When I purchased a home a few years ago, I had no idea what kind of workload I would be faced with. In addition to trying to figure out how to keep the place clean, I was also left with the challenge of tidying up the yard and keeping things trimmed. It was a little overwhelming, but I knew that I could do it with a little hard work and dedication. I started reading a lot of books and blogs about creating gorgeous things for your home and yard, and it was a great creative outlet. This blog is all about exciting, fun ways to make your home and yard even more beautiful.
Are you expecting a child? Will you be working at an office during your pregnancy, and are you looking for an office chair that will allow you maximum comfort as your body grows and changes to accommodate your soon-to-be-born baby? If so, here are 4 things to look for in an office chair when you hit the office furniture store.
1. Lumbar Support
Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your back; it's thought that between 50 percent and 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain during the course of their pregnancies, often in the lumbar regions, or lower backs. The cause of the pain can be attributed to weakened back muscles due to weight gain, pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the lower back, and poor posture due to an increase in the hormone relaxin, which relaxes the pelvic joints.
Office chairs with lumbar support conform to the alignment of the back. They are contoured to put just enough pressure on the lower back to correct your posture. And by holding the correct back posture while sitting at your desk, you'll strengthen the muscles in your lower back, thus alleviating much of the lumbar discomfort associated with pregnancy.
2. Heated Seats
As the hormone levels in your body start to fluctuate, you'll likely experience body temperature fluctuations that leave you feeling very hot or excessively cold. When this happens, any bit of control you can gain over your climate is a good thing. By opting for an adjustable heated seat when choosing an office chair, you allow yourself the ability to warm yourself when everybody else in the office is sweating but you're feeling a chill.
Don't worry; applying heat to your back is perfectly safe for your baby. And as a bonus, it can even help with the pregnancy-induced lumbar pain discussed above.
3. Adjustable Height
You'll likely experience generalized fluid retention during your pregnancy, and this swelling can even affect your hands and fingers. Sometimes, this swelling pinches your median nerves -- the nerves located in your arms that allows you to feel your fingers and controls the muscles of your thumbs. This condition is known as pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome, and it can cause pain and tingling sensations in your hands and fingers.
Holding your elbows at awkward positions while typing increases your odds of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Your elbows should be kept at a 90 degree angle while sitting at your computer. As your belly grows bigger and your posture changes, you may need to raise or lower your chair in order to keep your elbows at a 90 degree angle. For this reason, an office chair with an adjustable height seat is a must.
4. A Foot Rest
During pregnancy, your body's blood volume will increase by 40 percent to 50 percent. This increase in blood volume puts an immense amount of pressure on your venous system and can often result in unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins in your legs.
You can decrease your chances of developing varicose veins by elevating your feet to help your body pump blood from your lower extremities back to your trunk. Make sure your office chair comes with a foot rest or purchase one separately along with your chair so that you may elevate your feet periodically throughout the day.
The right office chair can make your pregnancy more comfortable and lower your chances of you developing some pregnancy-associated symptoms. If you're with child and you plan to work at an office for much of your pregnancy, visit your local office furniture store and ask to see a chair with the above 4 features.
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