Test early - before spa weekend? What risks are there?

[Jellybabie3]

So this prob a stupid question but i am going to throw it out there anyway...
OH birthday next week on cd28. Hes been really run down and we have had not much time together over xmas (during the day) so i decided to book a long spa weekend starting on his bday and ending on 15th (cd2 potentially). I clearly didnt think the dates through as the day we go is the day before AF/testing is due. The plan was obviously to relax have a massage, wine and use the facilities including sauna, steam room and hot tub and test if no AF arrival when we get back. Ideally i dont want to test early to avoid any false hope on squinters. But now i hear spas are not good whilst pregnant and there are others online suggesting MC as a result of overheating.

What do i do? Test before i go and if BFP boycot treatments (i obv wont have medical certificate for a pregnancy one) and all facilities? Or wait til i get back? I guess i dont really understand what risks there are?

Btw i appreciate i am probably answering my own questions (i obv dont want to risk anything)
Positive opk 31st dec cd15
Dtd cd8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17

[Crumbs1]

No, miscarriage is not caused by being warm. The risk with hot tubs/saunas is lowering of blood pressure and fainting- pregnancy predisposes you to this anyway.
Alcohol also poses a potential risk of FAS but you need an amount to cause that.
The greatest risk is that if coincidentally you miscarried, you would assume it was the Spa and blame yourself. Something like 1 in four pregnancies miscarry so there is always a risk in early days.

[INeedNewShoes]

I think there's more to it than that.

From babycentre website:

Getting too hot at any stage of your pregnancy can make you feel faint and dizzy, and may be harmful to your growing baby. It’s especially important not to get too hot in your first trimester, when your body isn't as good at regulating its own temperature.

www.babycentre.co.uk/a623/preventing-overheating-during-exercise#ixzz4UsRHrFW2

[BreatheDeep]

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2402.aspx?CategoryID=54

The problem is they may raise your core temperature and that may harm a developing baby. But there is no concrete research of this. You can use a hot tub or sauna for short periods of time though. Also be wary of fainting as the temperature can cause that too.

[INeedNewShoes]

I personally wouldn't risk it any saunas/jacuzzis. If you do find out you're pregnant you'll worry about the effects.

Also, women who have fertility treatment are told to avoid overheating and baths during the two week wait which suggests that there must be evidence to suggest the conceiving/early pregnancy and hot water are not a good mix.

[Jellybabie3]

Ok i guess i test before we go and if i get a BFP boycott the facilities -minus the heated pool which is 29C. Massage should be ok though?

[Jellybabie3]

Anyone know how hot baths can be then? Im used to really hot, really long baths

[thatsnotmybear]

Massage and the use of essential oils isn't recommended in early pregnancy either I'm afraid! I'd booked a spa day with a friend then found out I was pregnant and had to swap my massage for a facial. I'm a fan of hot baths too but made do with warm ones during pregnancy (hot baths after birth are excellent though!)

[Jellybabie3]

Ok thanks for the info.

[MakeLemonade]

You could do a manicure or a pedicure, a head massage or facial should be fine too. They will have a plain oil that can be used. Just ask for no essential oils.

[Jellybabie3]

Yes thats true. We have our massages already booked in as the hotel is fully booked. I guess if i do get the BFP i will just tell them and hope they have someone qualified to do something different or i will cancel. I just read somewhere you need a doctor s note and clearly i wont have one!! Ah well. Better to get the BFP for sure and the weekend is for OH really. As long as i am still allowed an afternoon tea....i am literally hoping for a BFP i may not even get but atleast i am prepared now.

Just found out the sweetner i use in tea is also not advised for pregnancy so its been an eye opening day!

[Jellybabie3]

Im still in a pickle of what to do. AF due saturday. ICs have been negative so far. Is it worth doing FRER? I have no symptoms of AF. Just a heavy feeling on both sides (odd) this morn. Obviously i dont want to have massage on fri if theres a chance i could be preg but at the same time i dont want to cancel everything if AF slams me on sat morning....

[user1467976192]

Can't have a massage, it increases the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester and the use of essential oils can cause harm to the baby or increase the risk of miscarriage

[Jellybabie3]

So i need to do FRER

[JaxingJump]

Whatever you feel comfortable doing in terms of heat will be fine I'm sure. So much scaremongering! How to people in hot countries survive!

