Are hot baths safe during pregnancy?

[m0xxie]

I noticed many people talking about relaxing in a bath as a way to relieve stress during pregnancy, but I have seen it suggested in several places that baths are risky during pregnancy, due to the potential to raise one's body temperature and the possibility of effects on fetal development. I have seen people here express concerns that ultrasound may cause fetal developmental effects due to heating, so why not baths? Certainly I think everyone agrees that hot tubs, saunas and the like are not a good idea, but how do we know where we can safely draw the line?

Personally, there are few things I adore more than a nice soak, but I've been afraid to indulge. Can anyone offer me some firm information either way, or am i doomed to seven more months of showers?

[lrgs]

The concern would be getting your temperature up too high but as long as you exercise common sense you should not have to give up bathing............just make sure it isn't too hot. I love my baths and definitely don't give them up when pregnant.......I just make sure the water isn't scalding and I get out before I start to feel uncomfortably hot. I don't avoid hot tubs either, I just make sure they aren't overly hot and I only stay in a short time. I'm out well before my body temperature has the chance to get too high.

[Stitches]

I have a bath several times a week for my sanity and my aches and pains. I hate showers and rarely have them. I figure, that unlike a hot tub, the water cools down pretty quickly, and I bathe with my daughter for the most part which limits how hot I can have the water. I'm not stewing myself in the tub so I enjoy it and don't worry about it. I bathed just as much during my last pregnancy too.

[MissMorgan]

You'll probably start to feel icky enough to get out before you've raised your temperature too much. As long as you don't get out looking like a lobster and feeling faint you're probably not overdoing it.
I would love nothing more than to take a bath (or 2 or 10 depending on the day) right now but we don't have a bathtub. When we were on vacation I took two amazingly lovely hot baths and it did wonders for my mood and ribcage pain. I tell my partner every single day that I want to take a bath. So.. take one for me and enjoy it!

[PancakesMancakes]

I took them all the time...

[MaerynPearl]

I HAVE to have hot hot hot sitz baths for my hemorrhoids... as my doctor says, if I start feeling lightheaded... get out.

[PancakesMancakes]

omg, mae i have major hemis too

[karen1968]

Yep, the big thing is to not let your internal temp get too high. A warm bath is just fine. A hot one is borderline, but as PP have said, get out before you feel faint! If you are worried, you can keep a thermometer next to the tub and check from time to time. I think 102 is the critical high temp. And the heat is more dangerous in the first trimester.

[Nicole730]

My midwife said to keep my own temp under 102. I took hot baths all the time! I love baths.

[momasana]

I took baths all the time during my first pregnancy and now with the second. I was freezing during the first trimester during both pregnancies and a bath was the only thing that would stop my teeth from chattering cold.

[MaerynPearl]

between freezing in the first tri (this time around first tri was december through march! and with DD it was October through December! ugh!) and how uncomfortable I get at the end (if this is your first baby make a note - water = heaven) I nearly live in the tub. I cannot wait to move and have a pool to be in all the time!

[wills_mom]

I was even given the ok to use the hot tub at the gym as long as I kept it under 5 minutes. Now that is heaven! My OB recommended under 5 mins as a safe zone for not raising core temp. She said no more then 10 mins max (the spa has a max temp of 104) but I keep it to around 3-5 minutes. I make sure to drink my water while in there too.

[HeatherB]

I've always bathed while pg. Nearly always, it's a regular tub that's not so deep that I'm actually fully covered. My core temp won't get very high when half my body is exposed! The one time I remember being able to indulge in a deep, whirlpool tub, I did so until I felt a bit "off," and then promptly got out. I don't remember now if it was lightheaded, or what, but my body clearly said, "That's enough!" It was absolutely lovely until then, though.

We're moving at the very end of this pregnancy to a home with a whirlpool tub, and I am definitely looking forward to using it during those final weeks of aches and pains and heaviness! Moderation is certainly key, though.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I about lived in the bath when I was pg with dd and ds both. I just kept a fan blowing on me and watched how I felt.

[paintedfire]

We just moved into our new house that we gut-renovated from the studs up, basically, so it's pretty much my dream house.

Hence, my claw foot bathtub (swoon!). No way is anyone keeping me out of that thing. Nuh-uh.

By the way, Mae - totally jealous that you're going to have a pool. I have to trek to the the YMCA to go swimming. Of course you're going to have to live in North Carolina and I live in New York, so I guess these are the tradeoffs.

[mummy marja]

I am 35 weeks and started having saunas about a month ago. My midwife said it would only be a problem if I stayed in a long time. It's prolonged fever that can be dangerous. So I go in for a few minutes at a time, and it feels so wonderful. I let my body guide me--if I feel lightheaded or dizzy, I know that was too long.