Is It Safe to Use a Massage Chair While Pregnant?
An electric massage is just a chair and pregnant women sit on it all the time, so you might be wondering what the big deal is. There are three main issues associated with using an electric chair during pregnancy.
- The acupressure points could lead to early labor.
- The vibration could harm your body.
- If the chair has a heating feature, it could lead to overheating, which could hurt the baby.
There is no proof to these concerns. There are claims that a massage chair could cause miscarriage or premature labor, but there is no proof.
Let us discuss the potential concerns:
- Vibration: In most cases, the vibration received from a massage is not strong enough to cause any serious harm. Even if the setting is placed in the highest, it might cause no harm to the stomach because you are in a sitting position.
- Acupressure: Also, the pressure received in these chairs is not intense enough to cause labor. Experts say that acupressure labor points require steady pressure, not the type gotten from a chair.
- Heat: In most cases, the heat radiating from a massage chair is mild. However, it is important to be careful of heating during pregnancy. Increase in the body’s temperature during pregnancy could be dangerous to the mother and the baby. This is why things like hot tubs, hot yoga and saunas are not recommended for pregnant women.
Generally, using a massage chair properly does not cause so much harm to a pregnant woman. Using a massage chair on a low setting should be harmless while pregnant. It is important to seek advice from your doctor if you are not sure.
Use only low massage settings and mild heat, especially at the lower part of your back. For example, pregnant women can use heating pads in isolated areas. Women are advised to stop using the chair and drink water if they feel the heat is too much or they are feeling faint.