Is it possible for pregnant women to raise their arms high. When is it okay to raise hands? Exercises that are prohibited during pregnancy

03.07.2019

Pregnancy is associated with a large number of prohibitions. However, many of them are unfounded. So, the ban on raising hands up raises many questions. Many are sure that it can lead to a whole list of negative consequences. However, experts are not so radical.

Myths and reality

Women give different reasons why you shouldn't raise your arms during pregnancy. Most of them are myths and omens that have no real basis. The most common misconceptions are:

Childbirth will begin ahead of schedule. Quite often, you can hear a warning that spending a lot of time with your hands behind your head in the third trimester will cause premature birth. However, there is no convincing evidence of this to date. Experts were unable to establish a connection between the contractile ability of the uterus and the arms thrown back behind the head. Another argument in favor of the fact that this statement is erroneous is the fact that all women who postpone pregnancy for more than 40-41 weeks constantly spent time with their hands up in order to provoke the onset of labor.
Umbilical cord entanglement may occur. Some women are sure that when raising their hands up, the umbilical cord changes its position with the child. As a result, not even a single entanglement with it is possible. Statistics show that every third pregnant woman faces a similar situation. However, in only 5% of cases, what happened becomes the cause of intrauterine death of the child or the occurrence of problems during childbirth. The connection with the raising of hands in such a phenomenon has also not been proven. Usually doctors explain the entanglement of the umbilical cord with polyhydramnios or increased fetal mobility. The length of the umbilical cord itself is also important.
The child will change position. It is believed that if a woman raises her arms, the abdominal muscles contract. As a result, the child begins to actively move and change his position. It can take a more problematic lateral position. However, doctors say that the child moves more actively with any physical activity. It is the raising of hands that does not affect what is happening. A narrow pelvis, a large fetus, and polyhydramnios can become the reasons for an incorrect position.
There will be an outpouring of water. A number of women are confident that raising their arms up increases the risk of such a phenomenon. As a result, late miscarriage and premature birth may occur. However, a similar phenomenon is observed due to changes occurring in the cervix. It is they who lead to the leakage of amniotic fluid. However, such changes occur for other reasons. Usually they are provoked by infections. If a woman has a deficiency in the closure function of the cervical canal, it is necessary to limit any physical activity. Raising will be just one of the restrictions.

What actually happens in the body?

A woman rarely just raises her hands during pregnancy. Usually, performing such an action is associated with manual labor. The need to perform manipulations arises when hanging linen, as well as general cleaning. Moreover, a woman is forced not only to raise her hands, but also to throw her head back. This can really lead to a number of unpleasant consequences, the list of which includes:

The emergence of the brain. Due to the fact that, together with raising her hands, a woman is forced to throw her head back, squeezing occurs in the joints passing in the lateral openings of the vertebrae. It is through these vessels that blood enters the cells of the brain. If the blood flow stops even for a second, it can lead to sudden dizziness. A woman in such a situation often loses her balance. This is fraught with a fall and, as a result, injury.
Muscle tension occurs. If a woman is forced to perform such actions on a regular basis, she will be very tired. Constant heavy physical activity can cause complications during pregnancy or its difficult course.
As the abdomen grows, it becomes more difficult for a woman to keep her hands up. The fact is that maintaining balance requires the use of the abdominal muscles. They stretch as the uterus grows. That is why experts still do not recommend raising your hands up at the later stages of bearing a child. In the first and the change is insignificant. Therefore, there is no prohibition on such an action.

Influence on the fetus

During pregnancy, it is forbidden to make sudden movements. This isn't just about raising your hands. However, if the patient performs such an action suddenly and abruptly, a great deal of tension will arise. It can cause premature birth. Particular attention should be paid to the late stages of pregnancy.

The development of oxygen starvation in a child is most dangerous. Experts call this condition. If a woman often raises her arms up and lies in this position for a long time, a violation of blood flow to the uterus may occur. This, in turn, becomes the cause of oxygen starvation. As a result, the following negative consequences may arise:

the chance of miscarriage will increase;
the child may have deviations in mental and mental development;
there may be problems with the postpartum adaptation of the child;
the fruit will slowly grow and develop.

To reduce the chance of negative consequences, experts recommend not raising your hands up during pregnancy, especially in the later stages. However, a complete prohibition on actions is not imposed.

When is it okay to raise hands?

Gynecologists agree that physical exercise during pregnancy can be performed, but only if the woman is feeling well. Yoga and gymnastics classes are acceptable. However, the movement of the hands should be smooth and calm. It is recommended to refuse to raise the limbs up if there is a problem with the attachment of the placenta to the uterus. Easy homework that does not require a lot of effort, as well as a leisurely walk will not only not harm the health and well-being of the child, but will also have a positive effect on his development.

