How hot is too hot for a bath?

Gator687 · January 2012

I've been soaking in a bath nearly every night for a week. It just helps relieve some of the stress and helps me sleep. It also relieves some of the cramps and twinges that come with the beginning stages of pregnancy. It didn't dawn on me until today that there are bath and hot tub rules. I plan to ask my Dr. Tomorrow, but what is your advice on it? I haven't been taking extremely hot baths like I use to but they have been a little warmer than luke warm.

mrst-tobe · January 2012

Gator687:
I've been soaking in a bath nearly every night for a week. It just helps relieve some of the stress and helps me sleep. It also relieves some of the cramps and twinges that come with the beginning stages of pregnancy. It didn't dawn on me until today that there are bath and hot tub rules. I plan to ask my Dr. Tomorrow, but what is your advice on it? I haven't been taking extremely hot baths like I use to but they have been a little warmer than luke warm.

I'm not sure what the temperature is supposed to be, but I generally just try to make sure that's it's not turn your skin red steaming hot. Mine are always warmer than luke warm though for sure.

The problem with hot tubs is the temperature remains constant so as you sit in it it raises your core body temperature too much. A bath starts cooling down as soon as you stop running the water, so as long as you don't start with boiling hot water you're probably ok. Just listen to your body and try not to overheat.

oh and enjoy! I love a good bath!

mwitter80 · January 2012

My midwife said the temperature that she would "approve" wouldn't be worth even taking a bath. sigh. So I haven't taken one.

LottaLattes · January 2012

I used to take scalding hot baths, and after my first m/c, researched it. It seems 99 degrees (which is barely warm, honestly) is the preferred temperature. I started taking baths that I thought were ok, had my second loss. I bought a hot tub thermometer and found I was still taking 104 or so baths. I used the thermometer with this preg and definitely don't enjoy the baths as much but my paranoid side feels better.

kokokat · January 2012

I've taken a few baths so far. Last pregnancy, I temped the water, but it was so cold to be under like 101 or whatever they recommend, that I didn't enjoy them. This time around, I use warm water, enough to keep me warm, but not so hot my skin changes color, or I sweat, or get an elevated HR or anything.

kevinandmonica2011 · January 2012

I think with a bath, your body will tell you when its too hot. If your skin turns bright red, you start to sweat or feel dizzy... It's too hot. I take a bath every night. It may be 100+ when I get in, but it cools off pretty quickly, so I don't worry. Once or twice i have just felt too hot, so i got out and laid in my cool bed for a few minutes. Hot tubs are more dangerous, like old said, because the temp remains constantly elevated.

HBaylies · January 2012

You don't want it to raise your body temp. So when I think about it, I try to remember what it felt like in the hot tub we had growing up at my dad's. The temp was kept at 100 and it felt very warm to me. I try to imagine the water for me not being hotter than the hot tub or ever a little cooler. Do you have a baby bath thermomator you can toss in your tub when you find out from your OB what the temp shouldn't go over?

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