Q&A: Can a 9-pound cat lying on my stomach hurt the baby?

by Dr. Marjorie Greenfield

I have a 9-pound cat who loves to lie on my stomach. I am one-month pregnant and would like to know if there is any risk involved.

In the first trimester, your little embryo is tucked inside your pelvic bones, in a muscular container (the uterus) surrounded by amniotic fluid. As the pregnancy moves along, the uterus grows up out of the pelvis, but the baby is still cushioned by the fluid and surrounded by the uterus. This isn’t to say that blunt trauma to the abdomen can’t hurt the baby or the placenta, but if there is going to be a problem, it will be in a situation in which you have significant discomfort. So as long as you don’t let your “little” kitty hurt you, you should be fine.

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