The approximate period before the onset of which you can raise your hands was also revealed. In the future, it is recommended to limit such actions. Experts conducted a study with a group of pregnant women. As a result, it turned out that raising hands in the first trimester is not dangerous. In the second and third trimester, the risk of negative consequences is higher. They are usually associated with the risk of falling due to head tipping and injury. It is not recommended to stand for a long time with arms raised up or to perform actions too abruptly at any time.

It is important to keep exercising during pregnancy. Specialists have developed a special program that does not harm either the mother or the fetus. However, it is recommended to conduct training under the supervision of a professional trainer. Experts do not advise giving up gymnastics, even if it involves raising your arms up, for the following reasons:

At a later date, special gymnastics will help tone the muscles and prepare a woman for the birth of a child.
If a woman leads a sedentary lifestyle, this has a negative impact on health. However, the rule also applies to an overly active lifestyle. For this reason, self-study during pregnancy is not recommended. The fact is that a woman can overdo it and cause stress in the body.
Exercise helps you control your weight. As a result, the woman will not gain more than she needs.

Exercises for pregnant women are developed taking into account the peculiarities of the position in which the woman is.

What actions are really worth giving up?

The process of carrying a child is associated with a lot of superstitions. They often do not have any kind of soil under them. However, there are a number of caveats that are really worth heeding. So, during pregnancy, you cannot sit cross-legged. In this position, the vein is compressed. Their condition during pregnancy is already getting worse. As a result, the risk of fetal oxygen starvation or complications is higher.

Sleeping on your back is also not recommended. The fact is that at a later date, the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, leading to problems with blood circulation. This can cause fetal oxygen deprivation. The best option during the period of bearing a child is sleeping on the side.

The belief that lifting the arms during pregnancy can be detrimental is due to the traditional gestation regime. However, if a woman is engaged in gymnastics, yoga or swimming, expecting a child is not a reason to refuse classes. However, everything should be within reasonable limits.

What physical activity is acceptable?

You cannot exhaust yourself with active physical exercises for 9 months. A woman must maintain the necessary physical shape. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy there are cardinal changes in the functioning of the endocrine system. All this leads to the fact that the elasticity of muscles and tendons changes. The body naturally prepares itself to make childbirth as easy as possible. However, the patient is able to help herself on her own by increasing her stamina reserve. During pregnancy, it is allowed to carry out:

Respiratory gymnastics. During labor, the correct hands and breathing rate can stimulate the contraction of the muscles in the uterus. The required amount of oxygen is supplied to the body. It is recommended to practice breathing exercises regularly. One of the varieties is ordinary singing. By doing it constantly, the patient will feel that the lungs and muscles of the diaphragm begin to strengthen.

Household physical activity. Performing light household work allows you to keep fit. So, the action that is associated with walking, turning, bending and squatting contributes to an easy and quick birth. Such processes strengthen the muscles of the lumbar girdle, giving them endurance and elasticity. However, there are a number of works that are strictly prohibited. This is an action that involves pulling up, jumping, lifting weights and running.

Walking. Walking in the fresh air every day for 30-40 minutes will help improve the general condition of the woman and strengthen the immune system.

Gymnastics. Specially designed exercises will not harm mother and child, will help to maintain physical shape and not gain excess weight.

Doctor's opinion

It is recommended to lead a measured, calm life during pregnancy. With an increase in the term, the volume of the abdomen also increases, which creates additional inconveniences for the woman. The patient becomes more clumsy and clumsy. There is no categorical prohibition on raising hands. However, from the very beginning of the term, it is necessary to monitor so that all movements are smooth. You need to perform any action slowly and calmly. Any abrupt movements of the mother cause discomfort in the baby. The risk of premature birth is increased.

Raising your hands up for a long time is really not recommended. This can lead to overwork and the fall of a woman as a result of a developed brain. It appears as a result of circulatory disorders, which in turn occurs due to squeezing of blood vessels. Most of the prohibitions associated with raising hands up are not based on grounds. However, the implementation of such an action is still recommended to be minimized, so as not to harm yourself and the child.

All women who have been pregnant at least once know how many prohibitions and restrictions this period of life will entail. You will have to change almost everything: diet, sleep and rest. In addition, a woman in an interesting position awaits many prohibitions, some of which can be explained by logical thinking, others not. One of these restrictions is the ban on raising both hands up. Why shouldn't pregnant women raise their hands? Is there even a grain of truth in this? Let's figure it out.

