Can you really not take baths when you’re pregnant?!
—M
A concern in early pregnancy is that excessive heat might lead to an increased risk of birth defects. For example: this study suggests that there might be an increased risk of several gastrointestinal defects. There are also studies that focus on neural tube defects. The mechanism by which excess body heat might impact fetal development in the first trimester is supported in animal models. Some studies show miscarriage risks.
It is important to say that this evidence isn’t from enormous or especially well-designed studies. Most of it comes from “case control” studies that do a lot of different statistical tests, and it’s hard with that type of setup to know if the effects are just showing up by chance. But the consistency of the evidence and the mechanisms makes this seem like a caution worth taking.
Having said that: on the other end of pregnancy, during labor, baths are a known source of pain relief. So it is not that you can never bathe in pregnancy. The caution is about first-trimester bathing. Once you are out of that period, out of the initial neural tube development period, then taking a bath does not carry these risks.
Community Guidelines
Log in
I was surprised at your take here. On other topics you have been such a champion of standing against the scare tactics of ‘maybe it’s bad so better avoid it’ that is so common in pre-natal care. You do caveat that if there is risk it’s just in the first trimester.
As I’m understanding the data on NTD (gastroschisis is most commonly associated) has an odds ratio 2-3 (closer to 1.5 when controlled for women who take a folate containing PNV practically eliminated when controlling for other critical vitamin intake and adequate weight gain in pregnancy). Additionally, this is an incredibly rare disease with prevalence of 3-10 in 10,000 live births. Similar to comparing the absolute v relative risk of co-sleeping, which you did masterfully. To recommend avoiding hot baths (if this is a major component of wellness for someone–like 4 cups of coffee are for you) feels like it’s playing into the same old rhetoric that makes being pregnant feel like a punishment.
Additionally wouldn’t you consider many of the same confounding factors that effect a woman’s desires to drink coffee in the first trimester a factor in the data on neural tube defect and miscarriage? I would argue that women who choose to take more hot baths (even women who have access to a hot tub or whirlpool tub in their home) and who feel well enough to take a hot bath frequently in the first trimester are a fundamentally different group of women then those who do not. I would love to hear your thoughts on this one!
B Thompkins, Family Doc, Santa Fe NM and mother of 6