Miscarriage and Waterbeds
Rhonda Gaines
I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that electrically
heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying. The
book suggests (obviously) to sleep on another type of bed or on the
sofa until the baby is born. I have a waterbed and *love* it. Has
anyone else heard of this? How many of you out there have (and
slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant? What about
miscarriages? What do your OB/GYNs say about this? After one
miscarriage I'm *very* fearful of another and would like to
alleviate any possibility of another if there's something I can do.
I'd heard that waterbeds were more comfortable for pregnant women,
now I don't know what to think...
-thanks
rhonda
--
Rhonda Gaines INTERNET: r...@fibercom.com
FiberCom, Inc. UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!rrg
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Peter Kaminski
>I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that electrically
>heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
>sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying.
Presumably the problem would be with EM emissions from the heater, so
just turning the heater off (completely, via a switched power cord)
while you're on the bed would do the trick. (My understanding, at
least -- check with your doctor/environmental engineer.)
My wife slept on a waterbed while pregnant -- no miscarriages, one
birth, everyone seems fine. (And she *loved* the comfort of a
waterbed when she was big.) With today's awareness of potential
problems with EM fields, though, I'd turn off the heater while we
were in bed.
("On the sofa"?!? Were these people ever pregnant?!? :)
sue hough
>
> sofa until the baby is born. I have a waterbed and *love* it. Has
> anyone else heard of this? How many of you out there have (and
> slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant? What about
> miscarriages? What do your OB/GYNs say about this? After one
Hmm, this is news to me. I had a conventional (electrically
heated) waterbed during my first two pregnancies, which
progressed without problems. Individual data points don't mean
much, though--it would take a large-scale study to establish
a statistical link.
But if you can afford it, you might consider a "floatation" waterbed--
they look like regular-sized beds but have big tubes of water within
a foam shell. We bought one after our regular waterbed had a
massive leak. The advantages of a floatation bed are numerous: 1) you
still get the feel of a waterbed, and the firmness is adjustable by
varying the amount of water in each tube (one side of the bed can
be firmer than the other!); 2) NO HEATER IS REQUIRED. This would
remove any health risk, as well as saving lots of $$ on your electric
bill. Also, because the water stays cold, there is much less risk
of growing flora and fauna in your bed--no water treatments are
needed; 3) The beds use regular sheets. This doesn't help if you already
have a closet full of waterbed sheets, but the regular sizes are
significantly cheaper.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
***every parent is a full-time parent***
Sue Hough ** If these are
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory opinions,
Palisades, NY they must be mine **
ho...@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
karen.l.carr
> anyone else heard of this? How many of you out there have (and
> slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant? What about
> miscarriages? What do your OB/GYNs say about this?
Two more data points: We have a waterbed (one of those minimal movement
ones that can use regular sheets; not like the one that another poster
mentioned, though, since it does have a heater) and I am now in my 24th
week -- so far so good (Last week, I think the baby was doing a dance
marathon or practicing conducting or something; this week, I've been very
busy and things are back to quiet again for the most part).
My sister-in-law started out with a regular waterbed for the first part of
her pregnancy. They got a new bedroom set around her 6th month or so which
was a regular bed. She now has a beautiful, alert baby boy.
Like someone else said, individual points really don't mean much, but here
are at least 2 more.
Karen
Tiffany Frazier
>In article <26...@fibercom.COM>, r...@fibercom.COM (Rhonda Gaines) writes:
>>
>> sofa until the baby is born. I have a waterbed and *love* it. Has
>> anyone else heard of this? How many of you out there have (and
>> slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant? What about
>> miscarriages? What do your OB/GYNs say about this? After one
>Hmm, this is news to me. I had a conventional (electrically
>heated) waterbed during my first two pregnancies, which
>progressed without problems. Individual data points don't mean
>much, though--it would take a large-scale study to establish
>a statistical link.
I wasn't going to respond to this thread but I decided I'd put my
$.02 when flotation beds got mentioned. On the subject of datapoints -
I had a successful pregnancy on a flotation mattress and (very) recently
miscarried. (I switched to a waterbed ~5 months ago). hmmm.