Is it possible for pregnant women to raise their hands: facts and speculation

Why should women “in position” not raise their hands? In this case, there are several caveats.

1. There is an opinion that if the expectant mother will constantly raise her hands and keep them in this position for quite a long time, then the baby may become entangled in her own umbilical cord.

Such a horror story can often be heard from people of age. This opinion appeared a long time ago. The thing is that many years ago, due to the lack of decent living and working conditions, women did all the hard work around their homes. Now it is even difficult to imagine what it would be like to wash a blanket or rug with your hands, and then take out and hang wet clothes outside to dry. It is not surprising that such hard physical labor could lead to various disorders in the development of the fetus, up to miscarriages. In order to somehow protect their beloved daughters, granddaughters and daughters-in-law, women poured such warnings.

What's really going on? You should be aware that this warning has not been confirmed by medical practice. Modern doctors also deny the connection between the entanglement of the umbilical cord and the vertical position of the hands. It turns out that this statement can be called an ordinary superstition or myth.

Note: the umbilical cord entanglement can indeed occur, but this is due only to the excessive activity of the baby in the mother's womb. Usually, such a violation can occur if the umbilical cord is longer than average. Why the umbilical cord turns out to be longer is unknown, therefore it is difficult to answer the expectant mother how to prevent the entanglement of the fetus.

2. If you stand motionless for a long time with your arms upright, blood circulation in the uterus may be impaired.

This statement is actually confirmed by medicine. In turn, impaired blood flow in the uterus can cause fetal hypoxia. Insufficient oxygen supply can be very dangerous for a child:

his physical development may slow down;
the risk of mental and mental disabilities in the future increases;
a newborn child will slowly adapt to a new environment for him;
premature birth and miscarriages occur.

However, in order to harm your baby, you have to stand like this for more than a dozen minutes. It usually takes much less time to hang things up.

3. There is another opinion why pregnant women should not raise their hands. Some argue that this position of the body can disrupt blood circulation in the mother's brain.

As you know, impaired blood circulation in the brain can lead to loss of consciousness. If a pregnant woman faints and no one is around, then such an outcome can have a deplorable effect both on the mother herself and on her unborn child.

4. After the thirtieth week, raising your arms up is dangerous because there may be a risk of premature birth.

The whole problem is that such a very uncomfortable position can lead to the outpouring of amniotic fluid, which can lead to unexpected birth. It is even known that pregnant women, who are already overweighting their babies, often expose their bodies to such loads. Thus, they seek to induce natural childbirth, and not lie in the hospital under IVs. There are cases that after pregnant women at this time began to hang tulle or curtains, they immediately ended up in the long-awaited maternity ward.

So after all, is it possible or not

As you can see, in every statement there is both a grain of truth and fiction. Doctors treat these superstitions extremely ambiguously. It is only known that medical professionals advise to refrain from raising hands up only after the 30th week. The reasons were named above: the risk of hypoxia in the baby, possible fainting and even premature birth.

However, you shouldn't completely avoid all homework either. If your pregnancy is going well, there is no threat of miscarriage, the placenta is in a normal state, the position of the unborn baby is correct, then a small "home" load is not only allowed, but also welcomed. If you constantly and excessively take care of yourself for no apparent reason, then such a "lazy" pastime can lead to blood stagnation.

It is known that special gymnastics can either improve the work of the heart, activate the entire blood flow in general, due to which the child will receive all the nutrients he needs in a timely manner. Don't be afraid of movement! The main thing is not to overdo it. If you want to know more about what can and cannot be done by pregnant women, you can always contact your gynecologist.

Expectation of a child is associated with a number of restrictions in a woman's life: she learns to think not only and not so much about herself as about the future baby. And taking into account the suspiciousness of female nature, prohibitions appear on seemingly completely harmless actions. Of course, there are many myths among them, but there are also well-founded fears. Consider what it is fraught with when a pregnant woman raises her hands up.

Pregnant women should not raise their hands up: myth or reality

It is impossible to reject 100% that pregnant women should not swing their arms upward. This is due to the fact that with a sharp throwing up of hands or a delay in this position, the blood vessels are pinched, which means that the access of oxygen for the baby through the bloodstream is limited, which, in turn, provokes increased fetal activity and thereby increases the risk of entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord. The latter is a threat provoked by the movement of the expectant mother with her hands up.

There is a risk of pinching the blood vessels when the arms are lifted sharply.

