Can Mowing a Lawn Cause a Miscarriage?

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If you’re pregnant and you’re worried about mowing the lawn, using a leaf blower, or tending to the garden, look no further. There are plenty of things you need to keep in mind while working in the yard, all of which you’ll find in this helpful guide.

Mowing the lawn can cause a miscarriage if you overexert yourself by pushing the mower uphill, using a ride-on mower that’s too bumpy, or if you overheat. Using a lawnmower is almost always safe for pregnant women, but you should talk to your doctor about any concerns.

In this post, we’ll explain whether or not pregnant women should mow the lawn, how a riding mower can impact pregnancy, and what yard work you should avoid to prevent a miscarriage. We’ll also cover a couple of suggestions to make all of these projects easier. Enjoy!

Can a Pregnant Woman Mow the Lawn?

Pregnant women can mow the lawn because it’s a type of exercise. However, pushing a lawnmower too strenuously or mowing the yard when it’s hot outside should be avoided. These activities can make you overheat and increase the chances of harming your pregnancy.

Keep these things in mind when mowing the lawn while pregnant:

  • Do your best to only mow flat grass, not sloped hills. There are countless ways to maintain grass in sloped yards that shouldn’t be performed by a pregnant person. Going uphill and downhill over and over again can put too much stress on your body, so it’s not worth the risk.
  • Mow the lawn early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid causing issues with your pregnancy. Avoid excessively sunny days for yard work. Pushing yourself too hard can have adverse effects, even if it’s what you’re used to when you’re not pregnant.
  • Stay hydrated throughout the lawnmowing session since it can be physically tasking. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after mowing your lawn. Dehydration can lead to miscarriages when mowing the lawn, so keep a water bottle nearby. A little bit of sweating is fine, though.
  • If you feel uncomfortable or start sweating too much, stop mowing and rest. Your body is a natural monitor that will tell you if you’re going too hard. Relax a bit and take it slow. If you’re worried, you can hire a lawn care service to mow the lawn, trim the weeds, and so on.

Most pregnant women can mow the lawn, but if you’re close to the nine-month mark, it’s best to let someone else do it. The less stress you put on yourself while you’re pregnant, the better. Mowing the lawn usually isn’t too strenuous, but you should listen to your body and a medical professional before anything else.

Can a Bumpy Riding Mower Affect Pregnancy?

A bumpy riding mower can affect the pregnancy if it’s making you feel uncomfortable, increases your blood pressure, or causes you to overheat. Riding mowers are bumpier than push mowers, so it’s best to use a push reel mower if possible. They’re manual and don’t have vibrating motors.

According to Trimester Talk, caring for the lawn has plenty of physical benefits for pregnant women. That being said, a ride-on mower doesn’t count as exercise, so there aren’t many benefits. Getting outside is healthy for the most part, though.

If your riding mower is too bumpy or the motor is disruptive, stick with a powered push mower. Powered push lawn mowers are better for pregnant women because they don’t cause overexertion. The motor pulls the machine around while you guide it. It’s the best of both situations.

Using a powered push mower is also good for people with pacemakers. Mowing the lawn with a pacemaker can seem stressful, but there are similar tactics that you should follow in this article.

Is It OK to Do Yard Work While Pregnant?

It’s okay to do yard work while pregnant as long as it’s not too hot, overwhelming, or exhausting. Exercise has been proven to be quite helpful during pregnancy, which is why many women use yard work as an outdoor program. You can mow the lawn, pull the weeds, trim the bushes, and tend to the garden.

Remember this list if you want to do yard work when you’re pregnant:

  • Never use chemicals to treat the weeds while pregnant. Herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides contain harmful chemicals that can be bad for pregnancies. If you’re inclined to treat the lawn, consider using Epsom salts, neem oil, and other natural products to handle the problem.
  • Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many activities, especially when it’s hot outside. Ovuline claims doing too much exercise in direct sunlight is bad for pregnant women. The UV rays can have various detrimental effects, and it’ll likely make you sweat more than you should.
  • Wait until the sun goes down or do the yard work before it rises. As mentioned above, excess sunlight is bad for yard work. Whether or not you’re worried about having a miscarriage while mowing the lawn, it’s always best to perform lawn care routines late in the afternoon. Just make sure you follow common lawnmowing etiquette.
  • Try to avoid doing too many outdoor activities that require a lot of standing and sitting repeatedly. While it’s good to strengthen your legs and back, moving around too much isn’t the greatest thing for pregnant people. You don’t want to disrupt the pregnancy process, especially if you’re too hot outside.

Working out in the yard can be a good way to get a breath of fresh air and stay fit while pregnant. Follow the tips mentioned above and seek professional advice if you’re concerned about any lawn care questions while pregnant. Using electric tools and machines is much healthier than using gas-powered ones.

Wrapping It Up

Now that you know what you should avoid when mowing the lawn while pregnant, you can prevent miscarriages. Mowing the grass is relatively safe and can be quite beneficial since it’s a form of exercise. As long as you don’t push yourself beyond the point of exhaustion, you should be good to go. Again, talk to a doctor beforehand.

Jonah

Jonah loves researching new ways to grow and maintain healthy plants. If he's not writing on one of his many blogs, he's likely playing acoustic guitar, watching survival shows, or mapping routes for future road trips.

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