gardening with a bump

[daisymay]

Hi everyone,

Not been about much lately. Been concentrating on growing something a bit more complicated than fruit and veg. Expecting a baby in July!   ;D ;D ;D

Just wondered if those of you who have children managed to get much done on your plots whilst expecting and what I should be careful doing/ not doing etc.. from your experience?

[daisymay]

[manicscousers]

congratulations, daisymay, another plot helper on the way,    I should give the lifting and pushing heavy things about a miss  ;D

[ACE]

Keep your shirt tucked in ;D

[saddad]

Midwife was always telling my OH off for working on the plot, she had one as well!
;D

[Deb P]

Oooh, a question I can answer! :o

I'm a midwife, so (goes into professional mode.... ;D) assuming your pregnancy is uncomplicated, my advice would be keep as active as you feel able, but avoid heavy lifting/pushing wheelbarrows etc; your joints are more mobile in pregnancy, so it is easier to get a back or pelvic injury.

Wear gloves for all tasks, be particularly careful around manure, you want to avoid catching any infections. Don't be tempted to eat produce straight off the plot without washing it first, same reason.

When your bump is bigger, use a low stool (one of those rocking ones looks fun) or squat if it is comfortable when planting out etc, or try hands and knees position, helps get the baby into an anterior position which is the optimum for labour. Do as much or as little as you feel able to, be guided by your body and drink/snack/nap as required! Don't forget to take a phone and your maternity records everywhere with you, just in case! ;D

If you have anything specific you want to know and don't want to post, feel free to PM me! Hope it all goes well! ;D

[MattyJC]

Congrats DM

I shall have to let the OH know its OK to do a bit of weeding on my lottie...she is due end of April!!

Regards

Matt

[lorna]

daisymay. Many congratulations. Just proves how great this site is....you can get brilliant advice on any thing that is asked. ;D ;D

[Mrs Ava]

Oooo lovely!  Congratulations Daisymay.

I'm no professional, but going by my experience, I wore gloves constantly and the other half dealt with all manure related activities.  :-X  I washed veggies and steered clear of all sprays, even organic/friendly ones.  Again, the old boy dealt with those sorts of things.  I found kneeling hard going as I became HUGE as neither of mine liked being suspended in front of me, so I did a lot sat on my bum, so paths were bigger.  Take it easy when you stand up after pottering - I had many a dizzy spell.  I didn't get morning sickness, I got afternoon dizziness - came over as though I had drunk a bottle or red all on my own, so I tried to do stuff out in the morning and save homely gardening for the afternoons.  Always had a snack - ginger biscuits just in case of sickness, and water, well actually, orange barley was my craving and I drank gallons of it.  ;D  Watch where you are walking - you don't wanna go A over T, which I did  :-\, my worst was falling down the stairs in my last month with son number one, just after dad died, all the tension and upset and I wasn't thinking what I was doing, all was okay, but you be warned - WATCH THOSE HOLES!  And enjoy!  You have the best months to be chegs, not to hot, lovely spring sunshine, get out there and feel the warmth on your skin and breath that lovely fresh spring air.  Tell bubba what you are doing, you are after all growing the next generation of gardeners, so give him/her/them a head start!  ;D

[Hex]

Congratulations.

I did a lot of weeding full length on my side in the late stages with number two, much to the amusement of the neighbours.   Get as much as you can done whilst you have the time.............

[rosebud]

Congratulations Daisy, take care now no lifting and pushing anything heavy. All the best.  Rosebud.

[kenkew]

Deb P & EJ.......If I ever get pregnant I'm calling on you... ::)

[Blue Bird]

Congratulations - xx

Agree with Deb B and EJ

sure every thing will be fine just do not over do it!!

[manicscousers]

only one more thing, if it ever gets really hot, keep yourself in the shade,  ;D

[clare]

congrats daisymay!

i'm currently preg with no.2 which is due in May- am still managing to do the odd spot of weeding and plenty of supervising of the heavier jobs!  try not to do too much at once but do try to keep active if poss.  I was down the lottie 2 days before no.1 arrived... admittedly i spent most of this time sitting on a stool supervising but still managed to waddle around a bit a pulled out a few weeds!  i hope to still be working down the lottie right up to no. 2 arrives, though i'd rather not give birth in the shed!!!! 

[daisymay]

Thanks for all your advice... really useful,  and for all your good wishes. Am very excited. my bump is starting to show now, could not get my trousers done up today - thank the lord for safety pins and long jumpers!  ;D

Is encouraging to know I am still going to be able to do quite a bit on the lottie. Our shed end of the plot is quite shady so I can always get in the shade for a rest when needed. I have professional permission to snack and nap as well, like it! I am eating like a horse at the minute and sleeping so much!

Oh no - I was looking forward to getting knee deep in manure  ;) will def. leave that for the OH!  ;D

Does this extend to stuff like blood fish and bone mix or chicken manure pellets? or are these a bit safer??

I am careful to wear gloves as much as possible as we have so many cats round our way anyway, but do find it difficult to sow and pick in gloves, so will make sure I take some disposable gloves down the plot with me as these may be a bit thinner and easier to handle stuff in.

Thanks again, really appreciate it

[Deb P]

Does this extend to stuff like blood fish and bone mix or chicken manure pellets? or are these a bit safer??

A theoretical risk of CJD from bonemeal apparently.....pelleted chicken manure is processed poo, but poo nonetheless! I'd wear gloves as you said for the pellets, be more careful with powdery mixes such as BF&B in case of accidentally inhaling them.

Glad you are feeling so well!  ;D

[Hyacinth]

these days, yes, be careful with BFB, muck etc....disposable latex gloves? I buy packs of 20 from one of the Pound shops....come in a neat dispenser pack with a blue top & don't take ages to get used to them. Top Tip..your hands get sweaty & they stick when you take them off but they're re-usable by puffing in...ahem! Johnson's Baby Powder 8)

My day...things a lot more lax.....keep to a pack of fags a day (fags came in packs of 20), drink what you want - your body will tell you if it doesn't want it, do what you want, garden, decorate and party as much as you want -  and enjoy 8)

Think the 'enjoy' still holds good?

Have a cracking pregnancy Daisy,  and you too,  Clare

xx Lish