Are Sea-Bands and acupressure wristbands safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about Sea-Bands and acupressure wristbands during pregnancy?

1. First-trimester women wearing Sea-Bands with acupressure buttons reported significantly less frequent and less severe nausea and vomiting than the placebo group, and less than on the days they wore no bands. 1
2. Evidence for P6 acupressure, ear acupressure, and P6 acustimulation was limited across a Cochrane review of 41 trials in 5,449 women, with no single intervention backed by high-quality evidence. 2
3. In a double-blind randomized trial of 149 women at 6 to 11 weeks, self-applied pressure at the P6 point three times a day for one week lowered nausea and vomiting scores compared with no intervention. 3
4. Nausea and vomiting affects roughly 80% of pregnant women, usually beginning between 4 and 9 weeks and peaking between 7 and 12 weeks, which is the window most wristband studies looked at. 4
5. Mild nausea and vomiting of pregnancy may settle with lifestyle and dietary changes, and how severe a woman judges her own symptoms to be plays a critical role in whether and how to escalate. 5

Is Sea-Bands and acupressure wristbands safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Most of the research sits here. In the original Sea-Band study, first-trimester women wearing bands with acupressure buttons reported less frequent and less severe nausea and vomiting than the placebo group, and less than during the days they wore nothing. Low cost and no drug exposure make bands a sensible thing to try early.
• Second trimester. Bands are easy to keep around as a backup once nausea eases, especially for a commute or a long car trip. If they have done nothing after a couple of weeks of honest use, they are not going to start, and it is worth moving on.
• Third trimester. Hands and wrists swell more late in pregnancy, so check the fit. If a band leaves a deep mark, feels tight, or makes your hand ache, take it off and let things settle before putting it back on.