Pressure on the abdomen

[Krystal5]

Is it ok? I know the baby is well protected from a few bumps and jiggles, but what about just a constant pressure?

I have two particular situations in mind- 1. When Evie (my cat) cuddles up on me, and 2. seat belts.

I know my doc warned me when I first got pregnant to put NO PRESSURE on my abdomen, but that was for the OHSS. Still, it's not entirely gone, so I am extra cautious.

Should I just not allow Evie to cuddle on my stomach at all? She can deal with chest / lap if I make her!

And what in the world do we do about seat belts?? It just seems so dangerous to have that thing there!

What do those of you who don't have to worry about OHSS do in relation to pressure on your abdomen? Is it ok? Only to a certain time / weight limit? If so, what?

Thanks.

[AlexL2010]

My seatbelt has been driving me nuts since about 3 months preggo. I usually drive and hold it, because otherwise it tightens.

[CeCe1975]

Cant help ya with the seatbelt issue, I have trouble with that myself. All they say about that is to put the belt below your belly. Well, yeah, ok, that only works if ya have a belly to put it under, lol. As for Evie laying on your belly, I would think it would be ok. Snowy, my spitz, about 14 lbs, likes to lay practically on my belly. Plus, I still lay halfway on my belly at night sometimes or wake up totally on it, and I'm sure thats a heck of a lot more pressure than Evie or Snowy.

Goodness Krystal, almost 16 weeks. Where has the time gone?

[Krystal5]

Originally Posted by AlexL2010

My seatbelt has been driving me nuts since about 3 months preggo. I usually drive and hold it, because otherwise it tightens.

That's the same thing I do!! 'Cause otherwise it drives me bonkers... Glad I'm not the only one that does that!

Originally Posted by CeCe1975

Cant help ya with the seatbelt issue, I have trouble with that myself. All they say about that is to put the belt below your belly. Well, yeah, ok, that only works if ya have a belly to put it under, lol. As for Evie laying on your belly, I would think it would be ok. Snowy, my spitz, about 14 lbs, likes to lay practically on my belly. Plus, I still lay halfway on my belly at night sometimes or wake up totally on it, and I'm sure thats a heck of a lot more pressure than Evie or Snowy.

Goodness Krystal, almost 16 weeks. Where has the time gone?

YES!! That's what I've been told, too. And, yeah, I've got more of a bump than before, but not nearly enough to hold a seat belt down...

Aw, Snowy is a sweetie! That's so cute! Evie's about 12 - 13 lbs, so not much of a difference. Glad to know it's probably ok.

Oh, I know!! And look at you, Momma, 20 weeks!! For DRAGGING as slowly as it is, time sure is flying, isn't it??

[Suja]

From what the doctor said, it's constant pressure that's not good. Seatbelts shouldn't be applying any more pressure than say your jeans, and should be okay. I suppose my Great Dane's head weighs more than your average cat, and I just get her to move it when it gets uncomfortable.

[alhardin]

I have never had any issue with my seatbelt, I just push it down as low as it will go and it doesn't bother me. There is no way that your cat laying on your stomach will hurt the baby. If it makes anyone uncomfortable it will be you, not the baby. It is very well protected by your abdominal wall, then your uterus, then all the amniotic fluid. Don't worry so much girl that baby is fine!

[Krystal5]

Originally Posted by Suja

From what the doctor said, it's constant pressure that's not good. Seatbelts shouldn't be applying any more pressure than say your jeans, and should be okay. I suppose my Great Dane's head weighs more than your average cat, and I just get her to move it when it gets uncomfortable.

Oh, thank you! Ha hah, yeah, my poor kitty just doesn't understand when I move her so soon now a days!

And, aw, how cute! I can just picture your Great Dane's head on your tummy!

Originally Posted by alhardin

I have never had any issue with my seatbelt, I just push it down as low as it will go and it doesn't bother me. There is no way that your cat laying on your stomach will hurt the baby. If it makes anyone uncomfortable it will be you, not the baby. It is very well protected by your abdominal wall, then your uterus, then all the amniotic fluid. Don't worry so much girl that baby is fine!

