8dpo - spa day

[foxdrops]

Hi,

Sorry if this seems neurotic, but, today I had a spa day with friends. Thought nothing of it until I googled 'sauna while pregnant' just to check wether or not I would be worth getting an annual membership...

To my horror I read lots of info about birth defects caused by using the sauna in the first trimester and how it's especially bad in the first month

Now I'm only 8dpo and may not even be pregnant, but not I'm terrified incase I am. Can anyone add any info for me?

Try not to worry! Assume everything is fine until someone tells you it isn't. No point in worrying about it now especially if you aren't definitely pregnant. However as you are ttc it might be a good idea to research things you shouldn't do whilst pregnant.

Thanks... furiously googling "things you shouldn't do whilst pregnant."

For future reference you shouldn't really do anything that changes your core temperature. So no baths, jacuzzis, sauna & steam or if you're taking it very seriously no extreme cold either which includes frozen foods. No point worrying now though, wait and see.

You don't know if you're pregnant so just go.

Oops. Read it wrong. Yes you did the right thing by going because you don't know if you are pregnant or not.

I wouldn't worry too much. There hasn't been research that saunas etc cause birth defects, avoidance is recommended because it is possibly a risk, plus there is a risk you would faint/get dehydrated.

I was on honeymoon our first month of TTC and I was due my period on the first day. I did pregnancy tests on the first and third day after my period was due which were both negative so at that point I went in the sauna, outdoor spa pools (going up to 48 degrees C), jacuzzi... you name it, I did it for 5 days straight. Then the day before we flew home I still hadn't seen my period so we sourced a pregnancy test (just to stop me speculating) and yup- glowing and immediate BFP! I was worried then that my spa antics over the past week might have done something awful but I'm now 30 weeks and still have a very 'typically developed' baby, no ill effects.

(What I'm trying to say from that long rambling OP is that you'll be fine, especially at 8DPO!) Enjoy :) xx

Should read "hope you enjoyed!" 😊

Oh wow Mummabubs!

What a great story and to get your BFP on honeymoon- good going

Thanks for all your replies- you have all made me feel much better. This is out first time TTC and there is so much to learn!! I feel like a bit of a nervous wreck, not conducive to a positive baby making atmosphere

No frozen food or baths, I've heard it all now! Sales of icecream will plummet if pregnant women stop eating it for temperature reasons How do women in freezing cold climates possibly maintain pregnancies if frozen food is cold enough to pose a risk?

Read proper research and info and use your own common sense op. A lot of the "advice" you'll see and hear is bullshit or over the top or scaremongering.

Yeah, have to agree with FoggyMist - I'm a healthcare professional that values research and as far as I'm aware there is no evidence whatsoever about frozen foods and TTC or early pregnancy. In fact the NHS advocates eating ice lollies in pregnancy if you're worried about dehydrating!! As for baths I was just told (like with hot tubs after you're pregnant) to use common sense and avoid having scalding hot baths in the first trimester, I.e not hot enough to make your bump go bright red! Definitely doesn't mean you can't have baths though! Xx

FYI, no need to be rude about it.

The hot bath thing is absolute common knowledge and you can ask your midwife for advice. Sorry I missed the word "hot". 🙄

Have a research into Traditional Chinese medicine. Cold foods draw blood supply away from the womb, which SOME believe can lead to a weak egg not implanting or developing thus ending in miscarriage.

It's not something I personally practice, but it does exist. I was only recently given this advice. And just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it others are bullshitting.

The information is out there if you listen to the ladies going through multiple miscarriages, fertility treatments, infertility. I really hope you never have to look at alternative medicine in the future!!

Have a research into Traditional Chinese medicine. Cold foods draw blood supply away from the womb, which SOME believe can lead to a weak egg not implanting or developing thus ending in miscarriage.

That's nonsensical woo. Your internal organs regulate their blood supply perfectly adequately and consistently no matter what temperature of food you eat. Pregnant women should probably avoid saunas, but they can certainly have baths, and there's enough overcautious advice out there already without people propagating absolute rubbish.

OP you'll be fine. 8dpo isn't yet really 'pregnant' anyway and in most cases you'd know if you felt too hot.

Don't worry too much, I know someone who got spectacularly drunk one New Year and had a 'three day hangover' - on day 3 the penny dropped and she took a test. Baby was completely fine!