Pregnancy fact or fiction: Getting into hot water
Categories: Just for moms, Pregnancy & birth, Fun & activities, Health & safety
I can't remember the last time I faced forward in the shower. Ever since I became pregnant with baby number one I've been facing away from the shower. It's all because of something I heard and read about during the early states of my first trimester: stay out of hot water when you're pregnant.
Is there any truth to this? And, how does one best avoid it--especially if one loves a hot shower more than pretty much anything in life? I spend as little time in the shower as possible these days due to the green movement, but when I'm in there I must admit it's hard for me to give in to the notion of the cold shower.
According to what I've heard, hot water is bad for a developing fetus. Basically, the increased temperature is not natural for the body and sort of cooks the baby. The American Pregnancy Association discusses this pregnancy fact or fiction specifically in reference to hot tubs, not showers, stating doing so can cause hypothermia to the fetus.
Raising the body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit has caused concern over fetuses developing birth defects--or for the woman to miscarry--when women sit in hot tubs during their first trimester specifically. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a pregnant woman never let her core temperature rise above 102 degrees. It is suggested to take a warm bath to sooth aches and pains instead, as the water doesn't get as hot and starts to cool off instantly, unlike a hot tub.
Still, my concern for the shower was raised the whole time I was pregnant. I followed a pal's suggestion and only faced away from the water, turning my butt a nice shade of pink, I imagine. That seems silly now but I can't help but do it anyway.
What about you? Did you use a hot tub or indulge in hot showers when you were pregnant?
Pic of hot tub by bolton-.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Beth SG 5-19-2008 @ 5:32PM
Thanks for bringing this up; maybe someone will provide a good, solid answer!
I've given up on tub-soaking since I've been pregnant (and during my 2-week-waits while TTC) and I've also tried to tone down my hot-hot-hot shower tendencies to something a bit more on the warmish side.
And I try to keep my back to the water as much as possible. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one!
That said, I'm guessing the shower is not nearly as much of a concern as a hottub or sauna would be, but until I get some definitive info on that, I'd rather take "the path of least regret" by not doing anything about which I could later say "If only...." if something bad were to happen.
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Jan Bay 5-19-2008 @ 5:53PM
I couldn't stand a steamy hot bath when I was expecting even if it was GOOD for the baby. I virtually generated heat and the thought of a hot tub would not have been appealing to me at all! However, I had lots of pregnant friends who would go back and forth from the pool to the hot tub and they all delivered healthy babies, but I don't see how it could be good for a fetus or for mommy's blood pressure and swollen ankles.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
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Tamyu 5-19-2008 @ 7:20PM
I have to raise my eyebrows at this one. In Japan, unless you`re bleeding, you take a hot bath even during pregnancy. And when I say hot, I mean hot. 42-43C (107-109F)
And most of the time you stay in there soaking for a while.
Of course, the doctors advise you to get out if you start getting cramps or are uncomfortable.
Japan has some of the healthiest babies in the world, and one of the lowest infant mortality rates.
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Somebody's Mom 5-19-2008 @ 8:38PM
It doesn't matter which way you face. The concern is raising your core temperature, which, if it WERE going to happen, would happen regardless of direction faced. Because it's your *core*, not just the skin on your belly. Go for it, shower however you want.
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Jennifer 5-19-2008 @ 9:44PM
The way it was put to me was that you will get uncomfortably hot before you are able to raise your core body temperature to 101 degrees. I was basically told to pay attention to how I feel and not to get overheated. Frankly, with the temperatures in my area getting up to 100+ degrees I would imagine I would be just as much at risk if I hung around outside for a while...
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tricia 5-19-2008 @ 9:52PM
this is very funny to me I take very hot showers I never heard you shouldnt when with baby so I did and long ones, boy I miss those days. any way my baby was very healthy over due but healthy she is now a healthy, smart 14 month old. I dont think a shower can raise your core temp a lot I am not a doctor but as far as I know not a shower maybe a hot tub for a long long long time not a shower. I think you would run out of hot water before that would happen, but hey do whachagotado! what ever helps you sleep at night ( or not cause your shower was short cold and only your back is clean.)
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Michelle 5-19-2008 @ 10:11PM
Wow, the pregnancy paranoia never ends. I am currently pregnant, last time was 7 years ago and I'm amazed at how many new things women are now convinced they must worry about. I have heard about the hot tub thing, (but will spend a few minutes in a hot tub myself - I would know if I got too hot, like someone else said, if your body temp were 102 you would feel uncomfortable.) But SHOWERS? Where did you hear that showers were bad? I highly doubt even the hottest of showers could raise your body temp to 102 and damage your baby. My advice would be to relax and face whatever way you want in the shower!