>But if you can afford it, you might consider a "floatation" waterbed--
>they look like regular-sized beds but have big tubes of water within
>a foam shell. We bought one after our regular waterbed had a
>massive leak. The advantages of a floatation bed are numerous: 1) you
>still get the feel of a waterbed, and the firmness is adjustable by
>varying the amount of water in each tube (one side of the bed can
>be firmer than the other!); 2) NO HEATER IS REQUIRED. This would
>remove any health risk, as well as saving lots of $$ on your electric
>bill. Also, because the water stays cold, there is much less risk
>of growing flora and fauna in your bed--no water treatments are
>needed; 3) The beds use regular sheets. This doesn't help if you already
>have a closet full of waterbed sheets, but the regular sizes are
>significantly cheaper.
My husband and I really disliked our flotation mattress. Though a queen-
size, it felt much smaller because of the foam "0" that goes around the
outside of the bed. It kind of rolls you into middle of the mattress.
It never felt firm enough, despite filling the tubes up way past the "firm
line". (And I've never like firm "normal" mattresses). We've never had a
waterbed leak - but due too the bouncing of my big kid :-) and little kid
we've had the lid work its way off of a tube. Less mess than a waterbed I
imagine but no fun. The flotation mattress just can't compare (in comfort)
to our semi-waveless waterbed!! (My daughter doesn't seem to mind it,
though :-).
-tiff
--
ti...@cs.ucla.edu
!{rutgers, ucbvax}!ucla-cs!tiff
PMH
2 successful
1 miscarriage at about 8 weeks
1 yet to be determined (presently around 12 weeks)
I seriously doubt that the miscarriage was related in any way
to the waterbed.
I've heard about this "finding" and have also heard a reverse
finding. I just barely remember this so don't ask me for my source!
I would ask my doctor first. There's also some study somewhere that
links CRT emanations with miscarriages (maybe that's what I heard
was disproved.) I've become highly sceptical of these studies.
I love my waterbed and it provided great comfort to me in the late
stages of both pregnancies. When pregnant friends were getting
terrible night's sleep, I was sleeping like a baby (pun intended :-).
Patti
--
************************************************************************
Pat Homsey AT&T Bell Laboratories, New Jersey
************************************************************************
Drew Corrigan
>How many of you out there have (and
>slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant?
I slept on a waterbed for the entirety of my pregnancy without any
problems. (Our daughter is nearly three years old now.) You can't
beat them for comfort, especially during pregnancy! I've only had
one pregnancy (no miscarriages). We've had our waterbed for about
six years, and I certainly wouldn't trade it for a conventional
matress.
Vanessa Corrigan (posting on her husband's account)
dave mankins
>
>I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that electrically
>heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
>sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying.
I saw an article in the paper recently mentioning a study linking exposure to
excessive heat (e.g., saunas) and spina bifida. Perhaps these
electrically-heated waterbeds were too warm?
--
david mankins (d...@think.com)
Laura Floom
When I was pregnant there were a lot of speculation about the damage from
electromagnetic fields. They were advising pregnant women not to use electric
blankets. I decided not to take a chance, so I didnt use the electric blanket
when I was in the bed ( I used it to warm up the bed). This may be the same
thing.
BTW, my boyfriend has a waterbed. In order to cut the use of the heater he
bought a sheepskin matress pad. He was hoping he could do without the heater
completely, which didnt happen, but he says he is using the heater a lot less.
(He isnt pregnant, BTW - just energy conscious).
Laura Floom
>--
>david mankins (d...@think.com)
Betsy Perry
with my only (to date) pregnancy. Being able to sleep on my tummy in the
9th month was HEAVEN!!!
However, I'm nervous about the thing -- there seems to
be good evidence that the electromagnetic waves generated by the heater
simply aren't good for people. I've been reluctant to turn off the heater at
night, though --- wouldn't it get awfully cold by morning?
Betsy Perry
--
Betsy Hanes Perry (note P in userid) bet...@apollo.hp.com
Cooperative Object Computing Division, Hewlett-Packard, Inc.
No worst, there is none.
Paul Czarnecki
>I saw an article in the paper recently mentioning a study linking exposure to
>excessive heat (e.g., saunas) and spina bifida. Perhaps these
>electrically-heated waterbeds were too warm?
