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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Baths in pregnancy - are they ok??!!

36 replies

Rhinestone · 15/02/2012 23:17

I was assured today by a rather annoying earnest woman that you shouldn't have baths during pregnancy as the warm water heats you up internally and is bad for the baby.

This sounds to me like the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard but she was adamant and pregnancy hormones are making me doubt my own common sense.

Am too embarrassed to ask any RL people in case they think I'm completely gullible so can anyone tell me if this is right or not??! Thanks.

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Bunsouttheoven · 15/02/2012 23:19

Tis utter tosh

4madboys · 15/02/2012 23:19

its fine to have baths in pregnancy but they do recomend that you dont have boiling boiling hot ones, but i am one of those people that like to look like a lobster in the bath, so i had them cooler than usual but still nice and warm :)

the only time they arent recomended is once your waters have broken, if you dont go into labour, but once in labour they are good for pain relief :)

4madboys · 15/02/2012 23:20

btw when preg with ds1 it was summr (aug baby) and i had a very neat, little bump, no stretch marks and was at uni, i wore short tops with my bump out nad someone told me not to as i would overheat the baby..some people are just MAD!

Nearlycooked · 15/02/2012 23:23

I am a bath addict - hot hot hot baths for hours on end so giving them up in pregnancy was a tough call! I had loads of baths in the end, for hours on end as it was Sssoooo soothing, but cranked the usual boil in the bag temp right down to a more sensible level. Have a lovey 4 month old daughter - and she does not resemble a lobster ! No doubt others will follow telling you 'no' to baths but the relief you get lying in water of a sensible temperature at 8months plus is fantastic!! Grab your rubber duck and have a soak!!!

misslinnet · 15/02/2012 23:25

I think the advice against baths is more against excessively hot baths.

Nearlycooked · 15/02/2012 23:25

P.s have not had a bath since DD was born :( actually asked for a bath session as a birthday present!!!!! Just waiting for a volunteer baby sitter to release me for a couple of hours - so I would enjoy them now as they will be a thing of the past after baby arrives! Lol!

P.p.s HAVE had showers!!!!!

BumbleBee2011 · 15/02/2012 23:27

I did same as 4madboys, bath slightly cooler than usual. Had lots of baths, they were my reward after a hard day, and really helped with labour!

Original poster

Rhinestone · 15/02/2012 23:28

OK, so baths ok so long as not lobster-cooking temperature! Thanks ladies, off for a soak to ease my backache.

Bump not even showing yet but got awful backache - I'm just not sure where it's growing to!!!

OP posts:

lindsell · 15/02/2012 23:30

I would go mad without my daily bath! I'm 28wks and ache constantly (have spd), a nice long soak in the bath is the only time I don't ache. I agree with other posters, it's only if it's really really hot that it could be an issue.

igggi · 15/02/2012 23:35

I do worry that my idea of just warm might be someone else's idea of boiling..
(A market for mum-to-be bath thermometers perhaps, maybe with pictures of cake on them instead of duckies?)

4madboys · 15/02/2012 23:38

i think as long as you are comforable basically, you will know if its too hot, when i mean lobster hot i mean my skin changes colour as i get in and i have to sswing my legs out the sides everynow and then as i get too hot, plus your face gets sweaty! you know proper hot! wouldnt have them that hot in pregnancy but a good warm bath is fine and i had LOADS, also had spd and at the end of pregnancy its about the only place you can get comfortable!

littlemisssarcastic · 15/02/2012 23:40

I loved my baths whilst I was pg. I did have them quite hot too.

I continued having hot baths up until I went into labour. (I didn't go into labour in the bath btw.)

My doctor told me this was fine, so long as I got out of the bath if my waters broke. I did often wonder how I'd tell if my waters had broken if I was laying in the bath.
I don't know the answer to that I'm afraid, but baths in pregnancy are fine AFAIK.

spiderlight · 15/02/2012 23:44

I was a bit worried about them after my friend got into the bath while hugely pregnant and alone in the house and then couldn't get out again, so she was stuck floundering around for a couple of hours until her OH got home. Apparently it was OK until the hot water ran out.

CervixWithASmile · 15/02/2012 23:54

4madboys, do you mean 'prickly bum hot'? :)

Nearlycooked · 15/02/2012 23:55

It's great fun watching your bump move in the bath!

