Heating Pads and Pregnancy

A common question asked by most 'to-be-mothers' is, can pregnant women use heating pads? Most doctors would recommend its use, as long as certain precautions are taken. It is very convenient to use heating pads in this state, as the pain does reduce to a large extent. During pregnancy, one needs to understand the different sorts of pain experienced and why they occur.

Relation Between Heating Pads and Pregnancy
So ladies, let's look into why heating pads are a necessity during a pregnancy and how to use them.

• Electric heating pads that require to be plugged in, should be used with care and with the doctor's prior approval only, as the electromagnetic field emitted by the pads may be unsafe for the fetus.
• The first rule to be kept in mind and followed at all times while using a heating pad is to not place it anywhere near the fetus, which means to not place the heating pad on or near the belly or the pelvic area. The pads should never be used to reduce the soreness felt in the stomach.
• If you do intend to use the heating pad on your back, especially to ease lower back pain during pregnancy then it would be safer to place a pillow between your back and the pads. This will help the heat to seep in and spread evenly without harming or over heating your back.
• These pads are very effective in reducing pain on the neck, shoulders, arms, back, thighs, knees, legs, ankles and feet.
• The temperature can be adjusted to suit your needs on different parts of the body and its use does not increase your overall body temperature.

Types of Pain That Reduce by Using Heating Pads
Let's analyze some of the common pains experienced during pregnancy that leave us aching all over.

• Sciatic Nerve Pain: That is the nerve in your back that causes a lot of pain when it becomes weak with exertion. The Sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body which extends from the lower back, the base of the spine, under the uterus up to the feet. The fetus exerts weight and pressure on this nerve as it grows which causes the nerve to strain under the womb and thus, it swells up causing the severe back pain. One convenient way to relieve yourself of the sciatic nerve pain is to apply the heat from the heating pad on your lower back using a cushion or a fluffy pillow which will absorb the excess heat.
• Groin Pain: The heating pad should never be used to treat cramping or groin pain during pregnancy as this area of the body or anywhere near the stomach and pelvic area are extremely sensitive. This pain occurs because a woman's body undergoes various changes in structure. She gains extra body weight as well as the weight added by the growing fetus, which in turn would naturally exert a lot of pressure and cause hip pain during pregnancy and discomfort in the groin's pelvic muscles and bone. The second cause being hormonal changes that drastically increase the level of estrogen, progesterone and relaxin in the body.
• Muscle-Spasms: You may experience this pain if you carry heavy weights or overexert yourself. Muscular pain subsides after using heating pads and makes you feels better. The muscle spasm usually targets the back and severely restrains the movement of the lower back and hips. As the muscles in your body are already strained and weak from the pregnancy, it is advisable to take as much rest as possible and to keep yourself active through mild yoga, stretches and breathing exercises. Another way it affects pregnant women is when they sleep in the wrong posture. It is better to sleep on you sides as this posture does not put unnecessary weight on your back and provides ample space for you and your baby to rest.

Heating pads are a must have during a pregnancy. Hopefully its benefits will come handy to all you future mommies.