IMHO, this is unlikely. Our waterbed is kept a a few degrees under
body temperature during the winter. Anything more and it get
uncomfortable. In the summer, we make it cooler still.
It is likely the original concern expressed in "What to Expect When
You Are Expecting" (BTW, so far an excellant book for us expectant
fathers) was about the electromagnetic emmisions from waterbed heaters
(and most electrical things). We've been concerned about this for
several years so as other posters have already suggested, we run ours
off of a timer. (It takes about 2 days for a waterbed to cool enough
to be unpleasant to sleep on so having the timer on during the day
does not affect the beds temperature.)
Another poster spoke of the "advantages" of the tube type waterbeds,
no heater being one of them. My wife and I view this a bug, not a
feature. Now that she is pregnant (with our first) we will be getting
a new bed. Traditional waterbeds (bag of water, no special
technology) are available in foam sided models. This are hopefully
easier to get in and out of compared to a wooden sided one, and they
also take regular sheets. This type of bed was hard to find, most of
the stores we went to thought we were very strange to want a
traditional bed, the newer types were "better" they said.
IMHO, a waterbed need not be considered dangerous nor inconvenient to
sleep on. I am encouraged to hear of other woman's comfort during the
later months of pregnancy. "Sleep on the sofa" indeed, this is
probably the worst advice in "What to Expect..."
pZ
ICSP...@asuacad.bitnet
We have been concerned about this too and decided to connect a timer to the
heater. It heats only during the day and then shuts off at night when we
are actually in bed. We've done this for my daughter's waterbed also.
Glen Ecklund
>
>heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
>sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying. The
>book suggests (obviously) to sleep on another type of bed or on the
>sofa until the baby is born. I have a waterbed and *love* it. Has
Electric blankets are probably worse, since you are closer to the
source of the magnetic field.
Someone else suggested turning it off while you are on it. That would
certainly take care of the problem, but I don't know whether it would get
too cold in 8 hours.
I suggest a foam waterbed pad. It insulates the top of the bed, under the
sheet. Then you don't need a heater. Or turn on the heater during the
day, and the pad should keep the heat in all night, but it would be warmer
than with no heater.
--
Glen Ecklund gl...@cs.wisc.edu (608) 262-5084
Department of Computer Sciences
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Rhonda Gaines
>However, I'm nervous about the thing -- there seems to
>be good evidence that the electromagnetic waves generated by the heater
>simply aren't good for people. I've been reluctant to turn off the heater at
>night, though --- wouldn't it get awfully cold by morning?
Nope. Wednesday night I turned the heater off and the bed *did* get
a bit chilly by morning, but Thursday night I put a blanket in
between the sheet and the matress and the bed remained quite toasty
(actually a little too warm...I ended up kicking half the covers
off :-).
-rhonda
Val Scott
>How many of you out there have (and
>slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant?
Here's another data point for your collection. I've been sleeping on a
conventional (albeit mostly waveless) waterbed for 11.5 years, with a
heater that's kept around 85-87 degrees F.
I asked my doctor about the safety of sleeping on it after he warned me
about electric blankets. He said not to worry about it. I'm currently 27
weeks pregnant with my first child, and well past the point of miscarriage
(although premature birth can't be ruled out, yet - but I just know I'm
going to be late, since I usually am in most other things in real life.)
Can't vouch for a normal birth, either, but given the personalities of myself
and my husband, this child is going to have to be a bit odd to fit in with
the rest of the family ;-).
Val Scott
Anne Paulson
>I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that electrically
>heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
>sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying.
It's probably the heat. Other types of overheating are also bad
for pregnant women, including electric blankets, hot tubs, very hot
baths, and exercising in hot weather.
Probably if you turned your waterbed heater down a bit and made sure that
the thermostat worked, you'd be OK, but do you really want to take the
risk?
-- Anne
Glenda Robinson
>>I read in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that electrically
>>heated water beds have been linked to pregnancy problems. Those who
>>sleep in them seem to be at increased risk of miscarrying.
Well, here's an Aussie's view on this..
I've had a water bed since we've been married (4 1/2 years).
Never has it been so comfortable as when I've been pregnant.
We don't have the thermostat set terribly high, just enough
so that the bed is a little warmer than a normal bed.
