Hot baths

[mandbaby]

I had NO idea (and this is my third pregnancy) that you're not supposed to have hot baths while pregnant. I only discovered this today when I had an email from a pregnancy website saying as much.

The other evening, I had a really hot bath and now I'm worried sick! I'm 15+3 and, as yet, haven't felt baby move (I didn't until week 16/17 with my other 2 pregnancies, but until I do feel movement I've obviously got no way of knowing whether things are ok or not).

I'd just like some reassurance please from other pregnant ladies who love a hot bath!

Surely difference between hot tub/ jacuzzi and a hot bath are that a bath cools down where as hot tubs etc remain hot? That was my understanding anyway...

I do sort of agree with you about the dumbing down of guidelines. I want to know why and make up my own mind too. My point with the NHS guidance was simply that you said that there was an injunction against hot baths, and I was pointing out that our main source of general public health information in this country gives no such injunction.

I am in the middle of the kids' tea so don't have time to read the link in great detail, but this leapt out from a quick scan:

"The majority of our participants did not use a regular bathtub (table 1). Use of a regular bathtub was not associated with the risk of miscarriage (aHR = 1.2, 95 percent CI: 0.8, 1.7), nor did it affect the association between hot tub or Jacuzzi use and the risk of miscarriage"

Ach, jesus, I'm not arguing for people to be more paranoid about normal activities.

But this thread was full of people saying there was no risk from overheating, people in hot countries are fine, yadda yadda. So what I'm saying that, while it's probably fine, it's also unfair to call it an old wive's tale, clearly. And from what I've read there IS a risk from overheating in the early stages, and different papers use different examples* of how this hyperthermia can take place. And that risk is small.

But I reckon knowledge is power. I'm not going to be reassured by people telling me it's irresponsible to read the actual research.

By the 'injunction' I should be clearer -- I meant the common advice we hear to avoid hot baths, saunas, etc etc. I don't read official NHS guidelines ever since they changed their advice on alcohol consumption based on absolutely fuck-all because, and I quote my doctor, 'lots of women don't understand what 'light drinking' is, so safest to say none'.

*That link I was trying to find out the distinction, if any, between them. Obviously, the difference between saunas, baths, jacuzzis, hot yoga etc depends on how you use all of them: fr'instance, I hate saunas and am out of them within minutes, whereas I like a two-hour v hot bath where I read a whole novel.

Anna - I did not say it was irresponsible to read it. I was saying quoting it/putting it on a thread without explaining what hyperthermia (not merely feeling warm) is was, bearing in mind how frightened (or guilty, if a post mc woman stumbled across it) might be.

And a small risk, identified after the old wives tale, doesn't negate it being one.
The Victorians thought cycling was dangerous for women as it was "unnatural" and the stance uncomfortably sexual.

Women are smaller than men, so may be injured worse if they have a cycling accident: osteoperosis means many older women are more likely to break bones.

Our modern, sensible knowledge doesn't stop the Victorian idea being hysteria. It is a different risk.

Just as conflating modern research about hyperthermia with the roots of "folk wisdom" (about abortion) could confuse. The new research is proper, but it doesn't back up the old.

As for medics being known for not telling us to worry, I have found the opposite to be true. I still have to rcplsin my miscarriages as everyone has a "reason" ... And as my diagnosed blood condition isn't folk wisdom, some still believe it was stress or hot baths (or seeing the elephant man for all I care). This includes gps.

Just imagine if, on a moderate-drink-in-pregnancy thread someone said "it's not patronising... Here's a case study!" With a FAS case where the woman drank 10+ units per day - but didn't qualify it with any example/statement that 10 units is loads.

The alcohol advice is over simplified.
Science knows FAS exists.

One doesn't overrule the other.

Oh, and I didn't attack the source. Not at all. I use it myself- but if I'm quoting on a forum, I explain any specialist terms.

Your repeated statement that I have, or that I am telling people not to research are either rhetoric or a demonstration you've just skim read my post.

But do you think every frightened woman will read that link ... Or will they just see "not an old wives tale" and the fact YOU read it? Think of your audience - hyperthermia IS a medical issue, not just feeling hot. I've given 1st aid for it and its not nice at all.