture in the 1st trimester is OK, but to stop in the second http://www.babycenter.com/406_is-it-safe-to-move-furnitur....

I hope that helps to put your mind at ease!

I have a 30 pound 2 year old and carried him the whole time i was pregnant with #2. I recently gave birth to a healthy 9lb baby and had no complications. I have always read and been told that in the early weeks, carry no more than 40-50 pounds and no more than 25 pounds in the third trimester(got this from what to expect when your expecting). But, realistically, is not carrying your 10 month old an option? If she's not walking, you will have to pick her up at times. I found that the second time around pregnancy is alot less "precious". Your first needs you, there is not enough nap time and towards the end it is kind of ridiculous because you can barely get around and your first baby doesn't understand or care about your limitations at all. But it is also amazing because you get to share the new baby with your oldest and the first entertains the second even if she is just screaming.
Good luck! Enjoy it!

Hi Tracey,
The heartbeat doesn't typically start until the 6th week so take a deep breath and just focus on that little bean implanting and growing within you! I hope everything turns out well for you. Take care and best of luck!
T.

I was actually a little further along (think 6 or 7 wks) when they couldn't detect a heartbeat but the next time I went - there it was.

This was w/my oldest - the same who was almost 6 when I had her little sister. She wasn't a ton, but your usual 5 year old and although I was told not to carry any more then 10 lbs, sometimes I had no choice. Even after when I had a tubiligation - told the same thing - nothing over 10 lbs - well by the time I had it done my 3 month old was over 10 lbs. I think they set that guideline for you to just use common sense.

I know that you are still going to worry, but try not to as much. Good luck & please keep us posted.

HI T.! It may just be too early to find a heartbeat. My OB doesn't even listen for a heartbeat until the 9th week.
Also, I have never heard that you shouldn't carry more than 10 lbs while pregnant- you can definitly carry more than that. I wouldn't do any HEAVY lifting, like, moving your furniture by yourself but that just because your bones are softer during pregnancy. It's very unlikely that it would cause a miscarriage.
I know it's hard but try not to worry! And if you end up with a miscarriage, please don't blame yourself. You haven't done anything wrong!

No...there is NO WAY lifting any amount of weight would CAUSE a miscarriage. Some women feel like they may have done something to cause a miscarriage because the timing lines up with some activity. But it cant cause it...it just may help it along if it was already impending.

FWIW, heartbeats are generally found by ultrasound after the 5th-6th week. Hang in there.

I have never heard that you shouldn't lift more than 10 pounds (and I am a mom of a 14 and a 10, and am a childbirth educator). Pregnant women lift their kids all the time. It does not cause a miscarriage. If the "baby" is not alive, it's not due to lifting your child. At 4 or 5 weeks pregnant, it's only 2-3 weeks since conception, the organs are just forming. There's likely no heartbeat and I wouldn't stress over it. There's no reason to even check on one at this stage - either it's going to be there or it is not and either way, the outcome will not change.
Good luck, I hope this will be a perfectly healthy pregnancy for you.