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There's a weight limit? Surely toddlers don't count since they kind of support themselves anyway.

@locavore_mama: I was told 20 lbs! I was a nanny when I was pg so I ended up having to go on maternity leave early. I was still lifting the toddler until 30 weeks, but I know I wasn't supposed to. I was very careful, such as trying to limit holding them to sitting down.

Okay so I had no idea the rule was 20 or 25 lbs…? The doc never said anything to me! I always thought it was 30 or 40 lbs. I'm not a mom yet but my dog weighs 27 lbs and I think nothing of picking him up all the time (although granted-- I'm not carrying him around as much as I'm sure a mom with a toddler is!). 27 lbs doesn't feel heavy to me though. I'm 30 weeks now and still doing it with no issues..

I'm not pregnant, nor do I have a toddler, but I wanted to chime in anyway based on my experience.

This is a really old fashioned, outdated rule! I lifted heavy weights my whole pregnancy (100 lbs +). My doctor was a little wary at first but then she pulled journal articles on the topic and discovered that the research shows it's totally fine (obviously different rules apply in high-risk cases). The only thing to avoid is th valsalva maneuver (i.e. holding your breath while lifting things). My midwife was 100% on board as well. Plus, your body is already used to lifting your toddler...it's not like it's a new strain for you.

LO is 19 months and almost 30 lbs... I asked my OB about it at my last appt (I had totally forgotten about it until then) and he said to not worry about it. Essentially, "It's not like you can avoid it!"

DD is 24.5 lbs and I still carry her. It's getting harder, but she still needs me. I asked my doctor about how it will work post-partum (since they say not to lift more than the baby), and he said there is nothing wrong with lifting/carrying her, so that made me feel a lot better - there was no way I could go 6 weeks without picking her up!!

My 26 month old weighs 34 lbs. I have limited picking him up to when absolutely necessary; in and out of crib, changing table for poopy diapers, and the occasion when he won't move in the direction I need him to move. I have added a lot of step stools to avoid lifting for hand washing, closing the garage door, assisted help into the bath tub, etc. I also encourage him to climb in and out of the car and car seat on his own. Sometimes he does not cooperate and I do have to lift him into the car seat though. He is generally an independent child, so he likes to do things on his own. I expect this will also come in handy post partum.

I baby wore my toddler (16 months) until my belly was really in the way. I was 7.5 months pregnant when I really stopped carrying him. I still lifted him and carried him down the stairs until the end tho. I did go into labor early but it wasn't because I carried my toddler. I am just special I guess. My doctor saw no harm in me carrying my toddler because I was already used to carrying him.

@lemondrop: ahhh, during my third trimester with my second, everytime I lifted DS into a shopping cart I was SURE I could feel the baby move down south!! It was frightening!

@lemondrop: haha! I'm so excited for you

I'm still carrying DD who I think is on the high 20s for weight ( 2 yr appt Friday!). I will have to ask my OB but its not straining and I pass her to my husband when I'm tired or I make her walk. I don't think I can completely avoid carrying her though - I love holding her!

I lift my 17 month old who is about 31 pounds. When I asked my ob about she said it was fine because I have to do it. Now at 27 weeks I can't hold him for long but I still lift him. She said to watch out for kicks. That was more of a concern to her.