Advertisement
Pregnancy

How safe is it to take a hot bath when you're pregnant?

A soak in the tub can be a soothing antidote to a stressful day or an achy body—especially when you're expecting—but is it OK to take a hot bath while pregnant?

By Amy Valm

How safe is it to take a hot bath when you're pregnant?

Photo: Istockphoto

Pregnant women shouldn’t take a bath that’s hot enough to raise their core body temp to 101-102°F for more than 10 minutes. Why? Exceeding a body temp of 101°F or 102°F (there’s debate over this number among experts) can cause a condition known as hyperthermia, a condition in which the body absorbs more heat than it repels. Studies have linked a high core body temperature, especially early in pregnancy, with neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Unless you’re a fan of near-scalding baths or your tub retains heat well, you likely have nothing to worry about. But to avoid any issues, keep the temperature of the water warm enough to be comfortable, but not so warm that it causes you to sweat or your skin to turn red. You’ll know that your core body temperature is rising if you’re feeling flushed or sweaty. If that happens, get out of the tub and let the water cool.

Tip: While prepping for that warm bath, skip the bubbles and scented oils and salts, as they can alter the vagina’s acidic balance, which can cause thrush, a common yeast infection. While thrush is treatable, not all treatments may be safe during pregnancy, so talk to your health care provider. A mom who has a thrush infection at the time of delivery can pass it along to her baby, but babies can be easily treated.

This article was originally published on Mar 08, 2019

Weekly Newsletter

Keep up with your baby's development, get the latest parenting content and receive special offers from our partners

I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

FILED UNDER:
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement