Reaching Too High While Pregnant: The Risks & Safety Tips

Being pregnant can make you feel like a fragile little butterfly. You once got on with tasks whether it was carrying groceries to reaching for the flour on the top shelf of the pantry. As we begin to consider the safety and risks of doing certain tasks it may alert us to whether reaching too high while pregnant can harm us or our baby.

Can Reaching Too High While Pregnant Cause Harm?

Urban legend once said that reaching high during pregnancy puts your baby at risk of getting entangled in the umbilical cord. Fortunately, there is no real proof of this however reaching during pregnancy can put pressure on your abdominal wall meaning subjecting yourself to diastasis recti. You may also subject yourself to muscle strain or exacerbate an underlying condition causing spotting or preterm labor.

Pregnancy and Your Body

As you progress through pregnancy your body is changing rapidly. Many women take their pregnancies as a way to slow down a bit whilst others keep going until they physically cannot.

I was both of these women. During my first pregnancy I was terrified of even breathing too fast yet in my second we were in the midst of moving house so I was getting on with as much DIY as my body could handle.

Needless to say, safety precautions when lifting and reaching during pregnancy are there for very real reasons and we aim to help you gain a better understanding of what limitations you should consider whilst being pregnant.

Is Reaching Safe During Pregnancy?

Reaching during pregnancy isn’t thought to be harmful itself yet you should take some caution whilst completing your normal routine. As your bump expands your center of gravity shifts meaning reaching up high or low can increase the risk of falling and hurting yourself or straining your abdomen.

My mom in law once told me I shouldn’t be reaching to peg out the laundry because there’s a risk my baby can get tangled in the umbilical cord. At first, I dismissed this piece of information but later found myself researching to see if there was any proof.

According to Dr. Michele Hakakha, around 25-40% of babies can be born with the umbilical cord around their neck and there’s nothing that has been found to prevent it from happening therefore it is clear that stretching has no bearing on the risk of your baby becoming tangled in the womb.

Exercise During Pregnancy

We know that being pregnant doesn’t mean you are ill but it does mean that certain things should be done with caution.

Exercising during pregnancy is a great way to stay fit and healthy but if your routine involves reaching too high while pregnant or heavy lifting then take care.

Yoga and light exercise is often recommended in low-risk pregnancies. Swimming is my all-time favorite. You have the support from the water and it’s probably the only time during pregnancy you feel weightless!

Starting a class that involves reaching high while pregnant should be completed only when the instructor is antenatally trained. So many moms to be love to keep moving during pregnancy but this should be done under a watchful eye.

As mentioned your center of gravity has shifted but not only this your body is working at hyperspeed helping your baby develop. Increased blood flow plus extra weight can lead to dizziness and the risk of having accidents can become greater so you must take care.

Diastasis Recti

The other reason you should be aware of stretching too much in pregnancy is Diastasis Recti.

Your abdominal muscles are already stretching thin and many moms find that they suffer the consequences of this condition post-natally. Your abdominal muscles can tear during birth leaving your abdominal organs space to protrude not to mention how painful it can be.

Stretching during pregnancy can make this matter worse. In fact, according to Healthline carrying heavy loads or completing any strenuous exercise are things you should avoid both during pregnancy and until after your stomach has healed.

Lifting In Pregnancy

We have addressed ‘is reaching high bad during pregnancy?’ But when we reach it can be to lift an object or to move items. Without thinking we try to keep our routines as normal as possible but in real terms, you need to be aware of the risks involved when lifting during pregnancy.

Risks

The American Pregnancy Association (APP) states that whether you should be lifting or not is a decision that needs to be made by your doctor. Manual workers find themselves having to undertake different duties whilst at work so it could be a good idea to ask your boss what the protocol is in your workplace.

It isn’t recommended that you undertake any heavy lifting but if it is inevitable, maybe you have a toddler at home or overindulged in the grocery store, you should lift with caution!

Lifting and reaching can put undue strain and pressure on your abdominal wall leaving you more at risk of injury. If you find that you have no alternative option then check out how to lift safely whilst pregnant.

Techniques

Lifting should always start at the knees whether pregnant or not but it is super important to practice safe lifting to ensure you aren’t putting yourself under any unnecessary strain.

Take a look at the points below:

With feet firmly flat and shoulder width apart, bend your knees.
Lift the object with care and ensure your spine is straight.
Power the lift with your legs, not your core.

Practicing these techniques will help but if you can avoid it then this is the better option.

Don’t Over Do It

I feel we have identified the answer to Can you reach up when pregnant? Whilst it isn’t really harmful to your baby you should take your time to protect yourself from injury. Let’s be honest you really don’t need any extra strains or pulls whilst you are growing a human.

Seek help from others if at the grocery store or from friends and family. If you have a little one who wants a cuddle opt to sit where they can snuggle you on your lap rather than lifting and carrying.

There will be times when you have to reach but remember your body is doing so much as it is so don’t push your own physical boundaries.

Physical Limitations During Pregnancy

It is obvious that you will feel the power of pregnancy as you grow. The second and third trimesters are typically the moments when you realize you are limited in what you can and cannot do.

Reaching up while pregnant may not seem to pose any great risks at first but it’s not until after you pull a muscle or reach for something that is a little too high that you will realize you have injured yourself.

You need to be aware of your own limitations. Being strong willed unfortunately isn’t enough with the physical demands of being pregnant. If you can’t do something then stop trying and get help or wait until someone can do it for you.

Being stubborn is one of my less desirable traits and if I know something has to be done I find it infuriating to wait. This nature was more frustrating to me whilst pregnant. Even though I knew my body was under pressure I continued to push and stretch to reach with a paintbrush (we were moving home on my second) it wasn’t until the evening that my body decided to reprimand me!

Consulting A Professional

If you are unsure about the safety of completing a task be it at work or at home it is always better to ask for advice from a professional who knows you. Each pregnancy is different and it is best to get expert advice.

Make yourself familiar with work protocols and whether your duties need to be addressed for the time being. Stretching or reaching to lift or move any objects can pose a greater risk whilst you are pregnant.

If you feel like you overdid it carrying the groceries or reaching for towels then give your doctor a call. You are their priority whilst under their care so best to get checked out even if you feel silly.

Wrapping Up

Reaching too high while pregnant doesn’t directly pose any danger to your baby but you need to make sure that you are not pushing your body to extremes.

Over doing certain exercises or not taking a break from your routine can leave you feeling even more drained and your body will repay you in the form of delayed aches and strains.

If your pregnancy is classed as high risk then exercises including stretching can heighten the risk of preterm labor so you must be cautious if this is you.

Generally speaking, being pregnant can get you out of mundane chores like carrying groceries or carrying heavy loads of laundry so if something is out of reach wait until you can ask for help. No need to stress yourself or your body out.