What should pregnant women do if they have a stiff neck? Can pregnant women with a stiff neck use cupping?

Stiff neck is a common problem when we sleep. Generally, we can just massage our neck. Pregnant women have different sleeping postures than ordinary people, so they are more likely to get stiff neck at night. What can pregnant women do if they have stiff neck?

1. Cold and hot compresses. Generally, stiff neck is an acute injury, with local pain and stiffness, so only cold compresses can be used within 48 hours. You can wrap small ice particles in a towel and apply them to the affected area for 15-20 minutes each time, twice a day. In severe cases, you can apply it once an hour. When the pain symptoms are relieved, pregnant women can consider hot compresses. You can use a hot towel for wet compresses, infrared heaters for irradiation, or a salt water bottle filled with hot water for dry compresses. In addition, you can also try using a hair dryer to blow on one side of the stiff neck for about 5 minutes.

2. Massage ① Neck massage The pregnant mother takes a sitting position, exposing the neck and shoulders. The family members stand behind the pregnant woman and press the neck with one finger to find the most painful point. Then use a thumb to start from the top of the neck on that side until the shoulder and back. Massage in sequence. Massage the most painful point vigorously until you feel obvious soreness and swelling, which means that the strength is enough. Repeat the massage 2 to 3 times, and then tap the massaged area with a hollow fist, and repeat 2 to 3 times. Repeating the above massage and tapping can quickly relax the spasmodic cervical muscles and relieve pain. ② Massage the Neiguan acupoint Neiguan acupoint is located on the flexor side of the forearm, two inches above the transverse wrist line, between the palmaris longus tendon and the radial wrist flexor tendon. The main effects of Neiguan acupoint are to calm the mind, soothe the liver and stomach, and relieve pain. Operation method: First, the operator cuts the nail of his right thumb short, then the operator holds the back of the hand on the affected side with his left hand, so that the wrist joint is properly flexed, so as to relax the tendons of the wrist flexor group at the wrist. Then, place the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of the right hand on the back of the Neiguan acupoint, and pinch the Neiguan acupoint with the thumb to make the patient feel sore, heavy and sleepy in the upper limbs, shoulders and neck. ③ Put the middle, index and ring fingers of the left or right hand together, find the tender points in the painful neck (mostly in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, trapezius muscle, etc.), and press and rub from light to heavy for about 5 minutes. You can alternate between the left and right hands. ④ Use the hypothenar to hit the shoulder and neck from top to bottom and from bottom to top quickly for about two minutes. ⑤ Press the Luozhen point (between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones on the back of the hand, 5 points behind the metacarpophalangeal joint) with the thumb or index finger, and continue for 2-3 minutes when you feel soreness. ⑥ Finally, perform activities such as flexion, backward tilt, left and right side deviation and rotation of the head and neck. This movement should be performed slowly and must not be too strong.

3. Moxibustion can be used to relieve the pain of a stiff neck in pregnant women, but it should not be used frequently. Family members or professionals hold a pen in their right hand and aim the tip of the moxa stick at the affected area. The tip of the moxa stick is about one inch away from our skin and the moxa stick is at a 45° angle to our skin. Remember to hold it like a pen until the skin feels warm but not scalded. Moxibustion for half an hour. After moxibustion, take a half-hour break in the moxibustion room away from the wind.

4. Adjust sleeping position Most pregnant women suffer from stiff neck because of improper sleeping position. Pregnant women should adjust their sleeping position in time, especially choose the right pillow. Pregnant women must sleep on their left side, not on their back or right side, otherwise it will be bad for the health of the fetus. If pregnant mothers are worried about their changing sleeping positions, they can use soft clothes and quilts to properly raise their right hips to help maintain their sleeping position. In addition, pregnant women should use a suitable and good pillow. The so-called good means that it is soft and hard, high and low, and breathable.

Experts say that although cupping has so many benefits, it is best not to use it on pregnant women, as it can cause threatened miscarriage, especially on the abdomen and groin.

Cupping during pregnancy will not only have adverse effects on the pregnant woman herself, but also affect the development of the baby. When cupping is required in special circumstances, it must be done under the guidance of an experienced doctor. The corresponding acupoints for cupping will also change according to different situations.

If pregnant mothers have headaches, fatigue and other discomforts during pregnancy, they can use some massage methods to relieve them. They should pay attention to drinking more water and getting more rest. At the same time, they should have regular prenatal check-ups and report any physical discomfort to the doctor in a timely manner.

1. Choose a pillow that is beneficial to your health. Improper use of a pillow is one of the causes of stiff neck.

2. Be careful to avoid bad sleeping postures, such as lying prone with the head and neck bent to one side; falling asleep before lying down properly when extremely tired; the head and neck are in the wrong position, excessively flexed or stretched, etc.

3. Be careful to avoid catching cold, being blown by wind and getting caught in rain. Be sure to cover yourself with a quilt when you sleep at night, especially the shoulders and neck should be tucked in tightly, or you can wrap both sides with a sweater to prevent you from catching cold while sleeping and allowing the cold wind to invade the neck and shoulders, causing blood stasis and damage to the blood vessels, leading to illness.

4. Pay attention to a balanced diet, reasonably combine meat and vegetables, and consume more foods rich in vitamins, trace elements, and calcium, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and soy products.

5. Do regular and moderate exercise, especially cervical spine exercises, such as the "M" exercise, which is an easy-to-perform neck health exercise.

It is best not to use plasters to treat stiff neck during pregnancy.

Plasters are traditional Chinese medicine preparations, most of which contain musk, frankincense, safflower, myrrh, peach kernel and other blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing ingredients to achieve anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, pregnant women should not use drugs that have blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing effects to avoid causing miscarriage. Therefore, it is best not to apply plasters to treat stiff necks in pregnant women.