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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Hot baths when pregnant?

17 replies

ohnelly · 30/11/2009 18:41

Hi im 23 weeks with number two and have always loved having really hot baths - so hot you can just about get in, and then top it up some more! I have heard somewhere this isnt good for you/baby when pregnant, and was wondering -:
Why?
Is it that bad really?

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BellasYummyMummy · 30/11/2009 18:45

i also love my baths to be scalding, otherwise whats the point?! but i have heard it isnt safe during pregnancy, so i just have mine fairly hot and only stay in for about 10 mins. i think you can cause premature labour if you have it too hot... but im not an expert! not a good idea though.

hoops997 · 30/11/2009 18:49

you should avoid hot baths because it's really bad for baby to get overheated apparantly, also that's the reason you should avoid Jacuzzi's and sauna's.......I have avoided them like the plague but I'm really missing a lovely hot bath, there is nothing like it when the weather is miserable.......

LilRedWG · 30/11/2009 18:54

I asked my midwife about this as I love hot baths too. She said that if I was okay in hte bath then the baby would be too. I did tone them down a bit though.

Picante · 30/11/2009 18:57

Is to do with raising your body temp - can alter the development of the baby - the same reason you're not supposed to use saunas or jacuzzis.

I've heard if it's hot enough to change your skin colour then it's too hot.

AngelDog · 01/12/2009 06:40

I was told to avoid hot baths over body temperature (ie 37/37 degrees C). Hotter baths can make you get too hot (and stay too hot), which can have an effect on the little one - especially if you end up getting a bit dizzy when you come out. It's partly to do with the way it raises your heartbeat, I think.

I really struggled when I was first pregnant as I love my scalding hot baths and was miserable having ones which felt like 'body temperature' - but after buying an aquarium thermometer for £1.40 from Wilko's, I can now have a bath at exactly the hottest temperature possible -which is quite a lot hotter than I had expected , even if not quite up to my usual standards.

comeonbishbosh · 01/12/2009 10:40

I asked my midwife and she was very laid back about it and told me not to worry. I tend not to go for the completely scalding option, but I enjoy my 'normally' hot baths. Must admit, I wouldn't go for a sauna but that is another level again!

Miia · 01/12/2009 12:50

There is absolutely no reason to avoid hot baths or sauna when pregnant. For obvious reasons, this has been studied extensively in Finland and saunas etc have been deemed safe - while having a fever is a problem for the fetus, your body temperature does not really rise when in sauna or in a hot bath. If it did, we'd basically be snakes or lizards...

What I have noticed myself though is that when pregnant I don't like being in a very hot environment for too long so it is kind of self-regulating anyway.

Original poster

ohnelly · 01/12/2009 14:50

Ah thanks think I will tone it down a bit then, I did have a bit of a hot flush after coming out yesterday and did have red skin! Also got dry skin so that wont help it either!

OP posts:

sleepwhenidie · 01/12/2009 14:56

Miaa I have heard the same thing about self-regulation. While the advice is to avoid overly hot baths so that you don't raise your temp too much, in tests, pg women actually voluntarily got out of the hot water before their temps reached unsuitable levels, supporting the fact that your body tells you what is too much for it anyway.

Hullygully · 01/12/2009 14:59

What utter bollocks.

stubbornstains · 01/12/2009 16:51

I agree with the self-regulation thing...Initially I thought I'd carry on w/saunas, but got really dizzy afterwards, so decided Not A Good Idea.

However, I still do jacuzzis, although occasionally I get dizzy if I've spent about an hour in there (whoops!)

Picante · 01/12/2009 17:26

Which bit hully? Surely not my bit?

Hullygully · 01/12/2009 17:47

Quick breaking news alert - someone tell all the mothers in all the very very hot countries on earth that they need to move at once before they fry their babies.

mrsjammi · 01/12/2009 17:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MadameDuBain · 01/12/2009 18:01

I love a hot bath and it really helps with the pregnancy backache. I was careful in the first few months, but now the bump sticks right out of the water i thought it was OK.

I have heard hot jacuzzis and saunas aren't great and it often says on them pg women shouldn't go in. But that's a bit different as they are very hot and you're submerged.

Emster30 · 01/12/2009 20:05

This is worrying me now - I do like my baths hot, and our shower isn't working at the moment. I'm 7+2 weeks. I don't think they make me go red, but they do warm me right through. I'm sure a jacuzzi doesn't feel as hot as a bath.

Oh I don't know!

gizzy1973 · 01/12/2009 20:22

I think the reason to avoid jacuzzis is the germs generated with so many people using them as there isnt as much chlorine and the greater heat makes them breed faster - i could be wrong but that is my undersatnding

I still have hot baths although not so hot as to turn me red although the biggest problem i have is getting out the bath

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