Bossybritches22 · 15/02/2012 23:58

The only reason for not too hot would be because you don't want to have a fainty episode when you stand up, the baby won't cook!

A nice warm bath with about 5/7 drops of pure Lavender oil does wonders for the old back.

bettybat · 16/02/2012 12:43

Surely it must be down to that old wives tale about inducing a miscarriage with a hot bath and gin?

I love hot baths, newly pregnant ( very new!) and being a complete worrier, wondering what is warm, and what is too hot. I love watching episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians while in the bath and used to them being super hot. As in - wuss DH can't even stick a foot in.

morethemerrier · 16/02/2012 13:36

My DH looked shocked last night when I said I had got in the bath with DD, he said, 'is that wise?, don't they tell you not to have baths past a certain point when your pregnant?'

Cue me, 'what in case I get wedged in?' (have had ongoing 'craving' for xmas cake)

I am embarrassed to say this comes from a soon to be father of FOUR!

Needless to say he made a hasty retreat and I have yet to get to the bottom of his logic or where he got that idea from?!?

VikingLady · 16/02/2012 13:37

The midwife told me that it was fine as long as you don't get overheated, and the sign of that is sweating. Basically, you shouldn't get overheated in any situation when pregnant (it interferes with various growth processes as it mucks up chemical reactions) but it's really only an issue if it's really hot, and you are really uncomfortable.

Lovemarmite · 16/02/2012 19:17

I had the exact same worry about baths etc and had to go and see a nurse at 4 weeks as I'd had two very hot long saunas before I knew I was pregnant and also had taken some hot baths, and then managed to overheat the house with the wood burner and was sweating, so much so that I had to stand outside in December to cool down and this was after I knew I pregnant.
Got very worried about how silly I'd been - but the nurse, who had been a midwife, laughed and said no problem!
After some research at the time, it seems that saunas and hot tubs are not to be used but baths should not be a problem as you don't tend to be in them to cause your body to really over heat and baths start to cool down rather than heat up.
I now have my baths a bit cooler and wear a thicker jumper!

I've been through a few freak outs of 'oh my goodness... what have I done?!' on this pregnancy so far but I think it shows a sense of awareness and maybe I'm learning my previous habits/lifestyle has to be tailored for this time... can't wait to get back into a sauna though, only 6 months to go!

Hope you enjoy your bath again! Put some lovely tea lights around and relax :)

MistressofPemberley · 12/03/2013 17:45

Can I just pipe up?...
I bloody love mumsnet. I googled this very question as I can't go without a daily hot bath at the moment. I'm 18 weeks, constantly ill with flu, or chest infection, or suffering from the general exhaustion and aches and pains that come from being a pregnant teacher. When I search, All I get on my phone is a load of hysterical crap on a certain baby-centric website, usually the US version.
I always then remember to come here for sensible advice.
Thank you.

LuckyOwl28 · 12/03/2013 18:30

I haven't had any choice but to have a bath daily as our shower broke over Christmas and someone only came round to replace it this week!

I usually have my bath boiling hot - as in I have to get each body part in slowly so as not to feel boiled alive.

Having googled for info the general advice seemed to be as long as you can comfortably get in without wincing and/or going faint from the heat you'll be fine. I still have hot baths (cant imagine anything worse than a luke warm one!), but just 'sensibly hot'. Midwife confirmed this is fine.

Apparently anything over 98 degrees is classed as 'too hot'

ihearsounds · 12/03/2013 18:39

Well i would have been fucked well and truly in my previous place.. I had 2 pregnancies in that house and truly shite water pressure that couldnt support a shower.. No way was i walking round a smelly minger for months on end, and i had nightly baths.l I would have laughed if I was told I couldnt.. Were do people get these stupid ideas from, how did they think mums to be washed pre showers.

Smitten1981 · 12/03/2013 19:42

I asked the midwife about baths last week. I like them boiling and got in one then freaked out as I remembered the old wives tale about hot baths and miscarriages.

Anyway, midwife said they are fine and to enjoy my baths. Felt like a right plum asking, but glad I did. Everything seems to make me feel guilty at the moment in case I do any damage.

curlyclaz13 · 12/03/2013 20:08

I think I would be desperate without a regular bath ! stupid boiler means there is no way I can have it to hot. after a bout of sciatic the midwife recommended baths to help. I am looking forward to a lovely bath tonight.

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