Hot baths

[Mum2oneds]

I've read so many conflicting stories r.e hot baths.
So can we have them or not. My mixer tap is set at 38 then it's one push the red button in and can get hotter. I used to have it on 45.but now just over 38 which to me is cold.
Altho I'm not convinced it's actually as hot as it says it is as DS too runs his at over 38.

I have read that u have to be careful If u have high blood pressure with hot baths.
Mines normal so wondering if is ok

There are a million and one studies on maternal hyperthermia in pregnancy, google it! Obviously there's limited eveidence in humans because who in their right minds would volunteer to test the theory. I've linked a few below all the same...

articles.latimes.com/1991-05-03/local/me-1121_1_tube-defect
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1640616
journals.lww.com/epidem/Fulltext/2005/03000/Maternal_Hyperthermia_and_the_Risk_for_Neural_Tube.10.aspx

I joined a Nuffield gym when I was pregnant and was told that I was not permitted to use the sauna or steam, but could use the jacuzzi as the temperature was quite low. I imagine many places in the U.K. would actively stop pregnant women from using these sort of things. I suppose it's not worth the risk and potential litigation. We must seem quite odd to the Finnish though!

The issue with hot tubs is that its an absolute bacteria breeding ground - warm and wet! I had hot baths through last preg and shes perfect, i just got out of a hot bath which is actually the only thing that releives my backache thanks to my breech baby rubbing his head along my rubcage 😭
7 weeks left!!

I used to worry about this when pregnant so only had tepid baths and then gave birth in a pool of at least 37 degrees. I wonder what hot means and wish someone could have told me. I think a jacuzzi of continuous hot temp is bad but a bath that cools is ok but very hot bath in early pregnancy not great.

I think it's about raising your temp too much so hot that cools ok, red skin not ok.. no clear cut rules I'm afraid.

I started off using a thermometer in the first trimester and had miserable cold baths. The heat goes quickly unlike a hot tub.

After the first trimester I stopped worrying about it and haven't had any issues with over heating / baby seems fine.

I read somewhere you should be able to get in without being scolded (I used to love getting in and barely being able to stand it hot baths) which I loosely followed.

There's no time I've ever needed hot baths more though so gradually with PGP flaring up they've snuck back up to being hot and the thermometer is banished to the cupboard.

@clarebear1983, I completely agree re: hyperthermia and neural tube defects, however where is the link in these studies that a warm/hot bath causes hyperthermia? Hot tubs are a different kettle of fish as others have already pointed out they maintain at a higher heat, hence why the NHS advise against hot tub use, but no such evidence base exists for baths at home.

@mummabubs

I think it's common sense that sitting in a vat of something hotter than you are will make you hotter. The evidence is in the reports and in hundreds of others. It doesn't matter what the heat source is, it's the temperature that is of importance.

You are incorrect, Hot tubs are regularly used as an example as they are maintained at a consistent heat, not a higher heat. Baths lose heat rapidly and therefore are less of a problem. None the less, the evidence is there and I for one would not risk it. What you choose to do though is entirely up to you!

Also, the point in contention was never regarding warm baths. OP asked about hot baths, which is what my posts are referrring to.

Actually from a scientific perspective it's not common sense- the amount of energy required to raise (and maintain) your internal body temperature isn't completely dictated by external environment- people living in very hot countries don't have a higher internal temperature than people living in cooler countries! I did in fact say "where is the link in these studies that a warm bath causes hyperthermia?" I'm saying I completely agree that there is evidence to suggest that significantly raised internal temperature contributes to higher likelihood of neural tube defects in the first trimester, I'm merely saying I'm not as sold about warm or hot baths being a cause of a raise in temperature of significant enough level to cause those defects! You came across as a tad snappy/defensive over higher vs consistent, in fact I meant both! (as hot tubs are usually a higher temperature than your average bath and as you say are maintained at that higher heat).

Hot should have been in italics, not warm! 🙈

theres no evidence either way relating to hot baths (that's why the NHS website doesn't mention them as they are hot bababoom on being evidence-based.

I took a cautious position and had my baths warm until 2nd trimester when I returned to boiling myself alive as is my preference. But it would be a pretty major stretch to suggest a hot bath in first trimester is being irresponsible.

I usually have really hot baths and since being pregnant they have made me feel a bit sick and faint when I got out. Showers or pool swimming feels better.