Ok, ok, I admit, this time I was worried! That movement poll wasn't, though, honest!! And we can blame this on my doc, she really stressed NO PRESSURE with the OHSS, and I just wasn't totally comfortable with changing my cautions with the OHSS still lingering a little bit.

So thanks for reassuring me, everyone!

[Kitty]

I have a Bump Belt for the car, but I've been carrying my 2-year-old on top of my belly lately, and he's about 35 lbs. Its more comfortable than having him on my hip where he digs his knee into my belly.

[ColtsFan1912]

man if it was my cat, Ian, i might worry a wee bit iswear that cat is about 30 lbs lol

[Krystal5]

Originally Posted by Kitty

I have a Bump Belt for the car, but I've been carrying my 2-year-old on top of my belly lately, and he's about 35 lbs. Its more comfortable than having him on my hip where he digs his knee into my belly.

Oh... Bump belt sounds interesting... Mind if I ask where you got it? I Googled it, but it only gave me UK results...?

Originally Posted by ColtsFan1912

man if it was my cat, Ian, i might worry a wee bit iswear that cat is about 30 lbs lol

Aw... That's a big kitty!! What a cutie!

[Contrary]

Originally Posted by Krystal5

Oh... Bump belt sounds interesting... Mind if I ask where you got it? I Googled it, but it only gave me UK results...?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Bump Belt might not be safe. I would imagine you should follow carseat guidelines about not adding or changing anything about a seatbelt. (Yes, I read that it was supposedly tested and didn't change the integrity of the seatbelt, but I also saw the picture they showed of the woman wearing her seatbelt completely improperly, so I think that may just be a sales tactic)

How to wear a seatbelt properly: http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7...3545--,00.html (it should be snug across your hips)

How to wear a seatbelt when pregnant: http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-...gnancy_7239.bc

http://www.askbaby.com/how-to-wear-a...-pregnancy.htm

[Krystal5]

Originally Posted by Contrary

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Bump Belt might not be safe. I would imagine you should follow carseat guidelines about not adding or changing anything about a seatbelt. (Yes, I read that it was supposedly tested and didn't change the integrity of the seatbelt, but I also saw the picture they showed of the woman wearing her seatbelt completely improperly, so I think that may just be a sales tactic)

How to wear a seatbelt properly: http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7...3545--,00.html (it should be snug across your hips)

How to wear a seatbelt when pregnant: http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-...gnancy_7239.bc

http://www.askbaby.com/how-to-wear-a...-pregnancy.htm

But I can't do that!! I've tried. My bump sticks out beyond my hips now, so I can not have the belt go across my hips and not my bump.

BUT, the problem is, my bump isn't big enough to keep the seatbelt down yet, either! I'm sure in a month or two or three it will be fine and I can switch to that method, but until I grow enough, the belt refuses to be anywhere except right across my bump and, I assume, baby...

This is the part I can't do: Fit the lap strap so that it sits as low as possible underneath your bump, lying flat across the tops of your thighs and stretching across your pelvis from hip to hip. No part of the seat belt should sit directly across your bump.

I mean, I guess for now I have no choice but to keep doing it... Which is why I was asking how safe it is!

[alhardin]

Originally Posted by Krystal5

But I can't do that!! I've tried. My bump sticks out beyond my hips now, so I can not have the belt go across my hips and not my bump.

BUT, the problem is, my bump isn't big enough to keep the seatbelt down yet, either! I'm sure in a month or two or three it will be fine and I can switch to that method, but until I grow enough, the belt refuses to be anywhere except right across my bump and, I assume, baby...

This is the part I can't do: Fit the lap strap so that it sits as low as possible underneath your bump, lying flat across the tops of your thighs and stretching across your pelvis from hip to hip. No part of the seat belt should sit directly across your bump.

I mean, I guess for now I have no choice but to keep doing it... Which is why I was asking how safe it is!

This is fine Krystal. Even if you were in an accident, the seatbelt would not get sucked into your stomach far enough to hurt the baby or even you. The baby is very well protected and right now, still tiny so the belt wouldn't hurt anything if you were in an accident. When the baby gets bigger and has less space, your belly will be big enough that you can push the belt down below your belly. I was in an accident with my second baby when I was 8 months pregnant and it didn't hurt her at all.