We avoid a lot of medications, food habits, and many more practices to protect our unborn creatures. However, the knowledge of the safety of using a laptop during pregnancy is minimal among many women. Additionally, you may find it difficult to clearly understand the safety status of using laptops during pregnancy. There are many false facts on the internet.
What is a laptop? A laptop is a flexible computer to use on the lap. So more often, we use to keep our laptop computer on our lap. Otherwise, it would be on our abdomen or genital area. Some pregnant women use it on their belly or lap too. So most of the time, it would be around your belly or genital area.
The laptop is categorized as a device with a very low Non-Ionizing Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emission device. It is far less than the emission of mobile phones and commonly used smart devices.
Even though it is very low, it may damage your unborn baby. Therefore this article is dedicated to discussing the “safety of laptops during pregnancy,” “safe level of laptop use,” and “adjustment to prevent the radiation and non-radiation related health impacts during pregnancy.”
The laptop is a popular device among women
Nowadays, technology has changed our pattern of living, not only in men but also in females. An American survey report published in 2017 mentioned the increasing number of laptop users and internet subscribers. According to that, 84% – 86% of people between 18-45 use laptops. Additionally, a recent survey on “How women use technology” shows the increased number of laptop use in women. This is not only in non-pregnant women but also in pregnant women too.
Nowadays, many pregnant women are occupied. Most of them need to get data from the internet. So most of them practice using laptops or desktops during their working hours.
However, laptops are often used for search purposes rather than watching films, gaming, etc. Therefore, occupation is the most crucial factor determining pregnant women’s increased laptop use.
Radiation of laptop computer
We often use many electronic devices with the emission of Low-Frequency Electro Magnetic Fields (LF – EMF). Mobile phones, tabs, laptops, desktop computers, televisions, and radio are some of them. But the level of radiation is different from each other. Especially mobile phones emit a high amount of EMF, while laptops, desktops, and televisions emit low amounts of radiation.
Therefore the amount of non-ionizing radiation due to laptops is meager. However, the continuous use of laptops has shown the risk of subfertility among men. Although the reason is still controversial, some believe it is due to the radiation of electromagnetic waves. Although most scientists believe it is only due to the temperature given to the genital areas, recent research has shown the possibility of EMF radiation.
Radiation of a Laptop during pregnancy
Radiation is one of the most dangerous things in pregnancy. Although ionizing radiation causes many hazardous effects, Non-ionizing radiation like EMF is not causing such harmful side effects. Adverse effects of ionizing radiation include congenital abnormalities, stillbirths, miscarriages, cancers, etc.
However, the effects of EMF have not been experimented properly. The reason behind this is the extreme risk to the mother and baby. In addition, few studies are available on the effect of low-frequency EMF on pregnancy.
However, recent research has assessed the level of radiation exposure to the mother and fetus during laptop use. It is shown that the level of EMF radiation exposure to the mother and unborn baby is higher than we usually expect. So if we do not take adequate measures, there will be issues due to Electro Magnetic Field radiation during pregnancy.
Risk of laptop use during pregnancy
Although most pregnancy blogs mention “use of the laptop is safe during pregnancy,” I still like to say it is a controversial fact. Although it is noted that magnetic radiation causes minimal harm to humans, still the data is not enough to say it is entirely safe. Especially use of the laptop during pregnancy needs to be analyzed retrospectively to take adequate data about the child’s development skills, IQ levels, social skills, etc. However, there is enough evidence to show the safety of congenital abnormalities.
Common adverse effects of using the laptop during pregnancy
The negative impact of laptop use may not be limited to pregnancy itself. It causes both pregnancy-related and non-pregnancy-related adverse effects during pregnancy.
Headaches
Headache is one of the common symptoms in laptop users due to the prolonged usage of the laptop. Sometimes it may progress to some conditions like computer vision syndrome.
Disturbance of sleep
It is proven that computers can cause a reduction in sleep. Specially they cause a reduction of REM sleep. This is the most essential part of your sleep. Lack of REM sleep would cause additional stress in your day-to-day life.
Chronic back pain
One of the most common complaints of laptop users during pregnancy is chronic back pain. This is caused by the wrong posture during laptop usage. Some mothers do not keep their back stable. As a result, the curvatures of the spine are altered, causing chronic pain. So if you don’t use proper postures, you would get chronic backpains due to use of the laptop during pregnancy.
Pregnancy-associated problems
As I have already mentioned, there are possible pregnancy-associated problems due to using laptop computers during pregnancy. But these are not yet proven. However, some countries have limited the usage of EMF radiation.
Common causes for the adverse effects of laptop computer use during pregnancy
The emission of non-ionizing radiation by laptop computers is very low. But most of the time, laptop or desktop computer accessories cause problems. An example wifi connections, power cables, Bluetooth devices and etc. Unless the laptop does not cause much harm due to radiation. Therefore, using a laptop during pregnancy does not cause any damage when using it alone.
However, prolonged use, poor posture during laptop use, and low-quality devices may cause issues.
