Is it ok to mow/ do yardwork while pregnant?

Question

I am only 7wks 4days pregnant, so I don't really see a problem with it yet, but my family jumped my case today for mowing the yard, raking and doing some weed pulling. (BTW, I'm 25, happily married and I live on my own, just FYI)
It was pretty hot today, in the 90's, but I stayed hydrated and used gloves when pulling weeds, making sure to wash really well afterwards to prevent contact with possible toxoplasmosis. They say this is too much for a pregnant woman even if she is only in her first trimester. I plan on hiring someone to do the yardwork for me since my husband is deployed and unable to do it himself, lol, but today was a down to the wire thing. The place I live does yard inspections so I have to have my lawn cut, edged and all the flowerbeds weeded or I get a citation.
I was really tired afterwards, mostly because I was also chasing my toddler around during all this, but it was nothing a nap couldn't fix. So is my family right? Or am I fine as long as I don't feel strained

I don't use any kind of weed killer (hence the fact that I had to weed, LOL) or bug spray. My yard and flowers are all natural. =)

Answer 1

Mowing, light raking are fine. For heavens sakes women all over the world work in the fields while pregnant. Avoid heavy lifting and exposures to chemicals. Perfect about keeping hydrated. Let your body talk to you. As you know, the more exercise you get that strengths the "birthing" muscles, the easier the pregnancy and delivery. If you hire out the gardening, take up bicycle riding or other forms of exercise.

Answer 2

I mowed my lawn (self propelled mower) until I was about 5 days from my due date with both my kids. I was 34 and 36. It depends on how YOU feel, what shape you're in and if your doctor says exercise is okay. If you are having complications.... DUH take it easy. If this is your first child, the first pregnancy is always a timid trip. By the second, you're changing your own tires in the parking lot of Walmart. Since you already have one child, you probably know your body and what to expect this time around.
As long as you are up to it, try it. If you get tired, or start to feel dizzy or get heart palpitations, stop immediately and rest. If the symptoms continue, go to the OBGYN.
Drink LOTS OF WATER ANYTIME YOU WORK OUTSIDE WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT. Dehydration is a BIG PROBLEM when you are pregnant and it can affect the baby (it can directly affect the amounts of amniotic fluid around the baby in as little as a few hours)!!! (boy did I get in trouble on more than one occassion with this one!!!)
Stay away from ALL chemicals. 409, Simple Green, anything.
What I did, was regular lawn mowing and edging, I would hire someone to come around about once a month to check the yard and see what it needed and to do all the shurbs, fertilizing and all the big heavy stuff (mulching the flower beds etc.).
I would also stay away from riding lawn mowers if I were you, the constant bouncing around can cause false(sometimes real) contractions.
Wear good supportive shoes and don't overdo it. Good luck.

PS. What the heck, if you can afford it, go ahead and hire out the lawn stuff and enjoy the time with your toddler, If you do it yourself, invest in a little child size set of tools and have a little helper with you (don't forget the juice and cookies).

Answer 3

Pregnancy is considered a "well" condition. I walked, jogged, and worked two jobs while I was pregnant (my daughter was a late-July baby, so I was out in the heat a lot). What did my OB say? "If you're going to miscarry, you're going to miscarry. Hard work won't cause it if you're healthy" (I was 30 at the time).

However, this question would be best addressed to your obstetrician. You do not mention whether you have any health problems; presumably you are visiting your OB on a regularly-scheduled basis to monitor your pregnancy. Unusual conditions that may develop during pregnacy, such as hypertension, may affect your ability to do this work.

You may wish to speak to the organization/council/group that is responsible for your yard inspections and ask for recommendations regarding someone to hire for yardwork. Also, the family that "jumped your case" may want to help you out instead of scolding you.

Answer 4

Always double check with your doctor, but as long as you aren't doing anything you haven't done before you were pregnant, there shouldn't be a problem. As long as you don't feel any strain, or sudden sharp pains in your abdomen, you should be fine. Your family sounds like they are just being over-protective.

Sounds like being tired is something anyone would be after the day you had. Pulling weeds is not a strenous activity, and neither is mowing. A call to your doctor's office should put everyone's mind at ease.

I've carried two children full term and stayed active with both of them. With the first, I was a supervisor in the warehouse of a factory and often had to pull heavy loads on floor jacks. With the second, I had a rambunctious (sp?) toddler to chase and helped my husband build barns (which he does for a living). Both of my children are happy and healthy and I never had to be put on bed rest for a complicated pregnancy.

Best of luck to you and your expected!

Answer 5

Hello!
Yes it is more than okay to do yardwork while pregnant provided all else is "normal".
As you say, strain is not okay, but we know what feels comfortable for us individually.
Tiredness is a sign we have "done a bit of a workout" and that is a good thing.
Keeping as fit as is possible during pregnancy is great. (I won a basketball grandfinal two weeks before having my eldest daughter...Drs approval to play)
I am now 61 and very fit, have three fit and healthy children and seven fit and healthy grandchildren. (And count my blessings)
I don't think pregnancy is a sickness, but we are making available "accommodation" for someone very precious!...so, no straining :)
All the best with this new addition, as with your toddler!
Simplicity.

Answer 6

If you have always mowed the lawn and did housework around the house, then it should not pose a problem. If your body is already used to doing something prior to pregnancy, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to continue. I have known people who have continued areobics and running while they were pregnant. My advice would be to listen closely to your body's signals. Drink when your thirsty, eat when your hungry and rest when you are tired. Never overdo it, and I think you can continue most any activity during pregnancy.

Answer 7

I think you are ok, today, but for future reference, enlist help. Because of the heat. I remember being 25 and strong. I climbed up a wall to get a cat out between two walls at 6 months pregnant and they all thought I was nuts. I got the cat safely. In retrospect it wasn't a good idea. If I would have fallen, I could have lost the baby, but I didn't fall and when we are young we think we are invincible. Just enlist help in the future.

Answer 8

Common sense will tell you that as long as you feel fine, stay hydrated and don't start using chemicals on your lawn or garden, you will be fine. Yard work can be very therapeutic but be careful not to pile too much on at one time. Consider homeopathic remedies/solutions for problem areas and stick with organic fertilizer like Milorganite.

Blessings...

Answer 9

Well, around the l2th week the placenta will take over, and if you are still doing such 'heavy' work you could have a 'miscarriage'....housework, as long as you are not stretching too much is fine, but leave the yard work for hired help....this year anyway!

Answer 10

You're fine. Pregnancy is not a "delicate" condition nor is it a disease. In fact the causes are well known. Check with your doctor about how much exercise you need.