Quick! Someone tell me I'm being ridiculous!

[Littleredhead1983]

I'm 5+4 and a teensy bit paranoid! Lastnight I decided to stay in and watch some trash TV with a nice alcohol-free beer (I recommend Erdinger Blue, if anyone's interested) in a nice hot bubble bath.

So, ran my bath, it was way too hot so I put some cold water in and then gently lowered myself in.

After about 15 minutes I was really starting to overheat and then realised with horror that I'm not supposed to sauna when pregnant because of overheating, and what if it's the same for baths- so I looked it up and sure enough apparently a hot bath can cause birth defects and miscarriage, especially in early pregnancy.

I'm sure as it was just one and I got out as soon as I read that and had a cool shower it'll be ok but I'm just looking for reassurance...have I boiled my baby??

No you haven't boiled your baby. You'll be fine.

I think the biggest risk is the heat making you more likely to pass out.

I was paranoid about this to start with, but realised it would be fine. To save future worry, I was told to try to keep the water warm enough to be enjoyable but not so hot as to turn your skin pink. Also, take water with you and stay hydrated.

Honestly, you'll be fine. I love hot baths and forgot about this until recently, I'm just over 13w and would have boiled mine many times over if that were the case! Worst I've had is nausea + vomiting straight after getting out, possibly brought on by heat then cold.

Oh I had loads of hot baths. I think so long as you don't faint then you'll be fine!

You have to raise your core body temperature significantly for a significant length of time for there to be any risk. A hot tub or sauna is different because it maintains its heat consistently and all of your skin is exposed to hot water or steam, so your body can't cool itself by sweating, whereas a bath cools down quickly once run. Even though you felt overly hot, your core body temperature wouldn't have been raised for long enough to be of concern.

I literally took luke warm baths for first 8 weeks and my midwife told me I was being rediculous and to go home and have a bath I'd enjoy!
You may not have time for a relaxing hot bath in a few months enjoy it

Phew! Mind well and truly put to rest.

I shall continue to enjoy lovely long baths, just maybe make sure they're a wee bit cooler than "scalding".

Thanks, all :)

Honestly you will be fine. There's very little research about overheating effect on embryos, and then mostly about women having a fever - not sitting in a hot bath for 15 minutes.

This study states that you would get out of sauna/hot tub before you get overheated anyway:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1862577/

This study from Finland did not find any connection between sauna and birth defects:
www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0ahUKEwjm5sGU66bLAhVJQhQKHR2BAtMQFgg2MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.circumpolarhealthjournal.net%2Findex.php%2Fijch%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F18102%2F20610&usg=AFQjCNE_h9W8EKTUM_11lG9JBw1zQIOrRQ&bvm=bv.115339255,d.d24
The incidence of anencephaly in Finland, where 95 to 99 % of pregnant women take sauna baths once weekly, or more, throughout their pregnancies, is lower than anywhere in the world.

Congenital cardiovascular malformations are the most common birth defects. No association was found between maternal saunabathing, the course of gestation, or the occurrence of congenital defects in a Finnish study (a three-year national material with about 500 cases and 1000 healthy control babies). Similar results on the use of hot baths and sauna have been reported from New York.

Nor was the risk increased in Finland
for defects of the central nervous system and of orofacial clefts, or heart defects. Thus, during uncomplicated pregnancies, sauna baths neither seem to harm the fetus, nor are they dangerous to the mother