There will be many things you need to limit or be unable to do during pregnancy. But should you mow the lawn while pregnant?
Many experts say pregnant women can mow the lawn, even though certain exceptions exist. However, because each pregnancy is different, it is wise to check with your doctor before getting out your lawn mower.
Keep reading to learn more details and helpful tips.
Can You Push Mow While Pregnant?
Pregnant women can push the mower.
In most cases, mowing is considered safe if done carefully. It is even considered to be in your favor if done safely. But, how safe this task is also depends on many factors that affect your pregnancy. So, always remember that it is essential to consult your doctor to get the most accurate advice.
Pushing a lawn mower is an excellent exercise form for pregnant women as it helps to release endorphins in their bodies and helps them gain a healthy weight during pregnancy.
The fact is that using a push mower requires more effort than riding a lawn mower. Hence, it is wise to take care of the physical condition before doing it.
If you feel overheated, lightheaded, achy, or tired, you must stop this activity immediately. Likewise, if you experience unusual discharge or bleeding, you should also stop all activities immediately to see a doctor.
Last but not least, if you want to mow the lawn using a push mower, the best thing is to use one electric mower. The reason is that gas-powered models will release toxic exhaust gas in the fumes.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are considered toxic to pregnant women in particular and all of us in general.
Is It Safe to Ride a Lawn Mower While Pregnant?
It is possible to ride a lawn mower while pregnant.
Riding a lawn mower requires less effort than using a push mower. Therefore, you can safely participate in this activity during pregnancy, even if you’re in the second half of the pregnancy. In addition, it allows you to handle more area than using a push mower.
However, you should be careful and take the same protection as when you cut grass with your push mower.
Stop riding the lawn mower immediately if you feel dizzy, achy, tired, or overwhelmed. In addition, it is recommended that you stay hydrated and take regular breaks. In addition, you should also avoid riding the lawn mower during hot days.
Finally, it is best to avoid participating in this activity if you are at high risk of pregnancy and are advised to stay in bed.
Other Risks
Although mowing the lawn while pregnant is considered safe, there are some risks that you cannot ignore. These risks may or may not occur to you, depending on the circumstances of your pregnancy.
These risks are generally unlikely to significantly affect your or your baby’s health during pregnancy if you are a healthy mother. Yet, you should know about them to avoid any danger.
1. Steep Hills
For example, if the yard is uneven and includes hilly terrain, it is not wise to work in your yard as the rate of falls in this terrain is very high. Falling can cause injuries to both you and the baby. The worst-case scenario is that you will have a miscarriage.
2. The Yard’s Size
Ideally, your lawn area is pretty small, and you can expect to get your mowing done quickly. If your yard is too large, you shouldn’t try to finish the entire lawn area as it can make you tired and exhausted.
3. Wet Grass
Working on wet lawns can increase the chances of slipping while mowing, even if the lawn is relatively flat.
There is no denying that moisture on the grass surface is a disadvantage for mowing. So, you should wait until the lawn is parched before pulling out your lawnmower.
4. Breaks, Cuts, and Fractures
In the past time, many people have suffered fractures, amputations, and broken bones due to broken lawnmowers or misused lawnmowers.
In addition, it can cause significant trauma, which could result in a miscarriage or injury to you and your baby.
Therefore, your lawnmower needs to be thoroughly checked by a trusted tree professional before doing this work. It should be in top working condition. Moreover, it has to provide you with maximum comfort when mowing.
If using a lawnmower is new to you, you shouldn’t get used to it until after the baby is born.
5. Exposure to Allergens
During pregnancy, some women develop new allergies or an increase in the intensity of previous allergies.
Remember that pollen, grass, and other outdoor materials are common allergens. So you should pay special attention to your body’s natural responses when mowing.
If you develop new allergy symptoms or your existing ones worsen, stop everything and see your doctor for advice.
6. Lawn Mower Fumes
Many lawn mowers are designed to operate on gas, releasing carcinogenic fumes. Therefore, if you use one of these models, you can inhale those toxic fumes. They can be damaging to your health and your unborn baby.
So, if you are a pregnant woman, it is wise to utilize electric push mowers to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
Stop mowing and contact your doctor if you utilize a model powered by gas and begin to feel dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous.
7. Dehydration And Overheating
Overheating refers to your body getting too hot, resulting in an inability to cool down in time. It is the leading cause of conditions like heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
You tend to be more susceptible to these conditions if you are pregnant, especially when working on hot days.
In this case, you will often feel dizzy and faint, which can cause you to fall. If this happens, you will most likely face a placental abruption or early-onset labor. These conditions are harmful to both you and your unborn baby.
During pregnancy, you need to drink enough water for many good reasons, including:
- Producing extra blood volume
- Building new tissue
- Flush out waste and toxins
- Forming amniotic fluid
- Help indigestion
- Carry nutrients
In short, it’s essential to use a hat, stay hydrated, and avoid working on hot days.
Tips to Make Mowing the Lawn While Pregnant Safer
While there’s no bulletproof solution to absolutely safe mowing while pregnant, there are tips to keep you safer. These include:
1. Preparing Your Yard Before Mowing
This effort allows your lawn mowing process to go more smoothly, and you don’t have to put in as much effort. Here are some things that can get stuck in your lawnmower:
- Seed pods
- Backyard toys
- Rocks
- Branches and sticks
Branches and sticks often fall from trees to your yard, making mowing more challenging as they can get caught in the blades of your lawnmower.
You can ask a friend to move any pebbles or rocks you find as they could also get stuck in the mower.
Before mowing, you also need to store toys in the backyard, such as balls and other sports equipment, as they can also get stuck in your lawnmower.
2. Dress Properly
Thi factor is essential to protect you from the elements that can negatively affect your health.
It includes wearing appropriate footwear. Work shoes and sneakers are an excellent way to go because they make it easier to walk on the lawn and protect your feet from dirt and bugs.
You should also take advantage of a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to keep the skin safe from the sun and bugs. Wearing a hat and sunglasses is also recommended to protect yourself from the sun.
Last but not least, you should wear high-quality headphones when doing this work. It is essential for people who are sensitive to loud noises that can stress them or their children.
3. Seeking Help or Hiring Someone
If you do not have the skills to do it correctly or the time to spend working on it, it is wise to hire individuals or companies to cut grass for an affordable price.
You can also ask neighbors, family members, or friends to do this for you until you give birth.
How Much Weight Can You Push When Pregnant?
Pregnancy does not mean you have to limit all physical exertion. Instead, you need to exert yourself safely. With that in mind, you might be wondering, “How much weight can a pregnant woman push?”
In general, women should avoid lifting heavy objects while pregnant as it can induce labor. A standard recommendation is not to lift objects heavier than 20 pounds during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Overall, it is ok to cut grass or mow the lawn during pregnancy, as long as you consider various factors and listen to your body’s natural signals. It is best to consult your doctor before participating in any physical activities. Thank you for reading!
