Often, talking with a doctor or another mom can relieve these concerns. But one question tends to linger for new and experienced patients alike: Will bumping my belly hurt the baby?
The answer is almost always no. Some abdominal contact is inevitable and typically harmless during pregnancy, from doing daily tasks at work to managing rambunctious toddlers and pets. The rare exceptions usually involve abdominal trauma, such as getting in a car accident.
We’ve put together a run-through of common concerns patients raise, including activities that are generally safe, tips to avoid abdominal trauma, and when to see the doctor.
What should I do when my dog has jumped onto my pregnant belly?
Well, that really depends on a few things. See, if you have one of those little teacup tiny dog critters, then probably nothing. But if your dog is a behemoth, you may want to call the doctor.
In addition to the weight, it’s also the force. Your giant dog may jump up with just his paws while you’re standing and not really exert much pressure on your belly. Or he may jump right in your lap because he thinks he’s still a baby. Chronologically, he may very well be a baby. However, I’ve seen Labradors that are only 10 months old that are enormous.
So, the weight plus the force is what to think about here. You don’t want anything big or small to jump on your belly bump, kick it, or anything like that. This could cause a placental abruption, which I just discussed in this post, so check it out.
And then, there’s another layer to add to this mix of considerations: your trimester. Your uterus is much safer in the first trimester. It is still tucked under that pubic bone, so trauma is much less likely from your dog jumping on you.
But in the second and third trimesters, that kind of impact can hurt the baby. So, if the force of that jump was strong or you even fell over in the process (if you were standing up), you need to contact your doctor to have them check you out.
Generally, if your dog jumps up and puts his paws on you to greet you, you shouldn’t be alarmed if it wasn’t too hard. But if this caused you to topple over, call the doctor.
Can you have a miscarriage from a dog jumping on you?
It technically could cause a miscarriage, though this is unlikely at the beginning of your pregnancy. It’s not impossible, but the odds are in your favor. I’d take this as an opportunity to enroll your dog in training if you can’t seem to get him to obey.
This is important:
The risks get bigger in the second trimester, but things should still be ok. But by the third trimester, the chances of harm to your baby are much more significant. You don’t want to risk the bleeding, pain, or the likelihood of premature delivery, so it’s essential to be extra cautious in the last few months and weeks of pregnancy.
Getting up using your abdominal muscles
If you’re the type who used to jump out of bed first thing in the morning and hit the ground running, you won’t do any harm to your baby with that habit — but you might want to consider a more moderate approach for your own sake.
Repeated abdominal strain during pregnancy can cause or worsen diastasis recti, a common pregnancy and postpartum condition that can be difficult to fully resolve (even with months and months of specialized exercise).
Instead of using your abs to get into a standing position from a prone or seated one, turn onto your side and push off with your arms and legs, or grab onto something — yes, your partner counts — and gently pull yourself up.
FAQ
Can a dog jumping on pregnant belly hurt baby?