Step to prevent adverse effects associated with the use of laptop during pregnancy
step 01: Arrange a working space for your laptop computer
Many ladies get back pains if they use a laptop during pregnancy. This is almost 50% of the pregnant population. This is due to changes in hormone levels, additional stress, changes in the center of gravity, extra weight, etc. In addition to the above reasons, poor posture is one of the most provoking facts.
Some pregnant ladies use the laptop computer lying down with their laptops above their bellies. It would help if you bent your neck to keep watching your laptop in such a position. Another position is supporting the laptop in the lap. In such a position, your eyes and laptop are in a different plane. As a result, you have to again bend the neck. Prolonged use of such postures during laptop use causes postural problems in your spine. This causes prolonged pain.
According to the Women’s technology survery, most females use laptops to surf the internet. The use of laptop computers for entertainment purposes is very low. Therefore arranging a working table for a laptop is not a problem for most pregnant ladies. This helps to maintain posture during working with the laptops. Mainly it helps to keep straight back. Additionally, you do not need to bend your neck.
Step 2: Avoid prolonged use of laptop during pregnancy
We usually use our laptops or desktops for around 3-4 hours daily. If you are doing a computer job, you must work at least 7-8 hours in front of the computer. Some freelancers work even 15- 16 hours a day. So some problems are associated with the continued use of laptops or desktops.
One of the most critical issues is the tiredness of the eyes. Focusing on one near object for a long time would create unnecessary eye problems. Some of them are eye pain, tearing, dryness, and headache. When you use your laptop or desktop for 1 hour, you need at least 15 min break. This 15 min is for the relaxation of both your eyes and mind. It would help if you focused on distant objects from your window, like birds, the sky, etc.
Another important thing is posture. When you continue to maintain the same pose, you get pains. If you do it as a routine, it will create chronic pains. Therefore you should have a 15 min break after 1 hour of computer work.
I have met a lot of pregnant ladies who work in front of the computer. So they also get above problems due to prolong unstoppable work. So the issues may be more severe too. Therefore, I recommend having adequate rest during laptop or desktop computer work. Especially, when you use a laptop during pregnancy. Unless using of desktop or laptop computer during pregnancy would make you ill.
Step 3: Keep the distance between the laptop and you.
People use laptops very close to their bodies. This causes a lot of non-radiation-related issues. Those mentioned above.
In addition to the non-radiation matters, there are some radiation-related issues. Although they are not clearly mentioned and researched, you must be safe from them. Because no one wants to risk mother and unborn babies for their trials.
Previously it was said that male subfertility due to prolonged laptop use is due to high temperature. However, recent research has shown that laptops do not generate such an amount of heat. This subfertility is probably due to radiation-related injuries.
Likewise, who knows about the EMF radiation effect of the laptop during pregnancy. Therefore be away from the laptop whenever possible. Especially avoid use of laptop on your belly or genital area during pregnancy. This will helps to avoid any harmful effects of unidentified radiation of use of laptop during pregnancy.
Instead of using your laptop on your belly or lap, you can try a external mouse or keyboard with out a wifi. This would further safe you from adverse issues of use of your laptop during pregnancy.
Step 4: Avoid Bluetooth and Wifi devices during laptop use.
Some countries have adopted rules to avoid wifi in places like pre-schools. However, many laptops nowadays come with Bluetooth and wifi support. They use external wireless mice, headphones, keyboards, etc. These may produce some harmful radiation. Therefore if you are having a baby in your tummy, better to avoid exposure to radiation from these devices.
Therefore use mouses, keyboards, and headphones with wire connections to your laptops. This will create minimum exposure to the above radiation from your laptop during pregnancy.
Step 5: Don’t connect to the power supply and wifi connections during laptop use
Laptop computers are chargeable. Once it is charged, it can work for around 4hours. Therefore it is optional to always connect to the charger. In addition, if not necessary, you can avoid wifi connection too. This avoids the emission of Low-Frequency Electro Magnetic Field (LFEMF) radiation.
Therefore it is better to avoid working with the power supply of laptop computers during pregnancy.
Step 6: Use a high-quality laptop during pregnancy
Always low-quality devices cause trouble, while high-quality devices are safe and efficient. Therefore you have to select a high-quality laptop during pregnancy. It makes you and your baby safe.
But how to select a high-quality laptop to use during pregnancy? Actually, quality always means something other than a trendy brand of laptop. Even World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted guidance to adjust the laptop for safety. You have to make sure that they have follow the WHO guidelines to make a pregnancy safe laptop. If you need, you can find a pregnancy safe laptop from your near by shop or websites like amazon after go through the specifications.
The quality must be maintained both in the internal electronic devices and external hardware. Primarily, you must have a widescreen, an adequate-sized keyboard, and touch devices. Unless you can only continue the work with disturb. Another important thing is the adjustable screen. Especially when you use your laptop during pregnancy, you should maintain the correct posture. A flexible screen gives you a good advantage there.