Hot baths during pregnancy: unexpectedly dangerous

Bathing can help you relax and relieve muscle pain without posing any danger to your health. However, if you are pregnant, when taking a sauna or hot bath, you should note the following.

Increased body temperature

Spending 10 or more minutes each day in a hot tub increases your body temperature by 38.8 ° C, which increases your body temperature. Pregnant women exposed to high temperatures during the first 4-6 weeks of pregnancy have a higher risk of miscarriage and a higher chance of their baby developing neural tube defects. A hot bath at any time during pregnancy can increase body temperature and lower blood pressure, affect your baby's oxygen supply and make you feel dizzy, and can cause you to fall.

Feeling about to faint

If you experience extreme heat, more blood will flow closer to your skin to help cool the body by sweating. This means less blood flow to your organs, such as your brain. If this happens, your brain may not receive the required amount of blood and oxygen, making you feel tired quickly.

When you are pregnant, changes in hormones in your body can make you feel tired more often. Avoid sitting in a sauna or hot baths.

You should be very careful when stepping out of the hot tub or standing up suddenly as this can make you feel very tired and easily dizzy.

Suitable temperature for pregnant women

Obstetricians and gynecologists recommend that if you are exercising in water - for example, in a prenatal class - the temperature of the water should not exceed 32 ° C. If you are using a hydroponic tank (a special shallow lake that is hotter than normal), the tank's temperature should not exceed 35 ° C. Some hot tubs can be heated to 40 ° C, so it's best not to take a hot tub bath.

Other notes about hot baths during pregnancy

If you want to take a hot bath while pregnant, follow these steps:

Limit the time you spend in the tub to less than 10 minutes;

Avoid sitting near doors where water has been recently heated;

Get out of the bath if you start to sweat or feel uncomfortable;

Do not use the bath tub if you have had a high temperature due to fever, exercise or use the sauna before.