Is using a sauna while your pregnant safe?

Question

I'm 12 weeks pregnant and last week (11wks) i used a sauna. My sister, who had her baby in October, says it's not safe.

Answer 1

it is not safe, because your body temperature can easily rise too much. the same goes for hot tubs and tanning beds. dont feel bad about using one, as once should be okay for the baby, but avoid them in the future. congrats on your baby!

Answer 2

Hot Tubs and Saunas -- Getting overheated during pregnancy is bad for both you and the baby. Evidence suggests that raising your body temperature early in the first trimester while the fetal organs are forming can lead to birth defects, including spina bifida. However, these studies involved pregnant women who were ill with a high fever, not women who took saunas or hot baths. That said, getting overheated later in pregnancy can make you lightheaded or even faint. Given this information, it seems wise to avoid raising your body temperature during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester. If you are going to go in a hot tub or sauna, make sure it's not too hot (under 100 degrees F) and that you're not in it too long. If you start feeling overheated or faint, get out immediately. Tub baths are generally fine in pregnancy, since they tend to be cooler, just keep the water at a reasonable and comfortable temperature.
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,23484,00.html

Answer 3

The risk relates to getting very hot at a time when the circulatory system is already under increased demands to provide greatly increased blood flow in support of the pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses the volume of blood being circulated increases by about 40 per cent and the blood pressure falls in the first six months. The blood vessels will relax further in response to heat to allow increased blood flow to the skin associated with cooling the body and sweating. This makes the heart work even harder, or it may result in a faint because the mum-to-be cannot maintain sufficient blood flow to the brain. If you are physically fit, this is all that is likely to happen, but if your cardiovascular system is compromised by other problems, or you happen to be anaemic, then more serious harm might occur.

It is wise to avoid these pursuits during pregnancy, although it is unlikely that you would come to much harm in the first trimester. However, this is often when women feel at their worst with troublesome symptoms of nausea and ‘morning sickness’. So, it is really best to leave these hot hobbies during pregnancy.

Answer 4

You shouldn't use sauna's, jacuzzi's, hot tubs, or hot baths when pregnant. It raises your body temp which is bad for baby because at the moment baby can't control it's own body temp.

As the previous poster said though, don't feel too bad about doing it once, baby will be fine. Just avoid them in the future!

Congrats and good luck :)

Answer 5

ok i was pregnant at 6 wks when i found out i was pregnant and i was using a sauna before that for several wks i stopped... cause i found out about my pregnancy... i dont see why you have to go to a sauna if you wont lose any inches your pregnant,,,yeah and its not safe my daughter was healthy and ok though.. you should stop you wont lose weight or inches anymore cause i would lose then get it back its no use wait til u have the baby

Answer 6

I was told by my ob/gyn no hot tubs or hot baths. You have to be careful not to get too over-heated, so I'd avoid the sauna from now on. This one time won't hurt you, but if you're worried then call the doc.

Answer 7

I wouldn't personally. It's the bit the same as going in a spa, you don't want your body temperature to get too high.

You can sit in a warm spa, but not boiling hot and I think preferably without the bubbles going. Also spa's can carry bacteria, obviously because there it's lots of people in a small area. But, if you know the person (ie I go in my Dad's spa because I know it's clean) you should be ok. If you are not sure, either don't go in or ask your doctor his opinion.

Answer 8

it was ok n the first trimester because the baby was only in the germinal stage but now it is not ok to take a sauna, steam, hot bath or jacuzzi, it is a little person now so if you don't want to boil your baby stay away from these!

Answer 9

You are not supposed to be in a sauna or hot tub. It raises your body teperature and can hurt the baby.

Answer 10

excess heat riseing can cause birth defects and miscarrage in first 12 weeks after that i heard spars and hot tubscan cause early labour ?