Where did the belief come from that you can't raise your hands up

The ban on many physical activities is associated with the belief that some movements, including raising the arms up, can provoke the umbilical cord entwining the baby's neck, which will lead to asphyxiation either in the womb or during childbirth. This, in turn, can cause impaired development of the baby (low weight, threat of physical and mental abnormalities).

The roots of the belief that, by raising her hands up, a woman puts her child at risk of entanglement in the umbilical cord, lie in the distant past. In those days, pregnant women had to carry water in buckets, do hard work in the field and at home, despite their position. And heavy physical exertion of any (!) Nature can provoke complications in the process of carrying a child, including entwining him with an umbilical cord.

A pose with raised arms is just one of the prerequisites for entwining a baby with an umbilical cord.

Reasons for entwining a baby with an umbilical cord

As practice shows, entanglement with the umbilical cord can occur regardless of whether the mother had any physical activity. The objective factors of the umbilical cord entanglement of the fetal neck are as follows:

Why you shouldn't be in a pose with your arms raised for a long time

In addition to the risk of entanglement, there are several other reasons why a protracted position with raised arms is not recommended for pregnant women:

Experts say that you can reduce these risks by being more attentive to yourself and your habits, especially starting from the second trimester, when the danger of harming your baby increases several times.

If there is a threat of an early miscarriage, the ban on the pose with arms raised up begins to operate earlier, from the moment it appears.

Video: permitted and prohibited exercises for pregnant women - consultation from a yoga instructor

Based on the above, it is possible to formulate an unambiguous answer to the question of entanglement of the child in the umbilical cord with a sharp raise of the arms: such a position, especially with a long stay in a pose, will not have a positive effect on the fetus. But this does not at all negate the usefulness of moderate physical activity for expectant mothers, who do not have complications, including when doing gymnastics for pregnant women, doing yoga or hanging clothes in everyday life.

Waiting for a baby brings different restrictions to the life of a woman and her family. Especially the lifestyle changes in the third trimester. At the same time, pregnant women are ready to endure any restrictions, so as not to harm the future baby.

But which of the prohibitions are justified, and which ones have no scientific basis? This article will discuss why you should not raise your hands up during pregnancy. Does this activity really harm the child so much, and why?

One of the most typical answers to the question of why you shouldn't raise your hands during pregnancy sounds like this: the space inside the uterus becomes larger, therefore, taking this opportunity, the baby can turn over, taking the wrong position, or twine around the umbilical cord and suffocate.

Another unusual belief is that raising the arms up will cause birthmarks on the baby's neck.

If raising your arms up is so dangerous, is it possible to correct your hair, stretch, hold on to the top handrail in the tram, hang clothes, take things from the top shelf? What can and cannot be done by pregnant women, according to doctors?

Opinion of doctors

According to medical observations, the umbilical cord is wrapped around too active babies who move a lot inside the uterus. The risk is also increased with a long umbilical cord, but this factor is genetically determined. Another reason for entanglement is hypoxia. When the baby does not have enough oxygen, he begins to actively move, which means that the risk of entanglement in the umbilical cord increases. The stressful state of the mother also leads to high activity, in which the level of adrenaline in the blood rises.

In fact, pregnant women should not stand with their arms raised up for a long time, not because the baby is wrapped in the umbilical cord, and not in order to avoid birthmarks, but for other reasons:

If a woman is in this position for a long time, then this leads to a deterioration in uterine circulation and, accordingly, a lack of oxygen in the fetus.
Due to the fact that blood flows from the upper extremities and the flow of oxygen to the brain decreases, the pregnant woman herself may feel bad, even fainting.
If you sharply raise your hands up for a long time, then this carries the risk of rupture of the amniotic fluid and drainage of water.

A sharp raise of hands is fraught with the threat of falling. This can happen because the center of gravity in pregnant women shifts. And if the expectant mother stood on her toes and pulled up sharply, this can lead to imbalance.

This does not mean that pregnant women should not, for example, hang clothes or take something from the top shelf. Ordinary household loads do not pose any threat to either the mother or the unborn child. But it is better not to lift heavy wet linen (duvet covers, blankets): let someone at home hang it.

Important! All the doctors' restrictions on raising the hands of pregnant women at different times apply only to sudden movements or to stay in a static position for a long time.

Can you raise your arms up during pregnancy? Doctors are convinced that it is possible, if you do it calmly, and not be in such an uncomfortable position for a long time. For example, it includes different types of exercises. But all movements are done smoothly and calmly, and therefore only benefit, improving blood circulation and well-being of the expectant mother.

But another opinion, that pregnant women should not sleep on their backs, has a basis. From the second trimester, the uterus increases significantly, and in the supine position it presses on the inferior vena cava. The blood flow to the mother's heart is disrupted, the pressure drops, and the baby suffers from a lack of oxygen. Therefore, it is better for pregnant women to rest on their sides.

