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I remember reading that when I was pregnant with my second child(I love hot baths). If memory serves, it was to avoid raising the temperature of the fetus. I don't know how hot the water or sauna would have to be to do this though. I like baths that are extremely hot, and redden my skin intensely. I took such baths during my first pregnancy and my son turned out ok though. I guess it's good not to take chances.
Because hot hot hot water will raise internal temps.... (kind of morbid but I always thought of it like boiling a chicken.) I think the reason has something to do with the baby not being able to sweat & the heat turns up your heart rate causing stress to the baby??? But I could be wrong.
Either way you dont want to submerge or steam in water over 100 F.
From what I've read in my pregnancy (non-nursing) books, it's because it increases the chance of birth defects developing.
Personally, I love a bath where I turn on just the hot water tap, lie back and soak with a good book...so having to give that up and settle for lukewarm for 9 months was kind of rough.
pagandeva2000, LPN
7,984 Posts
I was reading in my old textbooks as well as some of the newer literature being given out in my OB/GYN clinic saying that a pregnant woman should avoid hot baths and saunas, but do not see the reason why. Anyone know?