Red Light Therapy · Safety
Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
It has not been established as safe in pregnancy, so the honest answer is: ask your OB or midwife first. Here is what is known, what is not, and the specific questions worth bringing to that conversation.
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Chevigny, DC, CCSP, CSCS, Chiropractor & Clinic Director
Published |Last reviewed
The Short Answer
Red light therapy is not established as safe during pregnancy. Pregnant people are rarely included in red light research, and many providers advise waiting until after pregnancy or avoiding exposure over the abdomen. Talk to your OB or midwife before using any red light device. At MindBody Med, we ask pregnant patients to get clearance from their OB or midwife first.
What We Know, and What We Do Not
What we know: red (about 660nm) and near-infrared (about 850nm) light contain no UV and are non-ionizing. They are not in the same category as X-rays, which is the kind of radiation people usually worry about in pregnancy. For healthy adults who are not pregnant, red light therapy is generally considered low-risk, as we explain in Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
What we do not know: how red light therapy affects pregnancy. Pregnant people are commonly left out of research on wellness therapies like this one, so there is very little direct data. A lack of evidence of harm is not the same as evidence of safety.
That gap is why we do not tell pregnant patients it is fine, and why we do not tell them it is dangerous either. The decision belongs with the provider who knows your pregnancy.
For Your Next Appointment
Questions to Ask Your OB or Midwife
"Is red light therapy OK?" is a hard question for any provider to answer in the abstract. These details make it a concrete one:
Heat: the pod is warm
A full-body pod feels like lying in gentle warmth for 15 minutes. ACOG advises avoiding saunas and hot tubs early in pregnancy because they raise core body temperature, and advises avoiding overheating, especially in the first trimester. A red light pod is not a sauna, but ask your provider whether the warmth matters for you.
Position: lying on your back
You lie down inside our pod. ACOG's guidance on exercise in pregnancy advises avoiding lying flat on your back as much as possible, because the uterus can press on a large vein and briefly lower blood pressure. This matters more as pregnancy progresses, so ask how it applies to you.
Exposure: full body, including the abdomen
A full-body pod treats your whole body at once. Many providers who are comfortable with some light exposure still advise avoiding the abdomen during pregnancy. A full-body session cannot do that.
Your medications and skin
Mention any medication you take, since some increase sensitivity to light. If you have darker skin, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that visible light, including red light, can cause hyperpigmentation.
Device details to bring with you
Prism Light Pod, full-body, 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared LEDs, no UV, 15-minute automated sessions, lying down inside the enclosure, typically used 2 to 3 times per week (see how often people use red light therapy).
Our Clinic's Position
We Ask Pregnant Patients to Get Clearance From Their OB or Midwife First
If you are pregnant, please talk to your OB or midwife before booking red light therapy with us. If they clear you, bring that conversation to your first session and we will go through the details with you, including how long you are in the pod and how you are positioned.
If you are not sure yet, call us. We are happy to answer questions about the device so you have specifics to take to your provider.
While You Wait
Other Care at MindBody Med During Pregnancy
If you and your provider decide to hold off on red light therapy, our clinic offers chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture under the same roof. Our acupuncturist Dr. Julie Booker has practiced since 2003, and her practice includes pregnancy-related care.
Tell the front desk you are pregnant when you book any service, and check with your OB or midwife about which options are right for you.
After Pregnancy
What About Postpartum and Breastfeeding?
Research on red light therapy while breastfeeding is also limited. The same approach applies: check with your OB, midwife, or pediatric provider first, mention any medication you are taking, and protect your eyes during any session. Once you have the go-ahead, the general safety picture in our red light therapy safety guide and eye safety guide applies.
Red Light Therapy and Pregnancy: Common Questions
Is red light therapy safe during pregnancy?
Red light therapy has not been established as safe during pregnancy. It contains no UV and is non-ionizing, but pregnant people are rarely included in red light research, so there is little direct evidence either way. Many providers advise deferring it until after pregnancy or avoiding exposure over the abdomen. Talk to your OB or midwife before using any red light device while pregnant.
Can I use red light therapy in the first trimester?
Ask your OB or midwife first. The first trimester is when the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists most strongly advises avoiding overheating, and it recommends against saunas and hot tubs early in pregnancy because they raise core body temperature. A full-body red light pod is warm. It is not a sauna, but the warmth is worth raising with your provider.
Can I use a red light face mask while pregnant?
A face mask avoids the abdomen and does not involve lying in a warm enclosure, but it still has not been established as safe in pregnancy. Check with your OB or midwife first, and protect your eyes according to the device directions.
Can red light therapy harm a baby?
There is no established evidence that it does, and no established evidence that it does not. That gap is the reason for caution. Red and near-infrared light are not ionizing like X-rays, but with so little research in pregnancy, the decision should be made with your OB or midwife.
Can I do red light therapy while breastfeeding?
Research on red light therapy while breastfeeding is limited. Ask your OB, midwife, or pediatric provider before starting, especially if you take any medication that increases sensitivity to light.
Does MindBody Med offer red light therapy to pregnant patients?
We ask pregnant patients to get clearance from their OB or midwife first. If your provider clears you, bring that conversation with you to your first session so we can talk through the details, including session length and how you are positioned in the pod.
More on Red Light Therapy Safety
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
Side effects, who should avoid it, and how a clinic session differs
Can Red Light Therapy Cause Cancer?
UV, melanoma, and what the research shows
Is Red Light Therapy Bad for Your Eyes?
Near-infrared, cataracts, and why goggles matter
Red Light Therapy at MindBody Med
Pricing, packages, and how the Prism Light Pod works
How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?
Session frequency and why more is not better
Sources
- Can I use a sauna or hot tub early in pregnancy?, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Exercise During Pregnancy, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Is red light therapy right for your skin?, American Academy of Dermatology
- Radiation Basics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This article is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a conversation with your healthcare provider. Red light therapy is a complementary wellness service. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.