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ivory 5-19-2008 @ 10:35PM
We turned out hot tub down to 99/100, and I was in there almost every day past the first trimester (and then I was avoiding anything warm because it made my stomach turn). As a rule, if I was hot, I got out and cooled off for a bit, but the comfort that water provided was well worth the effort. I've had a series of OB's and Midwives over the course of two pregnancies, and they all seemed to agree that as long as you do not take it to the extreme, a nice hot soak can do a pregnant body good.
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rebecca Biernesser 5-20-2008 @ 1:37AM
i took hot baths, not too hot but I did...and i took hot showers....I wouldn't take a long soak. I went to church with a lady who sent too much time in the hot tub...she had complications from it and her daughter was born with some issues that she still has and she is pushing 16 now. So i played it safe.
Oh and for the above comment about Japan...Don't Japan women take hot baths like that all the time? Seems to me their bodies would be used to it....
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Sherry 5-20-2008 @ 3:55AM
Wow! The pregnancy paranoia really is getting way out of hand. Just exactly how hot and how long were these showers that you were actually worried your body would overheat and bake your baby? I can see not boiling in a super hot hot tub, but a regular old hot bath or shower is now considered dangerous? Glad I gave birth to my kids in a country that has a more laid back and everything in moderation approach to the whole thing.
Yes, in Japan they take hot baths like that all the time, so, yes, they are used to it. Even if you aren't "used to it" I doubt a reasonably hot normal old bath is going to do any damage. You would start to feel that you were overheating and know to get out. To each their own paranoia though.
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clilleskov 5-20-2008 @ 9:24AM
I was told NO hot tub or long soaks in high temperature bath (enough that my face was sweating!). Those raise your internal body temperature, much like having a fever would and that is what is bad for the baby.
I would think a hot shower wouldn't be so bad because you are not immersing your body in it (parts of your body would be getting cooler air circulating. Also, you wouldn't be standing in a shower as long as you could (assumingly) soak in a tub.
Just my two cents!!
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Kellie 5-20-2008 @ 11:09AM
Keep an eye on how your feeling. I would do hot tub soaks my whole pregnancy and would watch how I was feeling. Also, if I started to sweat, I would get out and sit on the step so my belly was out of the water. Once I cooled down I went back in.
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Nicola 5-20-2008 @ 12:50PM
I never changed my shower routine and took frequent hot baths for my aching back as the pregnancy progressed. I have a happy healthy four year old now who adores the hottest of hot showers. Thank goodness because Mommy does not take lukewarm showers!
As stated above, I was told that it was a matter of becoming dangerously overheated in yourself (not on your stomach) that was an issue, which really isn't something that you're going to do in your bathtub at home. Let alone the shower.
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Melissa 5-20-2008 @ 3:57PM
I worked in an OB/Gyn office for a bit and this topic seemed to come up frequently with patients. Bottom line is a hot shower or bath is not going to raise your core temperature and harm your baby. As far as your body temperature goes, your only concern should be if you get a fever...that's when you need to contact your doctor! The doctors in my office would always chuckle at this topic and say they have yet to deliver an over-cooked baby from a mom that loves her hot showers!
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Laura - DashinFashion.com 5-21-2008 @ 7:50AM
I remember being worried about this and asked my OB/GYN who explained that the problem is being in a hot tub.
I don't remember there being a problem with taking a hot shower.
I think you really need to get your body temperature up to the point where you feel faint.
Laura
http://www.dashinfashion.com
http://www.dashinfashion.blogspot.com
http://www.mykidsfashion.com
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Lori 5-24-2008 @ 1:44PM
It's not just raising your core temps why you shouldn't hang out in hot tubs - isn't there something about bacteria, etc. in them? Also, the chemical used to keep them bacteria free can't be good either. But a hot shower - good lord, no one will ever convince me to give that up - being 8 months pregnant and waking up so sore in my back and hips I can barely walk, a hot shower it the only thing that gets me moving. Okay, so sometimes it's hot enough to make my skin red, but I'm not in there long enough to start sweating. That's just one thing I'm not going to worry about or stress out over - there's enough of that to go around. I need my hot showers!
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Grace 6-01-2008 @ 11:38PM
Well I have never been pregnant but I think you should ask a doctor if you should or shouldn't take long hot soaks in the tub or long hot showers. They will know, and just getting stories off the 'net from other people (who might be making this all up) is just dumb.
Talk to your doctor or whoever and take it from there...
Also, if you are THAT concerned, take a cold shower (but that could also be bad, lowering the core tempurature) or don't take a shower at all (use a sponge!!).
Happy pregnancy!!
---> GrAcE
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