Are you wondering if pregnant women can take hot showers? While it is suggested that women can take warm showers when they’re pregnant, it’s generally advised to avoid very hot showers and baths.
This is particularly advised during the first trimester. In this blog post, we’re going to explore the range of answers to the very popular question: Can you take a hot shower while pregnant?
So if you’re concerned about hot showers or being in hot water during your pregnancy, you’ve come to the right place.
How Does Pregnancy Affect Temperature Sensitivity?
When a woman becomes pregnant, it is common that she may experience temperature sensitivity. Many women will feel warmer due to the hormonal changes that are taking place in the body, along with increased blood flow.
During pregnancy, there is an increase in the hormone progesterone, which can lead to a slight increase in body temperature. The skin can also feel warmer to the touch as pregnancy can affect blood flow.
Here, the body is trying to regulate temperature and keep you cool. This is often why there is specific advice about showers and baths during pregnancy.
What Are the Risks of Hot Showers During Pregnancy?
We identified that having hot showers while pregnant is generally not advised. This is because of the risk of neural tube defects associated with a rise in core body temperature.
In early pregnancy, medical professionals particularly state the importance of checking the water temperature before having baths and showers. This is to reduce the risk of any major structural birth defects that may happen as a result of the body being too hot.
To be safe, it’s important not to have steaming hot showers and avoid hot tubs too. Here, warm showers and warm baths would be more suitable.
What Are the Recommendations for Safe Showering During Pregnancy?
Initially, you may have wondered if you can take a hot shower while pregnant. But now you may be curious as to what you can actually do to shower safely. Firstly, you will need to consult your healthcare provider to get the most suitable advice for your pregnancy.
However, in terms of general guidance on how to shower safely during pregnancy, you will find that sticking with a warm shower or warm bath is best. With warm showers, you’re more likely to avoid unsafe levels of excessive heat.
This can also stop your body temperature from being higher and reduce your risk of maternal heat exposure. Generally, sticking to warm showers during pregnancy and making sure that you’re only getting into warm water will help.
More specifically, this should be no more than 37°C or 100°F. This applies to both hot tubs and hot baths.
How Can You Recognize and Respond to Overheating?
One thing that pregnant women may want to be aware of here is how to recognize when they might be overheating. While it’s not always easy to know your body temperature without checking it, there are signs to look out for.
Firstly, if you are experiencing heat stress from taking hot showers, you may find that you’re sweating, feeling hot or dizzy, and have red skin. If so, you will want to take a cool shower to help regulate your core temperature and avoid complications.
If you were to look into birth defects research, you would see that a few studies indicate the connection of brain and spinal cord issues to temperature. This is more common in the first trimester.
Because of the higher risk of birth defects associated with the temperature of the water, it’s important to ensure that it’s warm and not hot.
What Can You Do as an Alternative?
When showering, most pregnant women take warm showers instead of very hot showers, which may cause an increased risk of congenital abnormalities, particularly of the spinal cord.
Opting for cooler water temperatures and shorter showers can make a difference and keep you safer. You could also consider warm baths here, too. If you are looking to take a warm bath, make sure that you are keeping your core temperature regulated.
Here, you can check your own body temperature with a thermometer to be sure, as well as the bath water. That way, you know that you’re safe. It’s important for you to maintain comfort and safety during pregnancy, so opting for cooler temperatures can really make a difference.
What Are Practical Tips for Safe Showering During Pregnancy?
While hot showers while pregnant are certainly not advised, you can take warm showers and baths during pregnancy. However, you will want to make sure that you’re always safe. So let’s now consider five main practical tips that will enable you to stay safe.
Monitor Water Temperature
To begin with, it’s essential that you’re able to monitor the water temperature whenever you shower or take a bath. You can use a thermometer here or make sure that you’re controlling the temperature on the thermostat.
If you have a water heater, you can also do the same with that. You can also test water temperatures with your hand. Your skin will react to the temperature and often turn pink. Ensuring that it’s warm and not hot is important here.
Limit Shower Duration
Likewise, you will also want to make sure that you’re monitoring how long you are showing for. Ideally, showers that last for less than ten minutes are ideal. Sticking to shorter showers will reduce the risk of your core temperature rising.
When you are taking warm baths, try to limit their length, too. Again, a warm bath at 10 minutes or less will reduce your risk of overheating.
Stay Hydrated
To keep your body temperature regulated, it’s recommended that you stay as hydrated as possible. Here, you may find that you benefit from drinking water before and after your showers and baths. This way, you will help to keep your blood pressure at the right level.
You will also be able to replenish your water stores by drinking water after the bath.
Maintain Proper Ventilation
To keep yourself cool as you’re showering or taking a bath, ensure that your bathroom is well-ventilated. By opening a window, you will be able to keep the air flowing nicely during your shower.
While you will want to avoid any hot showers and hot baths altogether – including being in hot tubs – showering in a well-ventilated area will prevent you from overheating.
Use a Shower Mat
In terms of shower and bath safety, it’s key to recognize that this also goes beyond the temperatures. You will want to make sure that you don’t slip as you’re getting in and out of the bath or shower.
Make sure that you have a non-slip mat for safety when you’re showering. It’s essential that pregnant women are not at risk of slipping and causing injury.
How Can Using a Shower Filter Contribute to Safer Showering During Pregnancy?
If you want to make sure that you can take hot showers safely while pregnant, getting an AquaBliss shower filter could really help you here. While it doesn’t regulate the water temperature, a shower filter removes impurities to help keep you safe and comfortable during your showers.
But that’s not all—there are many benefits that come with using a shower filter beyond just supporting safer showers during pregnancy. You’ll be able to reduce your exposure to chemicals and improve the water quality overall.
This can make it a great investment for your pregnancy and beyond. If you’re looking for high-quality shower filter products for your bathrooms, speak to us today to see which options will work best for you!
Staying Safe When You Shower While Pregnant
While you may have landed on this blog post with the question of – Can you take a hot shower while pregnant? – It’s clear to see that it is best not to. When you’re pregnant, it’s very important to consult your healthcare provider with any specific concerns that you have.
This can also enable you to get the best advice for your particular condition. However, it’s also important to follow key general guidelines here, too. Remember, warm showers and baths are always best.
In order to keep your core temperature regulated and avoid being at risk of any birth defects, you should avoid hot showers. It’s also recommended to stay away from hot baths and being in hot tubs, too.
By ensuring that you’re always showering and bathing in warm water and monitoring the temperature, you can also prevent overheating. If you’re looking to stay safe while pregnant, make sure to check out our shower filters to help you enjoy cleaner, more comfortable showers! Shop our shower filters now to get started.
**Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personalized medical guidance.**
