Are Vibrating Massagers Safe During Pregnancy?

Having a child grow inside of your body can be an emotional rollercoaster. It is very common to suffer from body ache along with other symptoms like back pain, swelling, ruined sleep cycle, stress, depression, etc. during pregnancy.

Therefore, it is important to try and find some comfort and peace which most women try to get from using vibrating massagers. So, the main question is, is using a vibrating massager safe during pregnancy?

Generally, the answer to this question is yes – vibrating massagers have proven to be very beneficial during pregnancy as it eases the anxiety and stiffness pregnant women deal with.

But it is important to consult a specialist beforehand as sometimes it can trigger premature labor and cause other severe problems as well. So, in order to secure yourself and your baby, it is important to follow some particular guidelines.

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Recommendation Summary:

Vibrating Massagers:
Neck – Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager by Nekteck
Back / Arms – Zyllion Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager
Cordless Wand – Handheld Back and Body Massager by Mighty Bliss

Alternatives to Vibrating Massagers:
Back – Body Back Buddy Elite (Upgraded 2021 Version) by Body Back Store
Head / Scalp – Massager / Shampoo Brush by EUHOME

We recommend you to go through this article so that you can understand how vibrating massagers can benefit you during this tough time and also the guidelines that are needed to be followed for the safety of you and your baby. We are also going to provide you with some alternatives in case you don’t find vibrating massagers safe after going through this article.

Why Is a Massager Needed During Pregnancy?

As we have mentioned earlier, massagers become an important part of a pregnant woman\’s life as it provides her with the comfort she requires. There are many reasons to why a woman needs massagers during pregnancy. The most common reasons are-

• Massagers decrease swelling
• They decrease depression
• Helps to reduce stress
• Enhances sleep
• Decreases the tension in muscles
• Helps to achieve smooth delivery
• Helps to keep hormones regulated
• Improves back pain
• Decreases pain during delivery
• Reduces swelling and inflammation

Is It Safe To Use A Vibrating Massage Chair During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a vibrating massage chair is perfectly safe to use. Because of the fear that stimulating pressure points on the back might induce early labor, some massage chair producers suggest pregnant women should not use their products. There has not been any research around this, though.

Your baby is protected by a number of layers of muscle and amniotic fluid. Whether you\’re getting a normal massage or using a massage chair, there isn\’t much difference really, and there isn\’t any evidence that electromagnetic fields produced by these chairs are harmful to you or your child either.

A vibrating massage chair can be just as effective and more comfortable than a vibrating massager. However, it is important to extend the same precautionary measures when using vibrating chairs during pregnancy.

Instructions for Using Vibrating Massagers

Pregnancy is generally counted as 40 weeks and the weeks are divided into three trimesters. The first trimester is the most delicate time for a pregnant woman as during this time there is a high possibility of miscarriage if she does not follow certain guidelines.

Some specialists suggest not to use any vibrating massagers during this time. Though research shows that vibrating massagers can be used during any time during pregnancy.

But to be on the safe side, we recommend not to use vibrating massagers in the first 12 weeks as there are some pressure points that may cause contractions. As vibrating massagers go for blood circulation it is important to talk to a specialist beforehand if the pregnant woman has any recent injuries, high blood pressure, or heart disease.

There are different vibrating massagers available in the market. It’s better to have the knowledge for some common massager that most of the time we want to use during pregnancy.

Benefits and Side Effects of Different Vibrating Massagers

Nowadays there are a variety of vibrating massagers available. During pregnancy, it is important to do proper research on the benefits and side effects of each vibrating massager. So, we are going to evaluate the most commonly used massagers one by one:

Vibrating Massage Chair: It is very effective during pregnancy. It provides ease and comfort from back pain as well as leg pain by circulating blood in the upper body. But some suggest not to use it during pregnancy as they suspect it causes premature labor. But there isn’t any proof to back up this logic.

Though massage chairs are safe and useful, it is important to consult your doctor before using it if you have the below-mentioned problems-

• Severe headache
• Obesity
• Preeclampsia
• History of miscarriage
• High-risk pregnancy
• Extreme swelling

Vibrating Neck Massager: Carrying a baby for straight nine-months can be very stressful. But it is essential for the well-being of the mother and the baby to stay relaxed and stress-free. A vibrating neck massager can bestow you with a stress-free time. And it is also considered to be a very safe massaging technique.

Vibrating neck massagers are manufactured in different ways. There are some neck massagers with long handles that can be used to massage other body parts as well. But it is important to make sure that these massagers are not being used on the lower back or lower leg of a pregnant woman as it can sometimes be dangerous.

Vibrating Back Massager: Vibrating back massagers provide pregnant women with great relief. But it is important to talk to a doctor before using it and to know the accurate intensity of vibration. Because intense vibration may cause premature delivery in which case sometimes saving the baby becomes difficult. So, it is a perfectly safe massager if the intensity is controlled according to the doctor\’s suggestion.

Must Avoid Areas During Pregnancy

For the safety of both the mother and the baby, it is very important to avoid certain parts of the body while using vibrating massagers. Because during pregnancy, the body changes a lot, and certain pressure points may cause severe problems.

• A pregnant woman should not massage her lower legs as the circulation of her body changes during this time.
• She should avoid massaging calf muscles as it may remove any formed clots to the lungs which can be life-threatening.
• It is also not a good idea to massage the tummy area with any vibrating massagers as it may cause tissue damage. Though gentle strokes with the hands are okay.
• Massaging lower-back with any vibrating massagers should also be avoided as it may cause severe issues during pregnancy.

Alternatives to Vibrating Massagers

Though vibrating massagers are mostly safe, there are also some restrictions. So, we are providing you with other options to help you relax during the time of pregnancy-

• Yoga is an effective way of achieving peace and comfort in different parts of the body. A pregnant woman can follow this method to find ease.
• As traditional massage therapies are risk-free, it can also be a safe way to find comfort for both mother and the baby.
• Light exercises can also help to get the blood circulation flowing. It can be done easily using different types of home equipment and there are also some videos that can be followed during pregnancy.
• A pregnant woman can also get acupuncture sessions to help her. The right pressure points can be beneficial for her and the baby to ease up.
• She can also go visit a chiropractor as they use different techniques to heal the pregnant body.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a time that leaves a woman feeling exhausted, delighted, anxious, excited, forgetful, all at once. It not only impacts mental health but also has an impact on physical health.

This is why it is important and very common to try and search for some peace and comfort. During this time as the whole body may sometimes ache, women tend to use different vibrating massagers to help themselves ease up.

So, are vibrating massagers safe during pregnancy? Yes, of course. As long as proper precaution is taken, vibrating massagers are completely safe.

We have given you pieces of information on different vibrating massagers available, and their benefits and side effects. We have also tried to provide you with guidelines and alternatives in case you don’t feel it’s safe.

We hope that this article has helped you find the answers you were looking for and also wish you an uncomplicated and trouble-free pregnancy.