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Ok, it's beyond freezing at the moment in Canberra.... Minus 6 when I woke up this morning...
So my question is... Is it unsafe to use an electric blanket during pregnancy? I have read in one of my books and online that it is; that the electrical current may be harmful to your baby, but a physiotherapist at a pre-natal class tonight didn't have an issue with it?!?!?!
Now I am so confused... DH is super cranky, poor thing is freezing because I won't let him use it...
Does anyone know???
I remember seeing on "What's good for you" that you shouldn't use one when pg.
I asked DH (he was an eletrician in a past life) and he said that he reckons it's only that you can't lie on it when it's on. You can turn it on to warm up the bed, but then turn it off before you get in. It's to do with the magnetic field in the current. When it's off there's no current so it's OK.
Not 100% sure. I will read up a bit - maybe someone else knows for certain. Better to be safe than sorry, aye!
Jo
I have used one to warm up the bed, but turn it off when I get in. That's mainly because I don't want to overheat bub - I hadn't heard anything about electrical current?!
Hi,
I know we can't post links so try this out...
Surely in short bursts it wouldn't matter. Like if you switched it on (lowest setting) for half an hour if you wake up freezing in the middle of the night. That being said, I can't stand being too hot in bed, so I use mine to warm the sheets before I get in then it goes off.
haha I had one of those mothers who would never let you get into bed with it on! I think you shoudl always turn it off before you get in. Just incase you fall asleep. I haven't heard whether it is bad for bub or not but I wouldn't take a chance! Ask your OB. I would be more concerned about hydration levels. I think it's really important to stay properly hydrated when pg and even if it doesn't feel too warm it does dehydrate you.
I have always heard that it's fine to turn it on to heat your bed up, but don't sleep with it on. I don't know the reasoning behind it, but that's what I've heard too.
I have mine on the highest setting and then when i get in to bed it goes on to the lowest. My midwife has said thats fine... but must be on the lowest setting cos a rise in temp can cause prem. labour
i am paranoid about elec bankets - even now that i am in FREEZING canberra! but i have never used them since a kid as i am too worried about fires etc. just a me thing....
i use hot water bottles and wheat packs instead. can put them in the bed before you get in to warm them up. oh an flannel sheets are my best friends!!!
I put mine on the highest setting a couple of hours before I go to bed and then turn it off when I get in. I hate getting into a freezing bed lol.
hi. i read that the blankets can cause some radiation, but my GP said she never heard of that and she's pg and no way she's sleeping without the blankie.
you're supposed to turn it on and then turn off when you get into bed, but it still gets so cold at night that sometimes i turn it up a little. i set it to 1 when I climb in. My GP said the main concern is really overheating your body and that could harm the bub, cos we can sweat it out but poor bubba can't.
Having said that, the book i read about electric blankets was over 10 years ago, and I'm hoping technology has improved since then! :D
I have a question kind of related - i have a heated water bed... so is it the heat that is bad (from an electric blanket or heated water bed) or is it something specific to do with an electric blanket?
Lol, sorry, just very curious and wanting to do all things right for our first try this cycle!!!
alisia - from what i have read, yes, heated water bed isnt very good, nor are spas if you are pg. but not sure if you're TTC.
Hmmmm, well I'm just getting a bit nervous about the things I can and can't do, just in case we are first time lucky and I get pregnant this try, never knew a heated water bed was one of the don'ts when pregnant!!!!!
It's freezing in Melbourne too and I've read that you shouldn't use the electric blanket when your pregnant so I put mine on to warm up the bed and then turn it off when I hop in. That way I'm warm and my precious cargo is OK!
Thanx for your help ladies...
I have spoken to my Dr, and she said that overheating your body (and bubs) is the main issue with electric blankets. I do turn it on before I get into bed and turn it off when I am getting in but it's freezing here. We've put another blanket on the bed and that seems to help. I know I did read somewhere about the radiation or magnetic fields (or something!!) but can't remember where... and every professional you speak to, says something different! :wall:
Hopefully the weather will warm up here soon and it won't be an issue :)
Cheers!
There are two issues with using electric blankets during pregnancy.
The first is overheating - quite self explainatory I should think.
The second is electromagnetic fields that eminate from them. Some studies have found that electromagnetic fields may contribute to cancer, memory loss, miscarriage or impaired fetal development. It's certainly not a risk I would be willing to take.
I don't have an electric blanket anymore as I have read so many bad reports about the EFs eminating from them and I just think it's one thing I can easily do without. That said though I think I am probably still surrounded by them coming out of all the other electrical products around me.
The above theory rings true for me as my parents have always slept with their electric blanket on and both now have cancer & my dad now has a terrible memory.