Taking Baths While Pregnant

Right now, nothing sounds better than a relaxing soak in the tub — not only because the warm bath water is soothing to your skin, but because it can also ease pregnancy aches and pains, especially that sore back. But when you’re expecting, is it really safe to take a spa-like soak in the bathtub? 

Rest assured, you won’t have to switch to lukewarm showers for the rest of your pregnancy. It’s perfectly safe for pregnant women to take baths during pregnancy — as long as you take a few precautions. 

Can you take a bath while pregnant?

As long as you’re bathing in warm — not hot — water, then yes, you can safely take baths while pregnant. The real question might be, “Are you able to take a bath?”

Thanks to your ever-expanding stomach, dropping energy levels and increasing clumsiness, it can be hard work to hoist yourself into the tub — never mind reach all the places that need sudsing and rinsing. Remember, too, that you’ll have to hoist yourself out again, then bend over your belly (careful now) to towel off.

Given that you’re a little shaky on your feet these days, play it safe by using non-slip mats in the bathroom. (Though keep in mind if you do accidentally fall while pregnant, your baby is pretty well-protected in there.) 

Thinking about incorporating some spa-like scents? Hold off on adding essential oils to the tub until you get the okay from your practitioner. It’s unclear whether pregnant women should use aromatherapy, especially during the first trimester.

In fact, if you’re feeling queasy, it’s probably best to avoid scented bath products as well as anything that contains dyes, fragrances and tons of additives. Pregnant women are prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and vaginal irritation.

Can you take hot baths during pregnancy?

It’s not a good idea to take hot baths — or soak in a hot tub or sauna — during pregnancy. Anything that raises your core body temperature to over 101 degrees Fahrenheit may increase the risk of neural tube defects in babies.

Plus, pregnant women are already prone to dizziness and low blood pressure, so taking a bath in a tub that’s too hot could put you at higher risk for a fall.

Try to keep the water temperature around 97 or 98 degrees. You can measure the temperature levels with a bath thermometer — which will come in handy once you start filling up your baby’s very own bathtub.  

Even if your bath is tepid at best, try to limit your soak to under ten minutes. This way, you won’t overheat or over-dry your skin.

Can you take an Epsom salt bath during pregnancy?

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is a naturally occurring mineral salt that is sometimes added to bath water. Before adding it to a bath, however, you should consult with your doctor. It’s not clear whether it’s always safe for pregnant women.

Epsom salt may help ease the following symptoms:

• Muscle aches, particularly those in the shoulders, neck and back
• Joint discomfort
• Headaches and migraines
• Severe morning sickness, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum 

Adding Epsom salt to a bath post-pregnancy may also help relieve soreness after a vaginal delivery.

Can you take a milk bath during pregnancy?

Milk bath maternity photos — which feature a pregnant woman reclining in a bathtub full of milk — make for a special pregnancy memento. And as long as you’re not allergic to milk, milk baths are usually safe to take during pregnancy. 

You should, however, only use pasteurized milk (the unpasteurized kind can harbor dangerous bacteria), make sure the milk isn’t spoiled and keep the liquid’s temperature at no higher than 98 degrees.