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464337 tn?1237651655

Are hot baths in your own private bath tub okay

So I was just wondering if taking a hot bath when your pregnant is okay? I know hot tubs should be avoided, but what about a hot/warm bath in your private bath at home? Sometimes at night it is the only thing that will relax my aching muscles... It helps with my legs cramping as well... Just thought I would see what everyones opinion on it was. My husband made a comment that he thought baths were bad for pregnancy, but I took baths with my other three kids and nothing ever happened...
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443185 tn?1211671293
Taking baths to hot before 16 weeks is dangerous it can cause problems with the babies spine....but like Martika said 100 degrees is fine...and you need it sometimes with the aches and pains
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Avatar universal
Dont tell my partner that! He gets so annoyed at me for taking hot baths but i cant stand them any other way. The only thing that soothes me when i am really achey it a hot, hot bath...or heat pack. My doctor told me there is no way that the baby can be affected/the amniotic fluid heated enough without it SEVERELY scolding me first. Especially in the later months (im not sure how far along you are?) because the baby is already starting to regulate his/her own heat.
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363110 tn?1340920419
JessLee~ I did that today!! my legs and back were really hurting so I turned the water on and it was WAY hot for me, so after about 3 min. in the hot water I added cooler water for a while (like 1/4th the bath.. lowered the water about 10 degrees) and then when I got cold I added warmer water later. But my baths take an hour. :)
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334776 tn?1249968581
hmmmm.....maybe i'm ok then.....my "baths" hehe, no matter how long i want them to be, end up 20 mins at max.....and usually, i start out with it really warm for a few mins, then empty a 1/4 of the water and add cold.....i use the hot for muscles and the cooler for actually bathing....

agomez--i'd never heard about the pee thing, but now i know how some of that stuff is made lol.....
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363110 tn?1340920419
Srry but I was rflmao!! about the warm bath making baby pee more. :)
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464337 tn?1237651655
Okay so I did some research and I love what BTS1022 said. That is exactly right. Everything I have read so far on the subject says it is okay for no longer than 10 mins as that is how long it takes to make a rise in ur body temp. I also read that a warm bath is good cause it helps to increase the amniotic fluid. Maybe the warm water cause the baby to pee some more...  : )  The more fluid the better I have heard. Warm water is also good for keeping preterm contractions at bay. It doesn't stop them if your having them, but by relaxing the muscles it decreases the chances of having them...
Just thought I would add this info since we all seem to LOVE our baths...!!!
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272759 tn?1270485594
i am 35 weeks and finally got brave enough to take a bath last week!!  i am a bath lover!!!  i've missed them so much!  the water really relaxes me.  and, we bought a house with a great tub that i could never use because i got pregnant the day after we moved in!!!  as martika said, just keep it warm.  my bathes are warm, not hot (like they were pre-pregnancy!!) and i often don't fill the water over my entire bump...she keeps nice and cool in there ;-)  but they really do feel great on the sore muscles...even with just warm water.  
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363110 tn?1340920419
Great Idea!! your method is much more precise!! by the way, I've always taken hot showers. :O) it's just the hot baths and hottub that i"ve been careful with!
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Avatar universal
I took really hot baths and showers with all my pregnancies before, mainly because my other docs failed to tell me that it was unsafe. My boys turned out just fine after all the sweaty nights in a hot bath or shower that has turned my skin briht lobster red. My doc doesnt reccomend a hot bath to me now, he said a hot shower is fine because the water can just hit my back or I can manuver my shower head to avoid my tummy being exposed to the heat for long periods of time.

I was also told that if I was to take a hot bath, to keep it on a timer. I am only allowed 5 to 10 min in a hot bath before it raises my body temp. I use a thermometer to check my body temp before I get in, and a little afterwards. I never let my body temp go over 100.1 degrees. I also use the prune method lol. I also get out of my baths before my skin gets the chance to prune or wrinkle up on me.
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464337 tn?1237651655
Well that just stinks. I take hot baths almost everyday. I only stay in for a few minutes. Once I feel my pulse quickening I get out, but if feelss o good for those few mins. I guess I will have to make sure it is not so hot and discuss this with my Dr.
See I have always taken hot baths and showers so my skin doesn't turn red or pink, and I guess I am so used to it I don't realize how hot it really is. My dh put his feet in the other day and said it was too hot for him... I hope I haven't hurt my beautiful baby!
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342988 tn?1299782356
markitadragon is right.  i just spoke with my prenatal nurse 2 days ago and she said that warb baths, not over 100 are great for sore muscles and pains that pregnancy can cause.  just make sure it is not too hot.
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363110 tn?1340920419
Thanks!

JESSLEE83~ Honestly, they really worry during that first trimester and the beginning of the second trimester. Basically that's when baby's nervous system is forming and those functions are VERY susceptible to heat.

I've been a little bad this third trimester because on occasion I've taken a bath that I KNEW was too hot (so hot it makes my skin itch for a minute), but as I said above, I keep the water to my hips and only sit there for about 10 min or until my face begins to get a tiny bit flushed... with me, any warm water turns my skin red, so I've had to pay close attention to my body and the clues it gives me!
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334776 tn?1249968581
well i'm *******.....i take baths as hot as i can stand them.....but my skin doesnt turn colors.....idk, sometimes its as hot as a jacuzzi, sometimes not....but my dr hasnt mentioned it, then again i aint asked either....
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Avatar universal
Oh good info, Martika! I need to remember that!!! Thank ya!
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363110 tn?1340920419
My doctor has told me that a warm bath, no hotter than 100degrees farenheight is alright. Basically if the water is hot enough to turn your skin pink/red then it's too hot.

100 and under is safe. basically you don't want your core body temp to reach higher than 101 degrees as it's unsafe to the baby. I've used this rule thruout my whole pregnancy when taking hot baths and so far little TJ is doing just fine in there.

However, the last couple weeks (since I hit 30 weeks) I've found sitting in a real warm bath that only goes to my hips (about 1-2inches below my belly button) for only 10 min. at a time to feel VERY refreshing, esp. to my sore back and legs. But as soon as my face begins to feel the tinyiest bit flushed I get out and cool off. :)
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Avatar universal
I think it's unsafe because the water in your womb could reach dangerous temperatures that a baby's sensitive skin cannot handle (though your skin can handle it). You should not use heating pads on your stomach either.

However, you can take WARM baths. But no hot ones.
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