Pregnancy and Red Light Therapy

A study, entitled “Utilization of laser therapy during pregnancy: A systematic review of the maternal and fetal effects reported from 1960 to 2017”, analyzed 22 articles between 1960 and 2017 using laser therapy at various wavelengths. The evidence they found supports the safety of red light therapy during pregnancy for both the mother and the fetus. A total of 380 women in all trimesters were included, and among them only one suffered premature rupture of membranes (which normally occurs just before the onset of labor). Researchers could not be sure whether this was caused by the laser treatment. Overall, the treatment was deemed safe. Their conclusion, "The available evidence, limited to low evidence level case reports and series, indicates cutaneous laser treatment during pregnancy is safe for both mother and fetus. Furthermore, laser physics and optics dictate there should theoretically be no risk of fetal laser exposure from commonly used cutaneous lasers."

However, healthcare professionals tend to advise against any sort of laser treatment during pregnancy, not because of evidence that it is unsafe but because of a lack of information. There is a glaring lack of evidence to that it's harmful. They are erring on the side of caution.

So what’s our conclusion? We recommend talking to your OB/GYN about whether red light therapy is safe for you to use during pregnancy. They may not recommend it. And they may.

The benefits are plentiful:

• Naturally occurring collagen - lessen scarring

• Anti-inflammatory - decreased swelling

• Diabetic support

• Enhance fertility

• Reduces stress

• Better sleep

If you wait, you can start or resume treatment immediately after delivery. In fact, red light therapy has been shown to help with a number of postpartum issues, including:

• Nipple pain during breastfeeding;

• Milk production;

• Postoperative pain from cesarean;

• Healing episiotomy (all) wounds;

• Postpartum hair loss;

• Fat loss;

• Stretch marks.

Red light therapy is safe. With over 5000 peer reviewed studies. Learn more on our website. www.thewellnesscenter.life.