Do hot baths really hurt babies?

Question

I'm not talking about sitting in a hot tub, I'm talking about just taking a normal bath. My sister told me that I was hurting my unborn son by taking a bath. I just take normal baths, my doctor told me to , to relieve back pain. Is this wrong? Have you guys ever known of a baby who was harmed from this? Please no rude answers, I really want to know.

Answer 1

You don't want to over heat when you are pregnant.  If the bath is so scalding that your skin turns red, it is too hot.  If it is just a regular warm bath then it is probably ok.  I think that you'll know if it is too hot.  If you feel sweaty when you are soaking then it is too hot.  I personally have never known anyone who hurt their baby by taking hot baths.  But they do usually say no hot tubs so your sister is partially right.  I'm sure she's just trying to help.  I would listen to your doctor though.  If he says to take warm baths to ease your back pains then it will be fine.

Answer 2

duh..it will burn them.make it luke warm.

Answer 3

If your body tells you the water is too hot, then the water is too hot. I take bathes quite often for my backaches. I do not worry too much about that because if your body is over heating then you should just get out.  

Answer 4

Unless your sister has a medical degree, tell her to shut the h**l up. Your doctor is the ONLY authority you should listen to.

Answer 5

The concern is that you will overheat.

A fetus is not able to regulate his own body temperature.

When a baby is born, they watch them and wait until they are able to reach a normal body temperature.

It's an important thing.

So, if you are to overheat, your body is able to cool yourself down, but a fetus's can't. So you'd be elevating your baby's temperature really high, and he doesn't have the means to protect himself and cool him down.

Not a good situation.

A warm bath is fine, but your temperature shouldn't go above 101 degrees.

Answer 6

unborn babies have a naturally higher temp. in the womb and their temp will be at least 1 to 2 degrees higher than your temp at all times so taking a bath as hot as you can stand it is not good for the baby because it will cause the babies temp. to raise and can be very harmful.     **good tip--- start your water before you get in the bath and when its almost full then get in the tub. it will make the water feel just as hot as you like it but it wont be too hot.. but if you sit in the tub while the water is running your body has time to adjust to the temp and your body will trick you into thinking the water isnt as hott as it really is. so yes hot water/99degrees or up is to hot for your baby

Answer 7

Well first and formost your sister is wrong...

There is nothing wrong with going in a hot bath and or a jacuzzi tub that is below 101 degress! Pregnant women are warned to be careful because while pregnant your body is more inclined to over heat! So if you start to feel light headed or dizzy then just get out! I use my hot tub almost every night... Its kept at a low temp and I only sit in it for 5 minutes at a time! Your body temp is already at about 98, most baths temps are below that!

Don't worry!!! Its fine! Just be aware of how you are feeling!

Answer 8

A warm bath is fine.  A hot bath is not.  A trick I learned; get a thermometer and check your temperature.  Then test the water as you're filling the tub and make sure it is the same or a little lower than your temperature.  The concern with hot water is the baby is sitting at your body temperature in your uterus in amniotic fluid.  It has no way of cooling itself off (sweating) and can easily overheat which can cause birth defects or miscarriage.

Answer 9

If you are taking a normal bath there is nothing wrong with it and it is not going to affect your baby in any way. If the bath water however is too hot to even step into then you need to wait until it is closer to your body temperature to get in because you do not want to raise your temp too high. My mother took baths with me and my sister and we are healthy successful women.

Answer 10

Taking a bath that is not to hot is just fine, but sitting in a hot hot bath can raise your temperature and the babies and can hurt the little one. But taking a nice relaxing bath does help so much with back pain i do it

Answer 11

A regular old hot bath is just fine, the temp won't get hot enough to cause any problems. It's actual "hot tubs" which you should avoid unless it's a short soak for less than 5-10 minutes.

Answer 12

In early pregnancy hot baths can cause neural tube defects. I don't think you have anything to worry about

Answer 13

no it doesn't hurt the baby. I did it when I was pregnant and my beautiful 6 month old boy was perfect with no problems

Answer 14

no a lukewarm bath is fine. but if its over 100F or its scalding hot then thats a problem because it raises the baby tempreture which can cause miscarriage and other problems to it...