Pregnant artists. Comfy positions? Advice?

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

I'm having a little trouble being 6 months pregnant at this point to find comfortable positions and ways to draw while sitting at my desk.

Is there anyone here that can give me a little advice, and maybe share personal experiences for others that may one day be in a similar situation?

Comments

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Not preggers or ever been, but I've seen quite a few pregnant women use exercise balls as chairs to work with posture and such. But these were plan old desk jobs rather than art jobs but it might help?

[everainsley]

I was constantly wishing I had a recliner. I still do, so I can have her with me at the computer, and not in the sling or hanrnesses that wreck my shoulders.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna bookmark these answers in the comments for future reference. >_>

Any possibility that you could start to only take traditional media/pencil sketch commissions? Something that could be done on the couch or even on your back in bed, with the sketchbook propped on pillows or your knees?

I have seen some comparatively inexpensive standing desk solutions online here and there, maybe that would work for short stretches - I know there's a cardboard one that attaches to your existing sitting desk for example.

[koulagirl666.livejournal.com]

I wish I could suggest something but all my answers depend on what kind of uncomfortable you're feeling, and a lot of things are about what feels right for you and what you need.

Some mostly blanket things are - don't go for a standing desk, because standing for long times is bad, especially if you're already dealing with swelling. Putting your feet up on a box might help as well.

Take frequent breaks, and stretch in ways that make you feel better. Some people like arms above the head, some people go arms out to the front; you know your body, so I leave that to you.

Use lumbar support cushions or pillows - what works might change very frequently, so using a stack of old or cheap pillows is fine. If you end up looking like you're slouching but you feel more comfortable and well-supported, that's fine. If you sit on a pillow, that's fine too.

Adjust your workspace to suit you - move your monitor, put your keyboard on your lap, use a wrist support, that sort of thing. Your needs may change here as well, so don't get too attached to one way or another.

You can also use a laptop or tablet lying down, if you need to. You don't have to be stuck with a desk. If you have the room, you can rearrange your desktop to be at ground level, even.

disclaimer: My personal experience is with chronic back pain, not pregnancy.

[amocin.livejournal.com]

What works for me may not work for you, just going to state that first.

Had two kids while arting it up on a weekly basis. I did most of my work in a recliner on my laptop. The most important thing for me was having my feet up, because in the third trimester they swelled up something fierce if I was seated without having them up for too long. Having them up kept the swelling down, and being able to lean back and relax also helped.

If you cant do this, then the best thing I can suggest is taking frequent breaks to sit on your couch or even lay in your bed for a bit with your feet up. Like, take a break every hour to just rest your body in a comfortable position. I know that this can break your concentration but your body needs to come first or you will regret it.

They do make back support pillows for chairs, if you dont have one, they sell them at toys r us, or stores like that.. might be cheaper to get it online on Amazon though. I dont have any brand recommendations.

As somebody already suggested, adjusting to a different workspace may be best if you can manage it. The couch/recliner worked out well for me and I have no complaints about it, leaning back and having my feet up made it a comfortable experience. It may feel weird to draw outside your normal space for a few days, but you will grow comfortable with it in a short time.

[amocin.livejournal.com]

I forgot to add, if you do have a laptop and work on your couch/recliner, be sure to have something to set your laptop down on.. Otherwise you could block the vents to your computer and cause overheating issues... or that heat will blow right onto your legs and darn near burn you. I got a laptop board for like... 10 dollars at Target.. You could use a large book or something.. just a hard flat service to put in between your legs and your laptop.

Also, drink plenty of water... I would get headaches more frequently from staring at the screen and again, feet issues, when I didnt drink enough water.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

Lie upside down. :)

Joking aside I know people have used exercise balls, incredibly comfortable reclining chairs (assemble it right so it won't give out on you like mine does) or hoard all of the blankets and pillows they have into a spot on their couch and go to work.

[mistresswolf.livejournal.com]

I'm not currently pregnant... but I have been... and I currently have a big enough belly that it could be construed that way...

I am very comfy at my desk. I am actually sitting on a broken computer chair... I am very heavy and a few of the wheels snapped off so I removed the rest. I essentially am just balancing on the centre post now. I never use the backrest. It is at a good height for me as well. As I lean up against desk, my breastbone presses up against the edge. My legs are kind of out in front of me. I frequently will stand and stretch. It is nice.

http://i.imgur.com/1D2ISw0.jpg

[kalika-tybera.livejournal.com]

I never truly found a comfortable way to draw when I was third trimester pregnant (my kid was 10 lbs at birth so I was pretty huge at that point, lol).
I mostly worked in a recliner to keep my feet elevated a bit and took frequent breaks. Frequent breaks are VERY important.

[thejackaolf.livejournal.com]

I got a big ass pillow and or stuffed animal, like a folded up body pillow to put between me and the desk something to kinda half lean/lay on while I worked, hell on my neck but I'd take it over my back/hips/sholders and neck.

[aietradaea.livejournal.com]

Get a Table-Mate! https://www.tablemate.com/

I've never been pregnant, but I do often have a cat or a Labrador on my lap while I art - I put the laptop on the table-mate, the legs can slide under the couch if I need to pull it closer, and then I can hold my tablet, balanced in the crook of my arm or resting on the aforementioned sleeping pet. Much more comfy, and no crick in the neck from having the laptop on the arm of the sofa.

[sayuri-complex.livejournal.com]

I used one of these when my back was so bad that using a regular computer chair wasn't really feasible. There's a weight limit of ~40lbs, so you have to mind that, but I used it to help me use my desktop from a recliner. Tower went beside the recliner, monitor and speakers went on the table-mate, and I used a wireless keyboard and mouse.

The table-mate did eventually warp from this situation, since the monitor was a touch too heavy from it, but I wasn't needing the table to be flat, just hold up the monitor, so it worked for the 2-3 years I needed it.

[timelapsedecay.livejournal.com]

YMMV, but I continued to work up until about a week before birth, and my biggest struggle was working around the huge belly. I like to sit close to my desk and had to sit scooted back and turned slightly. It took some adjusting, but eventually I got comfortable. I had to work with this because there was no way to work away from the desk. It helped to have a second monitor, turned toward me at my lopsided angle, lol. The other thing, watch for the feet/ankle swelling! I couldn't even fit in my own shoes because they got so swollen. If you notice swelling, try to keep your feet up, or take frequent breaks to elevate your feet. I kept a tall footstool for this reason. If possible, snag an occasional footrub from your partner, a family member or friend, it really helped me with swelling.
If you're like me and just have to make do with an uncomfortable chair, PILLOWS, PILLOWS, PILLOWS. I ended up puzzle-piecing four pillows onto my chair that really changed things for how uncomfortable it was. Some days I carried my pillow from bed to the desk to make sure I had enough support. Beyond that, take lots of breaks from sitting, drink plenty of water, and remember your snacks. I often had a box of granola bars and a big-ass water bottle right next to my work station.

[lackoflollies.livejournal.com]

Sorry for not replying individually, but thank you all -VERY- much for your responses. IT's definitely helped me make some proper adjustments. I'm probably gonna end up moving my desktop into the living room and use my couch as a sitting area.