baths...

starburst210

ok i know this is a first tri q but how many of you take baths while pregnant...i know it's safe....etc. but how hot is the water and does it make you AT ALL concerned? about the babies?  about cervical length? etc....  i LOVE baths and could really use one but just haven't taken one since getting pregnant...I also did IVF and was nervous taking one while i was going through treatments ....i guess i was nervous to do anything so i am stuck in some of my old ways of thinking.....it all made me a neurotic mess b/c I didn't and don't want to screw anything up...which is prob why i am a little over the top about this and a few other issues....:(   when i was pregnant with my DD none of this phased me AT ALL!

so yes i guess my brain is a tad warped....but if you all take baths just let me know how long you soak, how hot the water is etc.  and reassure me it's completely and utterly fine !!!   i am READY to dive in!!

 

thanks! 

TaylorandMel

I can totally relate with you!  We also did IVF after years of TTC, and our fertility MD told us no baths and pelvic rest.  We did have bleeding early on, and so these things continued on, in addition to bed rest.  While my MFM has assured me that I can now take baths (which might help my pelvic pain), I cannot get myself to take one.  I guess I will just wait until the babies are here! lol

adacopeach

I took a long, glorious bath tonight and it was fabulous!  The water was pretty warm, but not so hot that I couldn't stand it, close though.  I do remember that I wasn't suppose to take a bath during the whole IFV process and afterwards for a while.  However, i didn't know that we weren't suppose to take baths while pregnant???  How in the world did our ancestors get themselves clean??  I don't bathe on a regular basis because I'm kind of a water conservation nut, but since we got 6" of rain this week, I didn't feel so guilty.  I've taken 4 baths since I got PG, I think, and I'm sure that I'll take more unless someone on here makes a good case for "why we shouldn't..."

Reilly626

Actually I was told to take baths, I have some varicose veins that since being pregnant have enlarged and was advised that the baths are great for helping the veins. I agree, I feel cleaner with a bath- unless until I get so big I can't take one!

jessibel00

I take a bath every single day... I did with my son as well . Your cervix is sealed up and as long as the water isn't hot enough to raise tour temp too high (which is next to impossible) you should be fine.  Check with your dr though in case your case is different from most peoples. 

emilyec1

From what I understand warm baths are okay, but long, super-hot baths that can substantially raise your body temperature are not. But I like my baths SUPER hot so I have just avoided them altogether for now.

AmyJoy728

I was just told that they shouldn't be REALLY hot. You just don't want to raise your body temperature too much. I was also told to keep a glass of cold water next to the tub and sip that if I felt that my temp was going high. 

McGibbon51311

I started taking a bath every day once I started becoming really uncomfortable (around 20 weeks) and then ended up taking two a day later on in the pregnancy (around 28 weeks) and the day before I had my boys I actually took three. I'm a very meds-free person so taking a nice warm bath was one of the only things I could do to help ease my pain - I ended up with sciatica. I just made sure that the temp of the water for my bath was hot enough to keep me warm but not so hot that it made me over heat (which is the danger). 

hayleydeee

I took baths during both of my pregnancies, and was never told not to. There was never a specific time or temperature and avoided making the water really hot. 

Toward the end of my twin pregnancy it felt so good to get into a big tub and have some of the pressure taken off my belly. 

sweetsugarmama

jessibel00:

I take a bath every single day... I did with my son as well . Your cervix is sealed up and as long as the water isn't hot enough to raise tour temp too high (which is next to impossible) you should be fine.  Check with your dr though in case your case is different from most peoples. 

This, except I did with my daughter not son. My ob with DD said as long as your skin doesn't turn red it's not too hot. and since baths cool you won't be soaking in hot water long anyway. It is the only relief for some of my aches and pains. 

rachelle2824

I justified it my telling myself that stress is far worse for my baby than a warm bath, even a daily warm bath or an occasional hot bath! And my doctor agreed! I had through TTC and then lost my first son so I know exactly how you feel not wanting to take any chances. For me, I didn't worry about the baths too much but did take my temp with a thermometer by the side of the tub if I felt like I was getting warm and drank tons of cold water (which I like to do any way) in the tub. Of course start asking for help getting out when the time comes too! I started needing an occasional "spotter" around 34 weeks.

Enjoy yourself!