One very strange thing about this comment is it's similarity
to the urban myths about how the EM radiation from computers
give miscarriages/ stillbirths with has NEVER been proven.
As I have worked in the computer industry for 6 years, and
known many, many people who have given birth with no more
than the normal problems, so I strongly doubt that there is
any problems with the whole thing.
Besides, I know my OB, and others I know of, tell the expecting
mother that any exercise is OK, so long as you don't get into a
sweat, which restricts the blood flow to the bub. Similarly with
sleeping, though I don't know anyone who likes to sleep THAT warm.
Otherwise, I don't see the heat to be a problem, either.
And, the waterbeds support the growing bump a lot better than any
other type of bed, and your back gets a good rest too.
Glenda Robinson
--
Glenda Robinson University of Western Sydney
Kingswood
gle...@techno.nepean.uws.EDU.AU NSW Australia
Robert Stevahn
the last 10 years.
The data: 2 successful pregnancies
2 miscarriages
If we decide to try for a 3rd child in the future, we plan on putting the
heater on a timer. It seems like a reasonable precaution until more data is
available.
Jennifer A Scranton
> r...@fibercom.COM (Rhonda Gaines) writes:
> >How many of you out there have (and
> >slept on) waterbeds while you were pregnant?
>
perhaps I should give my two cents worth. I have two beautiful,
healthy girls ages 3 years and 6 months. During both pregnancies, I
slept on a "soft-sided" waterbed with the heater turned on! For
those unfamiliar with the term "soft-sided", the sides are made of a
heavy-duty plastic surrounded by foam with a single floation
mattress. I LOVED the comfort that this bed gave me during my
pregnancies as well as now. The soft sides made it easier to get out
of bed than trying to throw my leg over a rail. I didn't have any
problems during either preganancy, other than gaining too much
weight :-)! However, I wasn't aware of any problems. My OB did warn
against using electric blankets, but I never even thought to ask him
about the waterbed since it wasn't on the "forbidden" list.
I guess I put the waterbed problem in the same category as working
with PCs/Minis and Nutrasweet. Yes, I work with PCs and
Minis 40+ hours per week and no, I never work "lead" aprons during
either pregnancy :-)
Bottom line, if you are concerned, discuss this with your OB and
follow his/her advice.
With all the new studies and knowledge we've gained, I know my mother
and I ofter wonder how I ever made it pass the age of 2 :-)!!
--
Jennifer A Scranton (osu-cis!dsacg1!jscranton) jscr...@dsac.dla.mil
US Defense Logistics Agency Systems Automation Center | 614-238-8196
DSAC-TSX, P.O. Box 1605, Columbus, OH 43216-5002 | (AV) 850-8196
Of course my opinions are subject to change at any given moment |-)!!
Glenda Robinson
this thread to him he exclaimed
"EMF doesn't go through more than 2 inches of water"
As he works in a research lab for Underwater Optical Fibre, and other
communications work, I'll deninitrly take his word for it.
I also asked about Electric Blankets.
His reply: "I woudn't put them under ANYONE asleep."
There you go, an opinion from someone in the industry.
My own experience:
1 pregnancy: 1 waterbed, no elect. blankets.
Anne Paulson
>One very strange thing about this comment is its similarity
>to the urban myths about how the EM radiation from computers
>give miscarriages/ stillbirths with has NEVER been proven.
It's never been proven, but it's certainly not just an
urban myth either. There are some studies that seem to indicate
a correlation between VDT use and miscarriage, notably a large
study at Pacific Bell, a phone company, in which a substantially
higher than expected incidence of miscarriage was noticed among
VDT users. There are some other studies that seem to show no
such risk. The jury is still out on this one.
-- Anne
Patti Twigg
>
>It's never been proven, but it's certainly not just an
>urban myth either. There are some studies that seem to indicate
>a correlation between VDT use and miscarriage, notably a large
>study at Pacific Bell, a phone company, in which a substantially
>higher than expected incidence of miscarriage was noticed among
>VDT users. There are some other studies that seem to show no
>such risk. The jury is still out on this one.
>
>-- Anne
>
were sitting a lot - they were not free to move around as I was
advised to do when I was pregnant.
Patti Twigg