Hot baths

[morningpaper]

Are hot baths still bad if you're pregnant?

What about hot water bottles on your feet all night?

[Gobbledigook]

I still hear that hot baths are a no-no but I had them with all 3 kids and they weren't affected! Also spent 2 weeks practically in a jacuzzi in Austria when pg with ds1 - only found out when I got back that they are a no-no too but again, no harm done!

[Angeliz]

Apparently hot baths are still bad, if you have to gently lower yourself in it's too hot and could heat up your 'core' body temperature. If you are sweating, it's too hot!
(I know this as i looked it up a few weeks ago when i had a hot bath )

However, midwife told me to use hot water bottle at the bottom of my bump which to me i just couldn't as i thought i might burn the baby!!!

[Angeliz]

I think it's because your temperature goes up and they don't know yet how it affects the blood flow to the placenta....i think!!

[morningpaper]

Oooh thanks for speedy responses!

What else do I avoid still:

• pate
  
• uncooked eggs
  
• alcohol
  
• underwired bras (i.e. that give me ANY cleavage)
  
  anything else?

[Catbert]

I also had quite hot baths during pregnancy. I was desperate to lower my burgeoning body into the relief of a bath, but absolutely cannot stand a lukewarm variety...

Yes - I understood it to be "frowned upon" but I also am a great believer that the human body does everything it can to ensure protection of the growing foetus, even at the detriment of mum and that as long as it wasn't scalding, and the magority of my body was clear of the water (for heat loss - most through head anyway) it was fine. It was. Twice.

[cori]

I had loads of hot baths last time around, no ill effect.
Whats that about underwired bras?

[Satine]

I was told that underwired bras might press on milk ducts, leading to increased risk of inflammation, mastitis etc so it only applies right at the end of your pregnancy and when breastfeeding. I wore my wired bras right up to the last few weeks with no problems. But experts may well correct me!

[Hanlou007]

Uncooked shellfish is a no no...and whippy ice cream too...

[starlover]

Wow, I never knew that about hot baths!!! I have been having lovely baths all through my pregnancy.
And having a hot water bottle on bump!

oops

[jessicasmummy]

couldnt havwe hot baths when pg - came over all dizzy and sweaty... lucky that happened otherwise i would have had hot baths all the way thru too!

[Angeliz]

I can't stand lukewarm baths though !!

[fisil]

hot water bottles yes. I checked it out with my GP when I was in my 1st trimester. Don't know how I'd survive without mine!

[Grommit]

I was told not to have hot baths during preganancy. There have been alot of threads on what to avoid eating - liver, pate, peanuts, shellfish, soft cheese, blue cheese, too much tuna (ie. should limit intake), anything made with raw eggs like meringue, smoked salmon or parma ham (as uncooked). I know this all seems OTT - my tip is not to go to France for holiday during pregancy - I did and spent the whole time drooling over cheese and shellfish!!! There has also been recent reports that you should have no alcohol.

[Gobbledigook]

In fact, just don't eat at all!

What a load of rubbish - I basically ate what I wanted but then I wouldn't eat shellfish anyway. There was even stuff about not eating ready prepared salads and chilled food from supermarkets because of the risk of listeria!! When has anyone you know every got listeria from eating Supermarket food! It's madness!

[Grommit]

Gobbledigook - I agree with you - it does seem a bit much considering our parents generation never had to follow these guidelines and we were OK! I just decided that I would avoid the foods as advised as if something did happen I would feel so guilty

Morning paper - the other is to avoid changing cat's litter trays or at least wear gloves

[Gwenick]

I had LOTS of hot baths when I was first pg with DS1 and drank lots of strong black coffee, and when I came back to the UK gorged out on Pate, Blue Cheese, Brie etc (didn't touch alcohol though) it was only when I had by first antenatal appointment at 20 weeks that I 'discovered' I shouldn't have had most of the things I'd been eating for the 4 months of pg LOL

[Gobbledigook]

Grommit, I know what you mean and I did avoid the things that were most likely to cause problems like raw eggs for example and I'm not a big drinker anyway so just had the odd glass of wine if out to dinner.

Def would avoid cat litter trays though as that carries the risk of toxoplasmosis which is quite dangerous to a foetus. I've actually had this (not when pg though) so it's def something that you could realistically catch.

[morningpaper]

What's the alcohol advice now? Still ok to drive 1-2 units once or twice a week?

[starlover]

yes, cat litter is the huge NO... my aunt had toxoplasmosis from cat litter and my cousin is blind in one eye, and has severe learning difficulties as a result.

current advice on alcohol is none! although my midwife said that the odd glass of red wine wouldn't hurt!

I agree with what others have said... that our parents/grandparents etc ate whatever they wanted and had no probs... but even if the risk is minute, you would feel so awful if something did happen to the baby and it was traced back to eating something...
I guess ignorance is bliss!

I think with things like the risk of listeria from salads it is more to do with how the baby will react, than yourself. It wouldn't necessarily be enough to harm an adult, which is why none of us know anyone who has had it... but to an unborn baby the small amount of bacteria could potentially be more harmful.

[morningpaper]

You sure about the alcohol thing Starlover? I checked the direct government site which gave the current advice as 1-2 units 1-2 times a week?

[starlover]

dunno, it was in a book i have, and the midwife said the same thing.
i guess it varies... I think I shall go with the one that lets you drink though!!!

[smellymelly]

There is new research to show that 'No Alcohol' is preferable, during pregnancy... Personally I have hardly drunk any throughout any of my pregnancies - 2 glassess of champagne at best friends wedding with ds1, and 2 large sherry's at end of my twin pregnancy last month just to get me through the last week!!

I always thought hot baths should be avoided - something to do with the way they used to try and miscarry in the past if the pregnancy was unwanted was to drink gin in a hot bath, if I remember correctly. Can't imagine hot water on your feet will be a problem.

The only food I avoided in my last 2 pregnancies was pate (because of Vitamin A) and blue cheese. I craved smoked salmon and king prawns in the last trimester, and ate the prawns nearly every day, and I was fine.

[starlover]

i am vegetarian and can't stand blue cheese.... so i guess i never came across much I couldn't eat!

I have to admit that I did crave peanuts though, so now I am paranoid that the baby is gonna have a peanut allergy.

[smellymelly]

Oh I forgot about peanuts, yes I avoided them to.