The final word on baths during pregnancy!

[LucyT87]

Hi all, I'm 17wks into my first pregnancy and am completely confused about the baths/hot water situation. Has anyone really looked into it or had experience?

Context: I LIVE for a relaxing bath. In a world of unhealthy 'highs', it is my real wellness thing that I cherish after a hard day at work, or as a treat on a night in. I have a whole ritual around it and one of those bath trays with candles and a slot for your drink/mug. I'm obsessed.

But some of the pregnancy guidance put the fear of god into me about being in water over 37 degrees, so I avoided it for the first 12 weeks. Since then I've been trying to get some clarity on what IS okay: since I'm not doing much socially, not drinking and not eating some of my favourite foods, I really feel like I should be able to have a simple bath. The first midwife I had an appt with was quite blase about it and said 'Oh do have them, just make sure they're not so hot your skin goes red' which is way different than the 37 degrees thing (that's pretty tepid).

Did anyone have hot-ish baths, not crazy hot, during their pregnancies and then not have any problems? I feel like my mum's generation was happily bathing away but we've now all overthought it, haha. Some pregnant women I know haven't even heard of this restriction. Love to crowdsource your thoughts and know whether I am denying myself something that would really ease my mental health during pregnancy for no good reason. Thank you!

Fuck me I lived in my bath when I was pregnant with DS and DD

Just be sensible about the temperature but don't worry, you'll not boil your baby

As long as it's not so hot you faint it's fine! I have a hot tub and am in that almost every day MIL was horrified but when I asked her what the actual issue is she couldn't give me an answer..! Finnish women still use saunas when pregnant and it's been proven that you will be very uncomfortable before your core temperature is raised enough to damage the baby..enjoy your baths!

My experience is I've been pregnant twice and had baths during both, a lot!

Just doing boil yourself like a lobster.

My mum used to nag me about having hot baths when pregnant but it didn’t stop me! No issues.

Hey OP. Currently 35+1 and I’ve been having hot baths every single night. I mean I’m struggling to get in and out now but you know 🤣
I haven’t had it scalding but I’ve had them hot, not just warm. I’ve not been told I can’t 🙄

Absolutely fine to have a nice, hot bath as long as you're not scalding yourself, fainting or uncomfortably hot. I used to love watching the ripples as DD hiccuped!

Omg my baby hiccups when I get in the bath. Why 🤣

I had baths. Get a baby bath thermometer, which you should be getting anyway, and have a bath that temperature. You'll be fine. I stayed away from essential oils etc though as personal choice.

A sudden and extreme temperature change that makes your BP drop or heart race or makes feel dizzy or faint when you stand up could theoretically cause harm so it makes sense to avoid extremes.

In reality though, people live in places that are far hotter than 37c for weeks at a time and their babies don't come out par-boiled!! Women's bodies are usually really good at protecting babies and keeping their environment on an even keel.

If its not hot enough to make you go faint / raise your body temperature its fine!

We don't have a shower and only have a bath, I love hot baths and I've been fine!

37 degrees is a cold bath, as far as I’m concerned. Bathe away, OP, just like I did (you’re right, no-one cared when I was pregnant several centuries ago).

I think there is research from Finland that saunas are safe? If that's fine, I'm sure a normal bath will be fine.

I believe the risk is if your core body temperature increases to 39 degrees during your first trimester. On this basis I had hot baths during both pregnancies and I have two wonderful, healthy children.

34+2, baths with Epsom salts are the main thing helping the restless legs 😬 my concession has been putting in a bit of cold water, and nowadays my bump is so big it sticks out the water anyway 🤣

Same!! Our shower is broke at the minute! I only have baths!!

It's nonsense, it's only if your having it so hot you could faint or pass out!

My baby girl loves it, I'm in their now and she's kicking away

The issue is about it raising your body temperature. If your face is going red or you are swearing significantly - it’s too hot.
Other than that, your bump generally sticks out of the water anyway so you don’t overheat baby.

I've had 4 healthy pregnancies and plenty of hot baths. Just not scalding.

I’m currently 37 weeks pregnant and had a bath every other day since finding out- I live in it too! I couldn’t have survived without having a bath most days

A bath is completely fine.

I love a hot bath and have done in all my pregnancy I don’t have it ridiculously hot but if my husband touches it He’s like that’s hot but don’t stay in it to long x

never did me or any of my baby’s any harm xx

It’s definitely fine, just have it at a sensible temperature. And it’s different to a hot tub for example, because a hot tub stays at one temperature whereas a bath will start to cool down immediately. The NHS doesn’t advise against baths. Remember it’s impossible to do proper research on something like this, it would be totally unethical.

I've had baths all three of my pregnancies (currently 12 weeks with third) and we've all lived to tell the tale 🤣

In fact I'm currently typing this having just got out of a not so relaxing bath with my 3 year old! As pp have said, as long as they aren't so hot you are about to pass out or are sweating with heart palpitations, you will be absolutely fine. Enjoy them!

The theory/reason to avoid is it is problematic for the baby is if the water raises your core body temp. To do this the water would need to be very hot and you’d need to be in it for ages - think sauna type hot.

unless they are scorching hot and you are dripping sweat in the bath you are fine.

bathe away

I went away somewhere recently with a hot tub (28 weeks pregnant) and asked my midwife if I could go in. She said it was totally fine so long as it’s not too hot (ideally no more than 37degrees) so you aren’t overheating and at risk of fainting. She said go, enjoy it - and I did!

It's absolutely fine, just don't use bath salts and use a thermometer to keep the water below 38C.