Is it Safe to Use a Hot Tub During Pregnancy?
Posted on November 4, 2009
Filed Under Natural therapy | Leave a Comment
Owning a hot tub can reward fantastic social benefits! Having a romantic evening with your partner in the hot tub can be socially advantageous! Owing a hot tub can also have immediate physical and psychological benefits.
But is a hot tub or a Jacuzzi a safer proposition to use than a hot tub when you are pregnant?
Is a hot tub or a Jacuzzi a safer proposition to use than a hot tub when you are pregnant?
It seems that the reason behind the recommendation against using hot tubs is to do with body temperature.
A high body temperature in early pregnancy can increase the risk of neural tube defects (abnormalities in the development of the brain or spine of the baby). This also applies to fevers when pregnant.
A fever during pregnancy, especially in the early stages can cause problems but research so far does not show if it can actually cause a miscarriage, unless the fever is extremely high and prolonged.
There is some evidence however that using hot tubs in early pregnancy could increase the risk of miscarrying in addition to neural tube defects. However the evidence of the link is not fully conclusive and the more likely risk is that the baby will have health problems.
Due to this known link with neural tube defects it is recommended by doctors that women should avoid raising their body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit. You should be aware that being in a hot tub for a short period can raise your temperature.
A lot of people like to use different temperatures of the hot tub, but to be safe; you should keep at a healthy heat and not overdo it. If you raise the temperature to a very high level, your skin can end up being damaged and potentially burnt. The general temperature that should be reserved is around 90-100 degrees.
Therefore the consensus of opinion is better to be safe than sorry and avoid using a hot tub during pregnancy.
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