Pregnancy is a time of careful planning. We make thoughtful decisions about our health and our baby’s wellness, focusing on everything from nutrition to prenatal care to our own emotional well-being. But there’s another factor impacting pregnancies that is starting to gain more attention: electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure. What is EMF? Learn more here in my other articles and learn how you can take proactive steps for a healthy pregnancy for you and baby.
We are constantly surrounded by EMFs from our devices, our Wi-Fi routers, and even our appliances. In recent years, research is raising questions about the impacts EMFs may have on the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy and beyond. With so much still unknown, experts are encouraging precaution. By being proactive and adding EMF protection into our pregnancy health stack, we’re taking one more important step towards protecting our family’s future.
Understanding EMFs and Their Potential Impact on Pregnancy
These energy fields emitted by our electronic devices and Wi-Fi networks are having a real impact on our bodies even though we can’t see them. Many of us are “plugged in” all day. Between phone calls, texts, work, and our downtime spent relaxing with an e-book or a good podcast, we are swimming in EMFs 24/7. Studies are suggesting this constant, prolonged exposure to EMFs can cause a wide range of potential problems for our bodies. Specifically during pregnancy, these include:
Sleep Problems
We know sleep is essential for our overall well-being. It’s when our cells get a chance to repair, and when our energy levels are replenished. Studies have linked EMF exposure at night to poor sleep. And with the huge toll pregnancy takes on our bodies, sleep is something we can’t afford to sacrifice.
Increased Stress
EMF exposure has been shown to cause higher levels of stress. A big problem with that is pregnancy is already a time of heightened stress. There are so many unknowns, so many decisions to make, and the physical exhaustion and discomfort only contribute to feelings of stress and frustration.
Potential Developmental Issues
The risks of EMF exposure on babies in the womb is still not fully understood as this isn’t something that can be directly tested. However, we do know that radiation from our electronic devices can permeate deeper into children’s brains and bodies due to their size and amount of soft tissue. This alone is reason to take precautions. More on what you need to know during pregnancy is here.
Why Should You Use EMF Protection During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is a time of change for both the mother and the baby. The baby’s brain and body are developing rapidly, and the hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can take a serious toll on a mom’s emotional and physical well-being. During this time, it’s especially important to minimize unnecessary exposure to EMFs.
Ditching our devices isn’t realistic, and it’s not really necessary either. We can develop safe, healthy habits surrounding our technology that can minimize our risk. One of the most simple ways to do this is adding EMF protection to your pregnancy health stack.
Here’s why EMF protection is especially important during pregnancy:
Increased Sensitivity
During pregnancy, it feels like our bodies are sensitive to everything. Tastes, smells, temperatures, physical discomfort – every sense is heightened. Research suggests we’re also more sensitive to EMF exposure during pregnancy because of its impact on hormonal changes.
Vulnerability of the Baby
Developing babies are especially vulnerable to EMF. Studies have shown a link between higher EMF exposure and risk of birth defects, which suggests these frequencies could be interfering with healthy development in the womb.
Constant Exposure
Our EMF exposure adds up throughout the day due to our devices, the devices of everyone around us, Wi-Fi, and 5G. Many of us are also surrounded by these frequencies while we sleep, especially those of us living in heavily populated areas. Having EMF protection on hand can give us some much-needed peace of mind.
How to Reduce EMF Exposure During Pregnancy
Use EMF Protection
The best part about modern EMF protection is it doesn’t have to be complicated. My favorite products are passive and self-powering, so I don’t have to remember to charge another device or position it near an outlet. Personally, I like the Aires Tech Lifetune devices. They aren’t EMF “blockers,” so they don’t interfere with the function of your wireless devices. Instead, they convert the frequencies into a form compatible with our bodies, neutralizing the harmful effects.
Limit Screen Time
This may seem obvious, but it’s a good reminder. The fewer hours spent in front of a screen, the less EMF exposure. Trading some of that time scrolling for more movement, outside time, hobbies, or face-to-face interactions will also give a mental-health boost that’s incredibly valuable during pregnancy.
Keep Devices Off the Body
Even when you’re not using your phone, it’s always sending and receiving signals. That’s why it’s best to limit direct contact with your body. Avoid carrying your phone in your pocket or tucked into a waistband. EMF exposure increases with proximity, so it’s especially important to keep phones, laptops, and tablets away from your belly area. I can’t tell you how many women I see in the OBGYN office waiting room sitting there with a tablet resting on their bellies. It takes all of me to not tell everyone to stop cooking their little babies and keep the devices away from your abdomen. Take a lesson out of a man’s family-planning tip and not having their phone or devices near their gonads, the same applies to the pregnant ladies!
Move Your WiFi Router
Take a minute to reflect on where your WiFi router resides in your home. Is it in an office or near a wall next to your child’s bedroom? Is it in your master bedroom or living area? Is there an opportunity to move it farther away from where you relax, sleep or spend the most time in? If so, move it! In addition, make sure you have an Aires device next to it. I have the Aires Zone Max near all my major hot spots.
Add EMF Protection to Your Birth Plan
As a mom who’s been through this journey, I know how much thought and research goes into the birth plan. You’re thinking about how to give your baby the best start, and how to make this transition into motherhood as smooth as possible. EMF protection might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s something more and more moms are starting to look into especially if you will deliver in a hospital setting. Hospitals are another high exposure area with all the tech, instruments, equipment, and close proximity to staff, patients and visitors.
Many of us have our phones or laptops constantly on during pregnancy – sending updates to our friends and family, taking bump pictures, researching childbirth tips, reading reviews on every piece of baby gear we’re shopping for. We don’t always think about exposure to EMFs, but it’s an important part of a holistic birth plan. Here are a few tips I’d recommend adding to your birth plan that can help minimize EMF exposure before, during, and after labor.
- Cut Down on EMF Exposure in the Delivery Room: The delivery room is full of devices that emit EMF. We can’t avoid all of those, but we can limit non-essential electronics by powering them off or keeping phones on airplane mode. Every little bit helps, and reducing our EMF load during those long hours of labor feels like a small but powerful move for you and your baby.
- Keep EMF Protection Nearby: In the weeks leading up to the due date, many of us moms-to-be keep our hospital bag packed and ready beside the door. Make it a point to keep an EMF protection device in your bag so you know it will be in the delivery room with you, and it’s one less thing to remember to grab when those first real contractions have you rushing out the door.
- Postpartum Mindfulness: Once your little one arrives, continue being mindful of EMF exposure. Newborns are delicate, and they’re entering a tech-heavy world surrounded by foreign frequencies their little bodies can’t make sense of. Remember to keep wireless devices away from your baby, and have that EMF protection nearby – especially where they sleep or spend the majority of their day. And during those post-birth days, your body needs all the love it can get too. Don’t forget to protect your healing body from the effects of EMF as well.
Incorporating EMF protection into your birth plan is all about being aware. It’s adding another layer of love and care for both you and your baby to give you the best start on this journey together.
Your Holistic Pregnancy Health Stack
You might have already checked off most of the list: healthy diet, prenatal vitamins, gentle exercise, mindfulness practices for stress reduction, and regular checkups. Adding EMF protection to your prenatal health stack rounds out your efforts for a truly proactive pregnancy.
Remember, it’s not about doing everything perfectly, it’s about making small, manageable changes that add up. Pregnancy can feel so overwhelming, but you’re doing everything you can to make sure your baby is healthy. Being mindful of EMF exposure might feel like one more thing to add to your list, but it’s worth it. You’re giving yourself and your baby another layer of protection, and being proactive about your environment leads to a great start for your little one. You’ve got this!
