Can you use a heating pad on your lower back during your first trimester of pregnancy?

Question

I have a bad back to begin with. I'm only about 6 weeks along, and today, my lower back is killing me. I've heard you can't use heat during pregnacy because heat increases blood flow to the area you're heating, and therefore takes the blood flow away from the developing baby. Is this true, or is this true for for the early stages of pregnancy?

Answer 1

I am 16 weeks along and have a terrible back and the doctor told me that heat was fine if it worked. But you know the best thing in the world that they told me to try is a frozen bag of peas or corn. The heat opens up the blood vessels which sometimes can cause more pain and the cold constricts the vessels. I even have trouble with siatica and the cold is great on it. The cold compress idea works great on the back of your neck when you have a headache too. Especially since we are limited on what medicines we can take, and I have migraines. But if you are going to use heat I would only use it for 10-15 minutes at a time so you don't get too hot, and you can also take WARM baths (not hot ones) if you like that sort of thing, but not bubble baths. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Please take everyone's advice her lightly. I would strongly suggest asking this question directly to a medical professional. There are hotlines available if you do not have a physician yet. Although you should have a physician that is monitoring you throughout your pregnancy. If you call the doctor's office they will let you know the after hours hotline to call if you have an emergency. And this would be considered an emergency in my opinion because it is a question directly related to the health of your unborn child. Also, research some medical sites about pregancy, google some searches with your answers also. Medical websites are usually accurate also, since they are monitored and answered by actual health care workers. . .

Answer 3

No! Absolutly no heating pads or baths. Overheating (specialy in the first trimester) can cause birth defects.

Answer 4

PLEASE have a checkup with a chiropractor. I went through two entire pregnancies with horrible lower back pain without relief. Later, I saw a chiropractor for 2 minutes, cost 29 dollars, and with a soft manipulation of my spine, all went back in place as it should be and years of unneccesary pain were over with.

Answer 5

NOOO! My infertility doctor when we found out that I was preg. she told me the heat in NT good on the baby in your first trimester! CONGRATS

Answer 6

you can but for no more than 5-10 minutes just because when you get hot, the baby gets hot. same with hot baths no longer than ten min.

Answer 7

No don't use heat. You can take a warm bath but don't use a heating pad.

Answer 8

NOT SURE ABOUT FIRST TRIMESTER BUT I AM 9MTHS AND THE DOCTOR SAID I COULD USE ONE SO DONT THINK IT WOULD HURT IF UR IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER

Answer 9

yikes. I'd check with your ob/gyn on that one. it sounds safe to me but I'm no doctor.

Answer 10

as long as u dont leave it on too long u shoudl be ok