Taking a Bath While Pregnant

Pregnancy is a magical time in a woman's life. It brings about a soaring of senses and the exhilaration of a new life growing inside you. But at the same time it can also be a very confusing state to be in. Suddenly the most mundane of tasks can draw up serious doubts. You might end up questioning yourself several times during the day - Is this safe for the baby? Am I allowed to do this or will it affect the baby?

And of the many issues that you might be concerned with during this time, an important one is that of taking a bath. Generally one would not give this a second thought, but with your baby inside you and depending on you for its survival, it becomes important that you make the right choices so that it leads to a safe and fulfilling pregnancy for you and your baby. And therefore even if bathing during your pregnancy seems like a relatively unimportant topic, it really isn't.

Imagine this - Your muscles are sore, your back hurts during early pregnancy, your legs are aching and you are really stressed out. You want nothing more but to immerse yourself in the bathtub and soak all your aches and sores away. But just as this thought enters your mind it gives way to a doubt - Is taking a bath while one is pregnant, allowed?

With so many changes and adjustments coming about as a result of your pregnancy it would be very disheartening to know that you cannot indulge in a normal bath - but lucky for you that is NOT the case. The fact is that you can continue to take regular baths throughout your pregnancy but it is important to take certain precautions as doctors suggest.

Care While Taking Baths in Early Pregnancy

The first trimester of your pregnancy is the most risky period and hence special care needs to be taken so that it ensures the safety of your baby. Taking a bath when you're pregnant can be most risky in the early stages of pregnancy if one is not aware of all the risks involved.

Temperature of the water
Always maintain the temperature of water in the hot tub as close to your body temperature as possible. This might be very confusing to follow; so just make sure that the water never exceeds a temperature between 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above that, and you are putting your baby at serious risk.

Why?
An increase in the temperature will in turn heat the fluid in the amniotic sac thus affecting the baby. And while you can sweat out the excess heat, your baby cannot. The temperature of the water will automatically raise the core temperature of your body causing dehydration and overheating. Not only will this extra heat damage the developing cells of the baby but it will also prevent the oxygen from reaching the embryo. Along with that it will increase the heart rate and reduce the blood flow to the fetus thus stressing out the baby. The serious threat of this is that it might lead to malformations or birth defects in the baby and could also bring about miscarriages.

Similarly, no Jacuzzis, steam saunas, tanning beds or hot tubs are to be used during your pregnancy. All of these maintain temperatures which are much higher than your bathtub at home. And while you can check the temperature of water at home, that choice is not available with all the aforementioned apparatuses. Moreover, studies suggest that the baby could be born with defects in the functioning of the brain and spinal cord, if the mother suffers from overheating through these machines. So also tanning beds can cause severe burns to the already stretched skin of the mother and harm the baby.

How to check if the water is too hot
The water can be considered as too hot if you have to gingerly place your foot in as opposed to doing so in one fluid movement. So also if after entering it, your skin starts to turn red or pink, or if you feel that you are starting to get sweaty. If any of this happens, immediately get away from the water.

Always check the temperature of the water before entering the tub by using a thermometer. This is your most effective and safest bet. You can purchase a baby thermometer from any of the leading baby products stores. But after entering the tub if you still feel that it is too hot, always keep a bucket of cold water ready by the side so it can be added whenever necessary.

And most importantly, go with your instinct. If after maintaining the suggested temperature you feel that something is not right or the other way round - that it is not harming you then go with what feels right.

For how long should you soak?
Ideally, after maintaining a temperature that is below 100 degrees Fahrenheit a maximum of 20 minutes can be spent in the bathtub to avoid infections.

Health Risks involved for the Mother

Dizziness: If the temperature of the water is higher than the recommended 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then it might cause dizziness in the mother. This is because with the rise in the body temperature, the flow of oxygen to the brain is lowered resulting in feeling faint, dizzy or even losing consciousness. This is very dangerous as it can lead to a fall and cause complications during pregnancy.

Bacterial Infections: Even if the temperature of the water is maintained at an optimal level, sitting in the tub for too long can lead to bacterial infections that can be carried by the water.

Spinal Cord Complications: From the fifth to the tenth week of the pregnancy, the spinal cord is open. Taking risks of any sort during this period (even if you consider them trivial, like soaking in overheated water) can lead to complications like Spina bifida in the baby.

Safety while taking baths in pregnancy (Last Trimester)

Maintain Water Temperature
Throughout your pregnancy, maintain the temperature of the bath water at or below 100 degrees Fahrenheit whenever you take a bath. Most of the aforementioned risks that are prominent during the early stages can affect you throughout your pregnancy as well. Even though it might be tough for you to take bath in lukewarm water, tell yourself that after the completion of 9 months your body will be solely yours again, to do whatever you please with it.

Depend on Others
One needs to be especially careful when getting in and out of the bath. Since your belly has swelled up, and your sense of balance is not at its finest, there is a tendency to slip and fall as you cannot see where you are setting your foot, thus seriously injuring yourself and causing complications. If you think that getting out of the tub is getting difficult then call out to someone and take their help when getting out. Even though it might be tedious, there is no point in taking unnecessary risks.

Follow the Doctor's Advice
One can continue to take baths throughout the pregnancy unless the doctor advises you not to. The doctor might ask you to opt for a shower instead of a bath in case of two things

1. Water Breaking
2. Mucus Plug falling out

Water Breaking: Water breaking occurs when the amniotic sac, carrying the essential fluids which protect your baby, ruptures. In case of your water breaking, it is not advisable to soak in the bathtub as it can lead to infections - since there is no longer any protection for the baby.

Mucus Plug Falling Out: The cervix is sealed by a protective barrier of cervical mucus known as the mucus plug. It keeps bacteria and infection from entering into the cervix, thus protecting the baby. Once the mucus plug falls out, there is no longer a protective barrier between the baby and the water and this can most definitely lead to infections.

So go on then, fill the bathtub with warm water, light a few candles, throw in some bath salts and celebrate your pregnancy with a much-needed soak in the water. Taking a bath while pregnant need not be a thing of worry if you know what precautions are to be taken...Have a safe and happy pregnancy!