If you’re pregnant, you might be concerned about using the infrared sauna.
The infrared sauna is a better option for a healthy and stress-free life. But, for a pregnant woman, it is highly recommended to avoid the use of sauna therapy during pregnancy. The reason is that high temperatures may cause complications or birth defects in a developing fetus. Healthy Line is the best platform which is producing various infrared devices but does not prove helpful for pregnant women.
The thought of enjoying a warm environment produced by a sauna helps to relieve back pain and other pregnancy-related discomforts may sound appealing.
But before taking infrared sauna therapy, you must understand the health risks to you and your baby in the womb.
Why is sauna therapy unsafe during pregnancy?
The use of infrared saunas is generally safe but not recommended during pregnancy. Especially when your health may not be optimal to withstand the high frequency of heat radiation, it would be advisable to avoid sauna therapy until after giving birth to your baby. If you’re looking for more information on far infrared saunas, you can explore options available on the market.
Here are some health risks caused by saunas during pregnancy:
Risk of Hyperthermia
During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the brain and body of the fetus are developing. The core body temperature increases above 39 degrees, while sauna therapy can cause hyperthermia. Studies have shown that there is a high risk of neural tube defects in the developing baby with hyperthermia. This may also lead to heart and oral defects during pregnancy.
Therefore, pregnant women should avoid the use of saunas and other heating therapies during the whole pregnancy period.
Miscarriage or birth defects
The use of infrared saunas is very risky for the expected women. During the first trimester, the internal organs are developing in the fetus. At this stage, birth defects are more likely to occur. After all, it is not for your health but also for the well-being of the baby in your womb.
A study has shown that pregnant women who used heat therapy in the early month of pregnancy were more likely to have miscarriages or birth defects as compared to women who had not used sauna therapy.
Learning and behavioural problems
The defect in brain development may occur if an expected woman uses infrared saunas. A fetus’s brain continues to develop until the end of the pregnancy period. Therefore, it may have a lasting effect on a child’s learning and behaviour while taking therapy sessions at any stage of pregnancy.
Cause gastroschisis
Gastroschisis Is a birth disorder of the abdominal boundary in the developing fetus. In this defect, intestines are extruded outside the baby’s body through a hole next to the belly button. In this case, other organs, such as the liver and stomach, may also be found outside the baby’s belly. This is the result of using heat therapy during nine months of pregnancy.
Oesophagal atresia defect
It is a birth defect in which a baby’s oesophagus is affected while taking prolonged sessions of sauna heat therapy during the early month of pregnancy. In this disorder, the oesophagus does not connect properly with the stomach causing improper transfer of food to the stomach.
Other defects
The use of sauna therapy or other heat therapy during early pregnancy may lead to other birth defects, including a heart problem and cleft lip and palate. This may lead to improper growth of a baby with various health problems.
After reading all the risks of sauna therapy on the health of a pregnant woman and her baby, you will surely think 1000 times before taking a session. But if you cannot resist sauna therapy during pregnancy, first talk to your doctor and take precautionary measures. There are a lot of sauna therapy devices and mats available on Healthy Line to help you avoid stress and pain, which leads you to a healthy and better life.
Hi there
I just finished the article and I am curious about the studies you have mentioned throughout. Do you have links to direct us to the studies or references for these studies? I would
one to read further.
cheers
Pip