For a pregnant woman, standing all day is generally safe. Still, it's better if you're able to move around some or take breaks to sit down, especially if you work a physically demanding job.
It is recommended that pregnant women stand for no more than four or five hours while taking frequent breaks throughout the workday. Since pregnant women's feet are prone to swelling, it is more important to listen to your body and give your feet the rest that they need.
Prolonged standing or heavy lifting can cause an increased chance of miscarriage or preterm delivery (premature birth). Changes in a pregnant woman's hormones impact ligaments and joints in the spine to accommodate the developing baby.
Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb the growth of the developing fetus, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Previous research has indicated that long working hours may increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth, stillbirth and low birth-weight.
Many women find that 34-36 weeks of pregnancy is an ideal time to start parental leave. So, if you want to start parental leave at 36 weeks, you need to tell your employer about your plans by the time you're 26 weeks pregnant.
Even in your third trimester of pregnancy, bending is still considered safe for your baby. You'll probably find it becomes increasingly difficult for you, though, if not impossible. Apart from your extra body weight, the size of your belly is increasing.
You can certainly overdo any physical activity during pregnancy, whether it's hyper-extending your joints in a prenatal yoga class or pushing yourself too hard in the lap pool. Even walking too much in pregnancy can incur potential risks, such as shortness of breath, strain and pain.
There is no real prevention for standing, but there are ways to mitigate time spent standing in the workplace. Experts suggest to move around and change positions throughout the day. It is best not to sit in one position for more than 20 minutes, or to stand in one position for more than 8 minutes.
Some research has found that being on your feet for long periods can reduce your baby's growth rate and increase the chances of preterm delivery. If you're already at risk for these conditions, your provider might recommend that you avoid prolonged standing.
A common recommendation is to not lift objects heavier than 20 pounds during pregnancy.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has guidelines for lifting late in pregnancy, but they wrote them for women who lift as part of their job. The AMA recommends that you don't lift anything heavier than 51 pounds in your third trimester, and anything heavier than 31 pounds during your last week of pregnancy.
Normal pregnancy swelling
Throughout the day the extra water tends to gather in the lowest parts of the body, especially if the weather is hot or you have been standing a lot.
Women suffering from symptoms of depression during pregnancy are more likely to sit down for long periods of time in the second trimester, putting them at risk of greater weight gain and contracting gestational diabetes, according to a UK study.
Rest: Make sure you rest your swollen feet by elevating them often to get the blood flowing again. Raise them 8-10 inches above the heart for 10-15 minutes at a time. Sleep on your side and avoid sleeping on your back to improve circulation.
Full term: Your baby is born between 39 weeks, 0 days and 40 weeks, 6 days. Late term: Your baby is born between 41 weeks, 0 days and 41 weeks, 6 days. Postterm: Your baby is born after 42 weeks, 0 days.
The goal is to keep walking for the same number of minutes whenever you feel you can. If you are beginning this program in your third trimester, start by walking 10 to 20 minutes a day, four to six days a week. Be ready to reduce the speed and distance of your walks as your pregnancy progresses.
Maintaining a regular exercise routine, including low-impact cardio like walking, has many benefits throughout pregnancy. But walking can also be used as an exercise to induce labor since it helps with cervical effacement and dilation and allows the baby to drop in the pelvis.
For many pregnant women, getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night becomes more difficult the farther along they are in their pregnancy. There are many physical and emotional obstacles to sleep in this stage. Anxiety about being a mom or about adding to your family can keep you awake.
Sleeping for more than nine hours per night, without disturbance, during pregnancy may be associated with late stillbirth, according to US researchers.
Braxton Hicks contractions are sporadic contractions and relaxation of the uterine muscle. Sometimes, they are referred to as prodromal or “false labor" pains. It is believed they start around 6 weeks gestation but usually are not felt until the second or third trimester of the pregnancy.
These three risk factors make you most likely to have preterm labor and give birth early: You've had a premature baby in the past. You're pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more). You have problems with your uterus or cervix now or you've had them in the past.
It's often recommended that you sleep on your left or right side during pregnancy. However, some experts say it's okay to sleep in whatever position is most comfortable. You can ask your doctor or midwife for their recommendation on sleeping positions to decide what's best for you.