Can You Use A Hot Tub While Pregnant?

Pregnancy is full of blessings and happy moments, but even if your pregnancy is free of complications it can still be a stressful — and sometimes painful — time. According to Baby Center, most women will feel aches and pains starting just a few weeks into their pregnancy. At the beginning, said-pains are likely caused by all the hormonal changes going on in your body. As you progress into your pregnancy, more aches will come from your growing belly — some of the most common sore spots during pregnancy include your back and pelvis.

While these aches are completely normal, about 60% of pregnant women experience pains during pregnancy according to The Bump, and they can take a toll on both your physical and mental health. If you are feeling these sores, you may be tempted to hop into a nice, warm hot tub to relieve some of the tension. Unfortunately, this may not be a good idea.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) does not recommend pregnant women use hot tubs during their pregnancy. An elevated body temperature can be dangerous to the fetus and when in a hot tub, your body temperature rises above the recommended temperature — according to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), that temperature is 102.2º F.

Taking a quick dip in a hot tub will likely not cause issues, but any prolonged time may lead to an increased risk in birth defects, especially for those who enter hot tubs during their first trimester. According to Baby Center, elevated temperatures in pregnant women have led to neural tube defects and some studies have even linked higher temperatures in early pregnancy to an increased risk for miscarriage. The APA says that it takes just about 10 to 15 minutes for your temperature to elevate in a hot tub, so it is best to steer clear of these until after the baby is born.

If you really want to jump in a hot tub during your pregnancy, the American Pregnancy Association recommends limiting your time to 10 minutes, reprogramming the hot tub to maintain a lower temperature, and leaving the hot tub as soon as you feel any dizziness, overheating, or discomfort.

But, there are other ways to help relieve those aches and pains that don't involve potential risks. According to The Bump, walking can help to relieve pain as well as Tylenol and a belly support band, which provides better support for your muscles and abdominal wall. If you are craving heat, a hot bath or hot shower are still safe options during pregnancy and can be a temporary relief for the pain, as long as the water temperature isn't at an uncomfortable heat (per Baby Center). A heating pad on your back is also okay to use, as long as you limit the use to 20 minutes, per Healthline.

Pregnancy can be a rough road with lots of road blocks along the way. But in the end, it will all be worth it.