Long hot bath a big bad idea?

[MichaelaS]

I'm very fond of a nice bath, lots of bubbles and a book to read.

Lately I've been wondering if this is a bad thing or not when TTC? for example, I'm using an ovulation monitor and I ovulated on either CD19 or CD20 (monitor said both). I'm guessing it was actually CD20 as I had some stabbing pains.

Managed to BD on CD18 (monitor showing high but not peak fertility), so am feeling like I'm in with a chance this month. But then I realised I had a long soak on CD19. Will this kill off all the sperm? Does this sort of thing actually matter or not?

I know that taking a bath isn't a recommended form of post-BD contraception, but does it reduce chances at all?

hmm, just wondering. Mind playing tricks - soooo want a baby and don't want to do anything to reduce my chances.

Any thoughts?

[whomovedmychocolate]

Oh goodness me, if we avoided all the things that might influence conception we'd never do anything. I gave up everything in the bid to get pregnant - work (too stressful), tea (caffeine), sugar, running, everything I could think of. Didn't make a blind bit of difference. Got totally annoyed and pissed off, ate crap, yelled at DH had big fight, made up (he was drunk as a skunk at the time) conceived DD.

Was breastfeeding and trying NOT to get pregnant when conceived DS.

Your vagina is not like a sponge you know, the cervix keeps the water out and the sperm navigate in but it doesn't take that long till they are up out of the way.

So stop worrying, enjoy your baths! You won't be able to have them when you are pregnant though because your blood pressure plummets and you pass out and feel like an arse when your partner calls an ambulance

[MichaelaS]

thanks! that makes me feel a lot better. I don't have much of a cervix to speak of after having LLETZ for pre-cancerous cells, but i'm sure it's doing its job fine.

Right, come on egg, come on little swimmers, time to do your magic!

[xserialshopper]

Hi MichaelaS - I hope your preggi

Just to let you know that when you get a peak on the CB monitor it means that ovulation will happen within the next 24-36hrs after- ok!

[PeppermintPatty]

Agree with whomovedmychocolate.
It's also daft to avoid all the things you're supposed to avoid while pregnant in the 2 week wait, just in case you might be. If you're TTC for a while think how many sober weeks that could add up to

But hopefully you won't be waiting that long. Good luck

[yellowflowers]

you're all right saying you can't live life avoiding all risks, but I have read in more than one place that hot baths can raise body temperature to the point where it is not conducive to implantation - i avoid them during 2ww.

[yellowflowers]

you're all right saying you can't live life avoiding all risks, but I have read in more than one place that hot baths can raise body temperature to the point where it is not conducive to implantation - i avoid them during 2ww.

[mummy2t]

its fine just not while your pregnant so enjoy em while you can xxxxxxx

[whomovedmychocolate]

yellowflowers - each to their own. A determined sperm is not going to be put off by a wash!

Also your internal body temperature is 37 degrees or there abouts. The average bath temperature is about 45 degrees (go measure it if you don't believe me). You would have to be immerse at that temperature (ie without the water cooling) for upwards of 45 minutes to raise your body temperature above 40 and your body would then sweat to counteract it. So I'm a tad confused as to how these books think you could actually do any damage.

Now if you sat in a sauna for 45 minutes, you could potentially raise your body temperature that much....but in a bath? A domestic bath at least, it's very unlikely.

[yellowflowers]

oooh that's good because I love hot baths - maybe I will restart them during 2ww then. Avoiding them not exactly led to conception after all...

[MichaelaS]

hmmm, 45 minutes is not an unusual bath for me!

[FertilityFiend]

ooh I have always wondered this - I have a bath just about every morning (and hate not being able to have one!). So - if you shag in the morning then have a bath soon after, will this significantly affect the swimmers' chances?

Obv once they are through the cervix they are home and dry, so to speak, as the bath water won't get through the cervix (I assume). But how long does it take sperm to penetrate the cervix?

Re baths while pregnant, I continued having baths all the way through pregnancy with no mishaps. Unless you have a serious low BP pressure problem or something I don't think you have to give baths up unless you are having severe logistical problems levering yourself in and out! God knows there are few enough comforts during pregnancy, you have to take what opportunities there are.