Can you use Icy Hot while pregnant? + 10 other
Most women suffer from uncomfortable aches and pains during pregnancy, particularly in the back, and many women may struggle to find a method that relieves some of their discomfort.
When you are pregnant, there are a lot of things to consider. One thing to consider is about your belly button piercing and what will happen after pregnancy. You can find out here: belly button piercing after pregnancy.
What is Icy Hot?
Icy Hot is a highly popular and effective product used for soothing aching muscles. It works by causing the skin to feel cool then suddenly warmer which stimulates the skin’s nerve receptors to block pain signals to the brain. This therefore tricks you into thinking the pain has vanished.
The product comes in a few different forms such as balms, creams, ointments etc but not all formulations have a similar ingredients list, so the following advice applies to all.
There has been very little research into the exact effects that Icy Hot can have on a pregnancy so due to the uncertainty, we advise you to avoid this particular treatment.
What’s in it?
To cause the hot and cold sensations in the skin, active ingredients such as wintergreen oil and methyl salicylate are used.
These ingredients have similar qualities to aspirin and will have the same effect on your baby due to them being absorbed into the bloodstream. Like aspirin, high, regular dosages can increase your chance of having a miscarriage in the first trimester and risk your baby having birth defects up to the third trimester.
Other Risks of using Icy Hot while pregnant
Not only are the chances of miscarriage and birth defects increased, but there are also several other adverse effects the Icy Hot can have on your baby.
While the active ingredients stimulate your skin’s nerve receptors to feel those ‘soothing’ hot and cold sensations, your nervous system gets irritated and confused which can take a toll on your baby. It is vital that you allow your body to process everything naturally while pregnant to be sure your baby isn’t harmed unintentionally from the disruptions to normal bodily functions.
Due to the Icy Hot being applied directly to the skin, some of the product is absorbed into your pores and then into your bloodstream. This then has the potential to get to your baby via the placenta which of course isn’t safe to your baby in any proximity.
Is there anything else you should be avoiding?
You will be told hundreds of things, particularly medications, to avoid during pregnancy to keep your baby safe. As a rule, it’s generally a good idea to ask your doctor before trying anything you are uncertain about just to be on the safe side.
However, with the context of back pain, you may also consider taking aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine but you should not take any of them as they also put you at risk of a miscarriage due to their strong ingredients.
10 methods to relieve back pain
Luckily, there are plenty of other remedies to try to relieve back pain and they can be highly effective if done correctly.
1. Warm baths
Not only will a warm back relax you from all those pregnancy stresses, but it will also relax your muscles! Be careful the water isn’t too hot because as you will know, doctors tell pregnant women to avoid too hot water. You could also find some pregnancy-safe bath salts that are aimed for relieving muscle and joint pain and try adding those to a warm bath.
2. Side sleeping
Sleeping on your side, although it may be not what your used to, puts the least amount of strain on your back while lying down. As your bump grows, you may find it more comfortable to use a pregnancy pillow to further support your baby. You should also ensure your knees are bent and you have good neck support.
3.Wear the correct shoes
Wearing poorly designed and made shoes can surprisingly affect the muscles in your back drastically. Although you might not notice it, your body can sometimes be imbalanced where you hold your weight and wearing unsupportive footwear or high heels can worsen this.
When choosing shoes, you should look for little to no added heal height and plenty of arch support.
4.Lift safely and correctly
Your midwife will always tell you to avoid lifting anything too heavy to prevent you straining any vital muscles and hurting your baby. But it is reasonable to assume that won’t mean you will stop lifting everything so it’s important to learn the correct technique.
Instead of relying on your abdominal muscles to move your body with the object your lifting, you should use your legs for the power instead.
5.Good posture
Having bad posture is a very common culprit for continuous back pain and one that is very simple to fix. It’s important because having good posture levels out your centre of gravity and allows you to hold your body in the correct way.
6.Exercise
Moving your body more will help the muscles in your back to stretch out and become more flexible. Exercise is generally always a good idea when pregnant but be careful not to overwork yourself the further along you get.
Sometimes, something as simple as going for a brisk walk and some simple stretches is all it takes.
7.Hot and cold therapy
This particular method acts in a very similar way to Icy Cold except, there are no harsh ingredients to make it work.
Before trying, always let your doctor know so they can advise if it is suitable for you.
Apply ice covered by a rag or towel to the site of pain for about 20 minutes, a few times a day. Then after repeating this for a couple of days, switch to using a warm compress such as a hot water bottle (but not too hot) and repeat the same process.
You should find that switching between hot and cold compresses works almost as well as Icy Hot would.
8.Prenatal massage
There are various professional businesses that offer prenatal massages, and these are fantastic for relaxing your muscles and improving your overall circulation. This attention to your muscles will alleviate your pain and leaving you feeling calmer and more comfortable.
9.Other therapies
There are lots of other therapies you could research to help such as visiting a physiotherapist and getting acupuncture treatment or even going to a chiropractor.
10.Go to the doctors!
If you are suffering from chronic back pain and none of the above is helping, it may be best to visit a doctor and seek their professional advice. You should definitely see a doctor if you have :
- Any abrupt pain
- Rhythmical cramping
- Any other abnormalities
They may prescribe you some pregnancy-safe Tylenol, over the counter medications such as pain relief cream, or any other topical treatments.
Back pain is normal and very uncomfortable for pregnant women but we urge you to take care when selecting treatments.