Housework during pregnancy: what can be done and what not?

Pregnancy is not a disease and during the weeks before giving birth it is possible to continue with one's commitments, even domestic ones. Here's what to look out for. In many quarters, pregnancy is seen as a strange period, almost as if the woman was suffering from a serious disease for which everything could be a danger. This perception is often supported by a whole series of attentions and precautions, which most of the time translate into pressures, which every woman finds herself experiencing as soon as she discovers she is pregnant.

In this context, attention to household chores during pregnancy is included, which is often the subject of concern for the fear of creating annoyances or problems for the baby. What to do during the weeks of pregnancy? Do you have to completely give up on all kinds of activities, is it enough to reduce the load or, instead, can you do everything as if nothing had happened?

The truth is not in the middle, but not even in one of these extremes; let's find out how to deal with the issue of housework during pregnancy in safety and serenity.

Housework during pregnancy: what can you do (and when)?

There is a general rule that we could use to help understand how to behave in front of household chores: that is, the woman's body dictates the law. So, in general, everything can be done because what the organism cannot do prevents it from doing it. As the weeks go by, every woman witnesses profound changes in the body, especially as regards the increase in the volume of the belly which can affect the ease of movement and balance.

Every woman improves, week by week, the awareness of her own abilities and strengths. On the basis of this self-knowledge he is perfectly capable of recognizing what he can do, when to do it and when, instead, it is better to avoid.

In general, therefore, every domestic activity can be carried out regularly, from washing the floors to filling the dishwasher or washing machine, drying clothes, ironing and storing clothes in the wardrobes and drawers.

Perhaps it will be more difficult to perform the same movements that were carried out more easily before pregnancy, but this does not constitute a limit to not doing them. We always talk about housework during pregnancy, not heavy work duties or extreme activities that can compromise fetal development.

Of course, pregnancy causes important changes on a physical and mental level that must be taken into account, but without the excessive apprehension that every gesture can cause harm to the baby. The female organism is functional to protect the child even while the mother is working, whether she takes care of the house or goes to the workplace (except for those that perform particularly heavy tasks) or, as often happens, whether they do both. .

Pregnancy increases the sense of fatigue and the onset of fatigue and this is an important limit to be taken into consideration and not to be exceeded in order not to subject the body, already engaged in making the baby grow, to excessive effort.

These general guidelines refer, of course, to non-risky pregnancies; in cases in which there is the presence of a specific pathology or particular conditions that may, even slightly, constitute a danger for the woman or the child, it is clear that everything must be reconsidered and also the housework that can be done in pregnancy must be rethought.

In case of doubts, you can always contact your gynecologist and, in the presence of abnormal pain or particularly heavy discomfort, it is advisable to stop and rest and resume only when possible.

What we have just seen in general is expressed in a specific way in the particular of each situation. The annoyances and symptoms that can restrict women from doing housework during pregnancy vary not only from woman to woman, but also from pregnancy to pregnancy. This is to reiterate how every woman knows what she can do and what she doesn't, both in relation to her physical conformation and habits and according to the period in which she is.

In the first few weeks the discomfort can be heavier, but it is only with the passing of the months that the physical changes become more evident and you can have difficulties in the various movements. As mentioned, every pregnancy is a story in itself and there are women who can continue to perform the same tasks until the day before giving birth and women who, without any guilt or cause for shame, suffer more from the changes caused by pregnancy.

Housework in pregnancy: which ones should be avoided

If there are no general rules governing what to do and what not to do in housework during pregnancy, the law of common sense is always the best one to rely on. In this sense it is always preferable to avoid:

• climbing a ladder and putting one's own stability at risk;

• take heavy loads such as boxes or the laundry basket;

• clean the cat's litter box which can be the vehicle for toxoplasmosis;

• make sudden and rapid movements such as standing up when bent over;

These are simple indications that do not prevent you from doing housework during pregnancy, but that focus attention on the major risks that could be encountered.

Housework during pregnancy: some tips

1. The movements and efforts to be avoided

As the weeks go by, the female body is less reactive and with the center of gravity shifted further and further forward, thus constituting a profound change in balance. It is therefore easier to fall and for this reason it is preferable not to move heavy baskets and boxes and to be careful when bending. Especially if you have to lift something heavy. The risk not so much of not making it as it is of causing muscle inflammation is higher and it is therefore important to organize yourself to prevent this type of effort.

2. What posture to take

The physical changes that occur during pregnancy lead to always having a constant attention towards the posture that one assumes. This is because it is natural to put oneself in positions that adapt to the increasing weight of the belly, but this attitude is often associated with the reduction of the strength of the abdominal muscles and a greater risk of back pain that interferes with daily activities.

3. Detergents and chemicals

An often frequent concern for pregnant household chores is the use of detergents and chemicals. The main problem is related to the increased sensitivity of the skin, which may require the use of gloves during cleaning. Even the annoyance that you may have from the smells of chemical products can be particularly annoying, especially at the beginning of pregnancy and in this case you can orient yourself towards ecological products with a more pleasant smell or from considering wearing a mask during the their use.

4. The time it takes

One aspect to consider in managing household chores when you are pregnant is the time it takes to get it done. In this period it also becomes more tiring to stand up, which is why it is good to plan the various chores on the new needs, dividing the various commitments over the course of the days. You can keep doing everything, but sometimes it can take longer.

5. Help and cooperation

The last piece of advice concerns the help of your partner, some family member or friend. With the partner, the management of housework is collaborative as they both contribute to the care of the house. In some situations, however, especially if you are alone at home, perhaps when you are on maternity leave, a valid solution may be to ask for the intervention of a trusted person. It doesn't necessarily have to become a habit, but when you need it, there's no problem with turning to someone who can help out.