How Much Is Safe To Lift?
Your question
I work in a big store, and lift a lot of boxes and display items all day. How long can I safely keep this up? Is there a better way to lift during pregnancy? - Kelly in Lafayette, Indiana
The expert answers
Kelly,
When you lift those heavy items, please make sure you're lifting
with your legs instead of your back. As you prepare to lift,
stand with your feet about hip distance apart, shift your weight
onto your heels, press your buttocks back as if you were sitting
into a chair, and tighten your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles
to stabilize and support your back. Hold the item firmly in both
hands and exhale as you lift it.
As far as how long you can continue to do this type of work, that
really depends on several factors which you'll need to discuss
with your healthcare provider. Number one is to make sure that
you're not at risk for going into preterm labor. Number two is
the rate at which you need to lift the items and how many breaks
you can take.
My best guess would be that you could continue your work through your first trimester, but will probably need to find an alternative during your second and third trimesters. Again, please check with your healthcare provider on this issue.
Lisa :)
