Experts recommend limiting your use of a hot tub, sauna, or steam bath during pregnancy to less than 10 minutes at a time, or forgoing them altogether, especially in the early weeks. These activities can raise your body temperature to a level that can be dangerous for your developing baby.
If you still want to soak in a hot tub or a jacuzzi during the early stages of your pregnancy, make sure to do it for no longer than 10 minutes. After the first trimester, you can use hot tubs or saunas without posing any significant risks to your baby.
Reducing the Health Risks of Hot Tubbing While Pregnant
Adjust your hot tub's temperature to no more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, just to err on the side of caution. Keep a thermometer in the water at all times so you can monitor the temperature. Limit your soak time to just 10 minutes.
Because it's not a good idea to raise your core body temperature to 102 degrees or higher while pregnant, you should lower the temperature of your hot tub for soaking. 99 degrees will be just above body temperature. If you tend to “run hot” as a general rule, you may want to lower it to 98 degrees.
On average, most hot tubs and portable spas can reach temperatures up to 40.55°C (104°F), however, we highly advise against expectant mothers using hot tubs during pregnancy to heat their tubs to these high temperatures.
Overheating. When you use a sauna, jacuzzi, hot tub or steam room, your body is unable to lose heat effectively by sweating. This means your body's core temperature rises. It's possible that a significant rise in your core temperature could be harmful in pregnancy, particularly in the first 12 weeks.
Some spas advise you not to have treatments during the first trimester. Some might also recommend that you avoid going if you're beyond 32 weeks pregnant. You might find that you're feeling at your best in the second trimester when, hopefully, any pregnancy sickness has receded and you have some energy.
Avoid deep pressure in your abdomen and legs. Consult with your health care team before getting a massage. This is especially important if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Consider waiting until the second or third trimester.
Most experts agree that manicures and pedicures are safe during pregnancy. If you go to a professional salon with good safety standards, you can enjoy some pampering while you're expecting.
Over 70,000 women were tested in one study alone, and no evidence of any danger was found from swimming in a chlorine-treated pool while pregnant. Another concern is that many women in their first trimester have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to illness, which could harm the growing baby.
Yes, you can dye your hair while you're pregnant — as long as you take certain precautions and mention your pregnancy to your stylist.
"In general, caution should be used. Staying in a hot tub or bath for more than 10 minutes could raise your body temperature higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit," Anar Yukhayev, M.D., OB-GYN at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Katz Women's Hospital, tells Parents.
It's fine to take baths while you're pregnant as long as the water isn't too hot – no more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid soaking in water that's hot enough to raise your body temperature higher than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius).
While it's fine to take a warm bath while you're pregnant, water that is too hot can reduce the blood flow to your baby, which can cause distress. The temperature of your bath water shouldn't be higher than 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
Women who cold plunge during pregnancy report positive outcomes, including better mood, reduced inflammation, and more energy. Josephine Worsek, PhD cautions against Wim Hoff breathing during pregnancy. Epidemiological studies show that increased cold exposure during pregnancy results in better birth outcomes.
Anything that raises your core body temperature to over 101 degrees Fahrenheit may increase the risk of neural tube defects in babies. Plus, pregnant women are already prone to dizziness and low blood pressure, so taking a bath in a tub that's too hot could put you at higher risk for a fall.
The water should be warm enough so that you can jump straight in and not inch in bit by bit. Once you're in, if you notice that your skin becomes red or if you start sweating, the water is likely to be too hot.
There's a reason dogs might seem more inseparable from their pregnant owners, as the parents-to-be get further along in their pregnancies. Not only do pups notice growing baby bumps, but some experts believe dogs can pick up on a change in scent from expectant mothers, according to the American Kennel Club.
It's safe to get acrylic nails during pregnancy, though you may want to avoid them if your nails are weaker than usual. During pregnancy, you may experience nail changes. Your nails may grow faster and stronger, so it might be really nice to get them done.
Until we know more about how caffeine can affect pregnancy, it's best to limit the amount you get to 200 milligrams each day. This is about the amount in 1½ 8-ounce cups of coffee or one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Be sure to check the size of your cup to know how much caffeine you're getting.
Even if you've never exercised before, swimming is safe to take up during pregnancy. Swimming in a chlorinated pool is not harmful to you or your baby. It's usually safe for you to swim throughout your pregnancy, right up until your baby's birth, although you shouldn't swim after your waters have broken.
You can continue to swim during the entire pregnancy, ie, the first, second and third trimesters, unless you feel unwell, waters break, develop any vaginal bleeding, or any medical complication where swimming or other exercises should be avoided.