Safe Bathing During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Question
i am only 1 month pregnant and i heard having hot baths is not recommended when pregnant. i have also had a friend who has gone into labor at 8 months into her pregnancy from taking a bath. i have started taking warm ones..but i like to have them often maybe 3-5 times a week. what should i do?

Answer
Hi Lianna :)

There are so many wives tales when it comes to pregnancy and bathing :) However, Baths are very good for pregnant women. The problem is more the temperature than the actual bath.

Be sure that you avoid the use of hot tubs and hot baths (above 100 degrees F). These can cause your body temperature to rise, and this can cause problems for a developing baby, particularly in the first trimester.

Baths are a great source of relaxation and also work well for the aches and pains of pregnancy.

Your baby is not in danger of getting germs from bathing. The baby is protected by the amniotic sac and the mucous plug. Although there has been studies that have shown that water doesn't really enter the vagina during bathing any way.

As for your friend that when into labour, its sheer coincidence. I am very inclined to say, that her preterm labour was not caused from the bath that she had. Her little one wanted to come, and was ready to for other reasons then the bath. The bath, was sheer coincidense :)

So continue having your bath Lianna, just make sure they are not to hot :) You are not harming your pregnancy in any way!

Hope this answers your question, and thanks for writing! Should you have any more concerns, please dont hesitate to write back :)

-Kristy