Of course don't scald yourself but if you are comfy and warm in a jacuzzi the jets won't expel the (unconfirmed) foetus out of you contrary to popular belief. Instinct if what is ok and what is not goes a long way OP.

[JaxingJump]

Ps. I'd have the massage with zero qualms. But it's your call if you think it's a risk. You could tell the masseuse to use pregnancy friendly oils, there's plenty. And again, I doubt the massage itself can cause a miscarriage.

[colourmylife]

I'm in the exact same position as you. Going away this weekend for my birthday and we have a hot tub and have read conflicting advice online.
I had pink/light brown watery spotting on 8dpo and cramps ever since so there is a chance I'm pregnant. I'm going to test beforehand and if I'm pregnant I will check how warm the water is in the hot tub (it's an outdoor wood fired one so can't imagine it getting really hot) and maybe just sit with my legs dangled in. Don't want to risk anything. Good luck

[user1467976192]

A massage can cause miscarriage however if you let the massuse know you are pregnant they can modify the massage to avoid any pressure points that put the baby at risk. It is advised to avoid massage in the first trimester.
I am currently halfway through a massage course and personally wouldn't massage a pregnant person however someone with more experience may well do, in the future I want to study massage and aromatherapy in pregnancy so I can practice safely

[Jellybabie3]

I checked with the hotel and the hot tub is 36 -37 degrees. I have heard below 38 is ok? The pool is 29

[Jackiebrambles]

Before I got pregnant I had no idea about the massage thing.

I went on holiday at about 6 weeks pregnant and thought 'oh I'm not drinking, poor me, I'll have a lovely massage in the spa'.

They wouldn't massage me, they avoid it particularly in the early months of pregnancy - to do with pressure points and essential oils maybe? Anyway, they wouldn't do it.
I had a facial instead.

The second time I got pregnant I did go to a spa and used the sauna and the jacuzzi literally a day before I got a BFP. I also had quite a lot to drink. Baby is now 18 months and perfect!

Hope you get your bfp!

[AliceThrewTheFookingGlass]

Getting too hot at any stage of your pregnancy can make you feel faint and dizzy, and may be harmful to your growing baby.

I think the wording of this bit of advice causes some confusion. I've seen it posted many times when the topic of pregnancy and heat comes up. The words 'too hot' are key here. If you're so hot you feel faint and dizzy then you're overheating which is dangerous pregnant or not. It's the actual overheating (and the follow on effects of that) that is the danger to the pregnancy not the heat itself. It's true that your ability to regulate body temperature can change during the first trimester but this isn't something that happens at conception and absolutely shouldn't be a problem at the time AF would be due when the pregnancy would only very recently have implanted. Even if it was a problem your core body temperature could not rise enough to cause significant damage to yourself or your baby without some pretty obvious symptoms of it first eg: feeling faint and dizzy. It's not something that can happen and you be blissfully unaware of it.

[delilahbucket]

Frer the day before you go and if it's negative I would assume you are out.
Be careful what you read on the internet. You could spend your entire life wrapped in cotton wool if you believed everything you read!
The NHS guidelines state that under 35 degrees is fine for water. The only thing they state about massage is that there isn't a lot research into it. The only certain thing is that your belly should not be massaged during the first 12 weeks.
The introduction of early pregnancy tests is a relatively new thing. When I had my son nine years ago, testing before your period was virtually unheard of. Most women didn't know and still don't know, if they are pregnant before their period is late. If we were all at such a major risk so early on, just from living our lives, then we would be encouraged to test earlier.

[Laineymc7]

I have a bath at 37 degrees and have done all through pregnancy. I just check it's not too hot. As long as you don't spend ages in the jacuzzi and don't get too hot. You can use the pool just not the sauna or steam room as they are hotter. Massages are fine as long as you say you may be pregnant. The will adjust the oils etc. Try not to worry and enjoy your break. If you test the morning you go you may be able to relax a bit more.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Jacuzzis are not allowed either due to risk of infection.

[Jellybabie3]

Yep. Im not having a massage

[Jellybabie3]