In what cases are restrictions introduced?

Various restrictions are introduced if there are any irregularities in a woman's health or the course of pregnancy itself. Although no one has proven a clear connection between raising limbs and harm to the baby, in contrast, for example, doctors still advise to be careful in such cases:

with hypertonicity of the uterus, when any physical activity can provoke agitation and spasm;
with the threat of premature discharge of amniotic fluid;
in the last weeks before childbirth, when the baby has already taken the correct position in the uterus, abrupt movements of the mother increase the risk of reverse reversal;
care must be taken with such a pathology as placenta previa.

Gymnastics instructors for pregnant women believe that if a woman condemns herself to inactivity throughout the entire period, is afraid of habitual activity, tries to spend most of her time lying down, then even a simple raising of her arms up will become a serious burden for her.

The habits and lifestyle of the expectant mother, of course, must change compared to what they were before the conception of the child. However, doctors never tire of reminding that pregnancy is not a disease, but a normal physiological state of the female body. Therefore, most of the restrictions relate to excesses or bad habits:

do not sunbathe for more than 20 minutes. Yes, and these 20 minutes should not be spent in the direct rays of the bright sun;
high heels are not recommended;
it is worthwhile to postpone a visit to the bathhouse or sauna for the time being;
you can not lift weights more than 3-4 kg, and these kilograms cannot be lifted abruptly or from the wrong position;
you need to watch out for overeating.

Doctors today are loyal even in such a matter as allowing a woman to cheer up with a natural drink, albeit in limited quantities.

What can you

If you cannot sharply reach up or stand in this position for a long time, then what activity is allowed for pregnant women? In order to give birth to a child normally, the mother's body must be hardy, tolerate physical activity well. In preparation for childbirth, special exercises, aqua gymnastics and other types of physical education for pregnant women will help.

A light warm-up can be done at home. It includes: walking in place, half-squats, smooth bends to the right and left, with arms sliding along the body. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate physical activity in your particular case, and systematically train your body.

Respiratory gymnastics is also allowed: chest and abdominal breathing, shallow rapid inhalation and exhalation. The ability to control breathing and breathe correctly helps to supply the fetus with oxygen during pregnancy and the birth itself.

If doctors even allow gymnastics to pregnant women, then all the more there is no need to give up housework and walks. A woman can cook food, wash dishes, sew, wash, lift light objects. That is, when asked whether pregnant women can raise their hands up, doctors firmly answer that it is possible. The main thing is that the woman does not strain too much and feel good.

There are a lot of myths around pregnancy. Watch the video in which the obstetrician-gynecologist talks about the most common misconceptions.

Although pregnancy is not a disease, any physical activity should be moderate. Abrupt movements and movement of weights must be excluded, and the rest should be guided by the advice of your doctor and common sense. What do you think?

What a pregnant woman doesn’t have to hear until she gives birth to her long-awaited child. Either she will be told that it is not worth making up and having a haircut, then she cannot be photographed and find out the gender of the child. There are many signs that do not carry any meaning and are not actually reasoned. But today we're going to talk about the no-raising theory. Indeed, even pregnant women ask themselves this question, fearing harm to the health of the fetus. Is it really so dangerous?

Many expectant mothers have heard that if you raise your hands up in late pregnancy, this can lead to an entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord, which, in turn, is fraught with difficult childbirth or, in general, suffocation and hypoxia for the fetus. We hasten to calm you down. These are all false facts, as raised hands do not affect your unborn child in any way.

The child's ability to become entangled in the umbilical cord depends on genetics. No one can tell how active your fetus will be and how long the umbilical cord will be.

Raising your hands up is harmful only if you are in the last weeks of pregnancy and do it to your detriment. It is not advisable to keep your hands up for a very long time, as this can lead to poor blood flow to the brain and, in rare cases, cause a pregnant woman to faint. And any falls during this period are dangerous.

In addition, a very long stay in the position of arms raised up in late pregnancy can be dangerous early rupture of amniotic fluid. Early childbirth is always dangerous. You shouldn't risk hanging clothes or carpets at 7-9 months of pregnancy.

We draw conclusions:

You can raise your hands up, but infrequently and for a short time, especially in late pregnancy;
Your baby will not get tangled in the umbilical cord if you raise your hands up;

Pregnancy is not a disease, but a gift from God. Live and rejoice in the fact that you have been given the opportunity to become a mother. And stop looking on the Internet for answers to obvious questions =)