When is it OK to start taking baths again?

michellabanana

I know you're supposed to lay off a hot bath for a while, but I am like 20 weeks and feeling a little achy and wondering when it would be ok to take a bath?

meggyme

I think baths are fine as long as they don't raise your body temp too much. Hot tubs aren't ok because they keep your body temp raised. Baths cool off over time.

kyraaD

I've been taking baths pretty regularly, especially now that I'm at 31 weeks & I'm getting a lot of lower back/hip pain. just make sure that the water isnt too hot (your skin doesn't turn red), & if you feel like you're getting too hot, get out until you cool off.

mmmmkay

exactly what meggy said.  baths are fine.  as long as you aren't staying in like an hour and continually running more hot water in.

satuttle1014

Everything that all the ladies have said

mar101483

My doctor actually tells me to take baths and I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow. Just make sure they aren't super hot baths.

msuzannah

meggyme said:

I think baths are fine as long as they don't raise your body temp too much. Hot tubs aren't ok because they keep your body temp raised. Baths cool off over time.

All of this. The concern with taking baths is raising your body temperature for a long period of time. It's safe to take a bath day 1 of pregnacy.

huskypuppy14

Hot tubs are ok if you can regulate the temperature. My parents have a hot tub and I specifically asked my OB about this. She said if they are under 102, they are fine for a little bit. My parents keep theirs at 100. I would probably wait until after the first trimester though personally, just in case. 

SarahFoley725

You can still take baths, just don't turn the hot water all the way up. I take baths with Epsom salt alllllll the time to help with my aches and pains. The fear is prolonged exposure to heat and since bath water isn't running hot consistently, you'd be fine.

stillcozy

I never laid off baths my dr actually reccomended them. You don't have to worry with a bath as they are constantly cooling as pp have said and everything has been just fine with me

LoganLacey

Midwife says i can take a WARM bath for a half hour or more, so i have a thermometer keep the water at 100 degrees. I take my body temp in the bath too, it stays around 98.6, once it turned 99.4 and I thought that was pushing it so i got out.

michellabanana

Thank you everybody! I have been avoiding baths, but I am definitely try it with Epsom salt. I was told to avoid the first trimester, but didn't know when it was ok again. (Stinks to cause I do love super hot baths )

skruhmin

Baths are fine.  Might want to avoid epsom salts - there is a warning for pregnant women to NOT use it right on the bag - probably because you can detox with it.

michellabanana

skruhmin said:

Baths are fine.  Might want to avoid epsom salts - there is a warning for pregnant women to NOT use it right on the bag - probably because you can detox with it.

Ohh thank you! I don't have any right now so good to know! I'm sure just the warm bath will be great

fourtsixand2

I take a warm bath just about every night.  Just be sure you limit bubble baths or soaks to a couple of times a week and not make it a daily thing.
I try to soak every night if I can, even for just a few minutes, as it helps relieve the strain on my feet and body.

Parker16772

I take a bath pretty much every night and have been doing so since day 1. They help a lot with the cramps and back aches. Generally bath water isn't hot enough to get you overheated like a hot tub would be because the water cools down as soon as it leaves the faucet. You would know it it was too hot. 

ashleyrobertson0113

The concern with baths is raising your core temperature too much. So just make sure the water isn't too hot and you don't overheat too much. Your temperature should never get above 102! Aside from that, yeah! Go for it! I take baths all the time and it's one of the best things for my aching back.

amandalb12

I think I've asked my doctor this about 100 times b/c I'm obsessed with taking baths. He keeps telling me as long as it's not too hot it's fine. As other people have said your skin shouldn't turn pink and you shouldn't have to ease into the tub. Initially it was a luxury and in the first tri I just liked them in general but now I'd rather just lay down in hot water instead of standing in it b/c I'm lazy.

PinkLady2015

michellabanana said:

skruhmin said:

Baths are fine.  Might want to avoid epsom salts - there is a warning for pregnant women to NOT use it right on the bag - probably because you can detox with it.

Ohh thank you! I don't have any right now so good to know! I'm sure just the warm bath will be great

That's if you plan on ingesting Epsom salt as a laxative. Otherwise, bathing in it is perfectly safe.

pandamonium20

Agreed with @PinkLady2015
Epsom salts are Class A for baths. Class D for laxative use. Studies have shown that an injection with magnesium sulfate even deceased the risk of pre-e developing into eclampsia... If it were not safe, they would not have been able to begin that study.

tennisbabymama

Yep Epsom salt baths are the only thing getting me through right now. Perfectly safe in a bath. Actually highly suggested. Not safe to eat.

skruhmin

That makes total sense.  Thank you!!!  I WILL be doing one tonight!

noelietrex

We were supposed to stop bathing? I never did. Don't plan to. Baths are excellent. Epsom salt is a miracle.