Ok I'm gonna finally share...long

[Rozie26]

Ok guys i need some advice. Kim don't make fun of me. lol...anyway i'm sorta in a pickle. The fiance and i broke up and i've had to move and bounce around until i found a place. But the real kicker is two days after we broke up I found out I was preggers. SSSSOOOOO, any of you mobile girls out there work while you were pregnant and ALONE! i hope all goes well with my pregnancy but you can never know. And i am so afraid i'll go under if i have to be on best rest or anything like that. I can go a few weeks with no work but not months. So any advice would be helpful. And all thoughts and prayers welcome.

Thanks.
Rose

[kari]

Congradulations on your baby.I'm sure you will be fine just take it easy.I suggest not trying to do anthing over forty pounds or so by yourself.Maybe even less weight than that.Don't over do yourself and hopefully you will be fine.I worked when I was pregnant in a shop till I was eight and a half months along.You never know everyone is different.It can be done just take it slow and see what happens.

[RoosMom]

I can't tell you I've ever groomed while pregnant- no kids here.lol However, I've known many groomers over the years that continued to work right up to their due date, so don't get stressed about this! Stress will only knock your system down, so don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. :-)
The only differences in grooming for these gals were that they no longer did cats (BIG no-no while pregnant), and they ended up with weight limits on the dogs they could work on towards the end of their pregnancies. Good luck, and congrats!

[goldiphlox]

Pregnant and grooming

Firstly, congrats on you pregnancy. I was not mobile at the time but when i was pregnant (my son is 6 now) I worked up until the day that I was induced. I worked till 3. Went home. Took a shower and went to the hospital to have my baby. They wanted to induce me because they were concerned I had not gained enough weight and they thought my baby was to small. Everything turned out fine. I had a healthy, bouncing baby boy.

It may even be easier for you in a mobile because you can groom less dogs and you get to sit more while traveling. Standing for long hours while you are pregnant is tough. Try to sit to groom. Do not groom any large dogs that you would have to lift by yourself. And most importantly, listen to your body. If you need to rest then rest.

Oh, and by the way after I had my son I took 6 days off and then went back to work. I owned my grooming shop and had no other groomers. That was the hardest part of the whole thing. If you can possibly take a couple of weeks off after you deliver, you should. My midwife was very concerned that I was going back to work so quickly. She said your body really needs more time to recover after you have your baby. She was 100% right about that. I wish you the best of luck and health for you and your baby.

[mustluvdogs1]

Is your family around?

Is your mother alive and near by? I would want to be talking to my mother for support and love, etc. There is no substitute for family that cares at this time or any. Hope you hvae good friends near also....beside us that is.

[sheilabgroomer]

You can do it!

I opened my shop when I was 3 mo pregnant. It was should have been very frightning, but I was young enough to feel that I could do ANYTHING. Apparently I was right...lol.... I was working the day I went into labor.

Just listen to your doctor and most importantly, your body. Take breaks when you need them, don't lift large dogs, stay away from any chemical shampoos or dips.....etc etc. All of my customers were very understanding. I did hire someone, but she only worked 2 days a week. So, yes it can be done!

Congratulations, let us know how things are going and if you need any more info.

[gally22]

Where is the rest of your family? Hopefully, you have support besides an x fiance.

[Pixie]

I started grooming AFTER my baby making years so can't help you much on that. lol

Just want to say congrats and just take it easy. Listen to your body, it will tell you if you're doing too much. As said before don't stress over something that hasn't happened yet.

There are groomers on here that have groomed while preg. and they'll be giving you lots of great advice.

[Mamabearwith2]

CONGRATS!! Your body will be fine with you're already used to. When I was pregnant with my first, I was working in a kennel till I was 8 1/2 months. I was still lifting dogs into the tub probably till I was 6 months along, (I don't reccomend this, just what I was comfortable doing) and doing regular kenmnel duties (walking around on wet cemet in rubber boots with 24 dogs running around me) Again, I'm not trying to be super woman, but I think alot of it was just plain ignorance. Anyway, I felt fine all through out entire pregnancy, except the first and third trimester I was really TIRED!! Also, the smell of dog poop never got me sick, it was always food smells! (yech!)
You should be fine. Just take it easy when you need to. and SLEEP as much as you can! After baby, that'll be history! HA! HA! We'll all send many prayers your way and that will get you through. Keep us updated how you're doing.

[bow_wow_wheels]

Superwoman syndrome here, too LOL!! (AKA Stupid Groomer Syndrome LOL!! ) I worked up until the day I went into labor. Went into labor at 11:45 AM or so, worked until 3:15 PM and left for my 4:00 PM Dr. visit. Told him I was in labor and had my son at 8:19 PM that night and back at work in 3 1/2 weeks. I would have preferred to take more time off but it wasn't possible as my EX was butt-headed jerk about the whole PG thing---well, he was just a butt-headed jerk all the way around but I was young and less wise then. Take the time you need, know your limitations and do what the Dr. says. Your clients will understand---or not. And if not do you really need them?

[diamienono]

I would not worry. I was working in a kennel and training field trial labs daily. I was training a young dog of mine and I had to go into nasty ponds and force fetch train with him. I even picked his 80 lb butt up and tossed him across the room when he attacked my other lab over a lemon. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Do what you are used to doing and you will be fine.

[baddog]

I am 35 weeks preggers and still grooming, I do not groom any dog over 20 lbs. Forget 40lbs, stick to toy breeds from now on!

[Poodlefluff]

I had a similar story with my first child. I worked up untill the due date with my first child. I didn't lift any dog over 40 pounds, but the last doctor told me that you can do what you are used to. If you are used to lifting dogs over 40 pounds he told me I could but if I felt any pains that it was a signal from my body not to do that. With my second I worked up until I went into labor on my day off. I went back to work after 4 weeks because my husband had to have back surgery and one of had to work.

[Angie]

Everyone is right, listen to your body and you'll be fine. I worked up to when I went into the hospital also. Went back to work 3 weeks after. Having the shop here at home made that easy to do. I started back slow then jumped back into things with both my kids.
Good luck and Congrats!

[skc0104]

You'll be fine

I groomed up until the day before I had my baby. Buy a tub ramp, if you can, it will help a lot. And don't be afraid to ask a client to help you lift Hercules into the tub, if they are able they will and most of them will be glad to help. Also, keep plenty of snacks onhand b/c if a normal woman eats for 2, the grooming woman eats for three. LOL. And towards the end, schedule yourself more time to complete a groom b/c you will slow down whether you like it or not. Oh and strap a port-a-potty on the back of the van
It's hard to do this, especially alone, but you will be fine. Everything has a way of working out, just don't stress yourself out too much in the beginning or you won't have the strength to see it through. I wish you the best.
Kelly