Is It Safe to Take a Bath While Pregnant

For many newly pregnant people, you may be wondering things like how do I know my baby’s gender without an ultrasound? Or what are safe bath temperatures while pregnant?. Parenthood, especially during early pregnancy in the first trimester, may come with a lot of second-guessing the activities you once took for granted, Now that you’ve got a baby on board, is it safe for a pregnant woman to keep up your weightlifting routine? Eat a turkey sandwich? Or how about is it okay to take a bath while pregnant?

Concerning the latter, the answer is yes: Taking a warm bath during pregnancy can be a perfectly safe—and even beneficial—practice to maintain. Taking baths during pregnancy can offer relaxation and health benefits, provided that certain safety guidelines are followed.

If you’re dizzy with questions about how to practice self-care safely during pregnancy, we cover the ins and outs of bathing for pregnant people(plus a few other scrumptious early pregnancy ideas) below.

Can you take hot baths while pregnant?

Hot bath lovers, take note: Spending some time in the tub can be a perfectly safe practice for pregnant people in their first, second, and third trimesters if you are mindful of the temperature. It is not recommended to take hot baths, use hot tubs, or saunas while pregnant if your core body temperature will be raised to unsafe levels as overheating can lead to increased risk for birth defects..However, a warm soak may offer several benefits for the unique occasion of pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.

Do not bathe in water over 100º degrees fahrenheit

The most significant potential health hazard when it comes to bathing during pregnancy comes down to temperature and overheating. Before pregnancy, you may have looked forward to cranking the water faucet all the way to “Hot” to unwind after a long day—but with precious cargo in tow, bathwater should never exceed 98.6ºF to 100ºF (around 37ºC).

There are several reasons why reproductive health experts caution against taking hot baths for the sake of both baby and mama. These include:

• Risk of maternal hyperthermia – Maternal hyperthermia is a condition where a pregnant woman’s core body temperature exceeds levels that are safe for the baby in-utero (beyond 102ºF or 39ºC). Whether the result of hot baths or vigorous exercise, hyperthermia can lead to heat stress and endanger fetal health.
• Risk of preterm birth – Research suggests that during the first 7 weeks of pregnancy, exposure to extreme temperatures—whether hot or cold—is associated with a higher likelihood of preterm birth. Experts believe this risk not only applies to the first trimester but to all 9 months of pregnancy.

The most foolproof way to avoid heat stress during a hot bath is to check the temperature of your bathwater before getting in the tub. However, your body will also provide cues if you’ve gone overboard with the hot water, including:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Impaired vision
• Thirst or dehydration
• Queasiness

All of these are signs that may indicate you’re putting too much stress on your body and your baby. If you experience any of them, try to remain calm—sometimes, taking a quick cold rinse or even exiting the bathroom can help reduce your internal body temperature to a safe, healthy level.

What are the risks of taking a bath while pregnant?

A safe and beneficial bath isn’t just about temperature; it involves paying close attention to frequency, duration, and the physical environment.

Avoiding slips

As your center of gravity shifts and energy levels drop, your balance and coordination can change, making the bathtub a slip hazard. This is a crucial safety concern throughout all trimesters.

To ensure your safety:

• Install a Non-Slip Mat: Use a bath mat with a non-slip bottom beside the tub and, ideally, treads on the inside of the tub itself.
• Move Slowly: Take extra care when stepping in, and be sure to hoist yourself out slowly and deliberately once the water is drained.
• Keep it Well Lit: Always bathe with the lights on to help you navigate getting in and out of the tub safely.

Watching the clock 

Even when the temperature is safe, prolonging your bath time isn’t recommended. To prevent your core body temperature from overheating and to avoid over-drying your sensitive skin, limit your soaking time to no more than 10 to 20 minutes. If you start to feel overly warm, lightheaded, or your skin feels tight, it’s time to get out. While an occasional warm bath is safe, you should be cautious about the frequency of bathing and the types of products you use.

Limiting use of personal “home spa” products

If you’re a self-care queen, you may have a treasure trove of bubble bombs, bath salts, essential oils, and other products to make your bathroom rival your local spa. Unfortunately, pregnancy may not be the optimal time to use your bath bomb and essential oil selections.

Personal care products, particularly those with strong fragrances, could disrupt your vaginal pH balance, thereby augmenting your risk of developing a yeast infection. While yeast infections are treatable during pregnancy, the antifungal medications commonly used to treat them can be hazardous to your baby’s health.

If you do wind up developing a yeast infection during pregnancy, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider. They can help you choose a baby-safe alternative medication, such as:

• Clotrimazole
• Miconazole
• Terconazole

Can you take Epsom salt baths while pregnant?

Epsom salt baths are a popular remedy for common pregnancy discomforts, and researchers generally agree they are safe when used correctly to soothe muscle tension, aches, soreness, inflammation, and swelling. However, incorrect use carries risks, making it absolutely crucial to contact your medical provider first for personalized guidance before incorporating them into your routine. To ensure safety:

• Always use low quantities and follow product directions, as using high amounts can result in magnesium overload and complications
• Ensure the bath water is comfortably warm, not hot, to prevent your core body temperature from rising
• Stick to pure, fragrance-free options to minimize potential skin allergies and irritation
• Absolutely avoid ingestion of salt

Can you take milk baths while pregnant?

Milk baths are a luxurious way to pamper your skin and are generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. The lactic acid in milk can act as a gentle exfoliant and moisturizer, which is especially helpful for soothing dry or itchy skin (a common side effect of hormonal changes and stretching).

However, if you choose this luxurious soak, there are two key precautions you must follow:

• Use Pasteurized Milk Only: Unpasteurized milk can harbor dangerous bacteria. Using only pasteurized milk eliminates this risk.
• Test for Sensitivity: Always perform a patch test first to check for any skin allergies or sensitivities before fully immersing yourself.

Can you take cold baths while pregnant?

Just as we stress avoiding hot tubs and saunas to prevent overheating, we also recommend that you avoid extreme cold water temperatures, such as ice baths or cold plunges, during your pregnancy.

Anything that dramatically alters your core body temperature—whether too hot or too cold—can affect blood flow to the placenta. While a quick, cool rinse in the shower is a great way to cool down after a bath, stick to lukewarm water for soaking to ensure the safest environment for your baby’s sex development.

Are there benefits to taking baths during pregnancy?

A warm bath offers a soothing and effective way for pregnant women to find relief from many common discomforts.

• Stress relief – Coping with stress during pregnancy is an important part of caring for your body and your baby, as high levels of anxiety are linked with preterm birth and low birth weight. Bathing is an age-old method of calming the nerves and soothing the mind—and newer research suggests it may even help to rebalance serotonin levels, assisting with lowering levels of anxiety and depression.
• Soothing sore muscles – While aches and pains typically only arise in the second and third trimesters, baths, can be an excellent way of tending to sore muscles during pregnancy.
• Keeping a consistent routine – If baths were a staple of your self-care repertoire before you were expecting, keeping up with them can help you feel cared for even while you’re going through a big life change.

All in all, baths can be an effective way of caring for yourself during pregnancy as long as you follow a few important guidelines to follow to ensure you’re doing it safely. Additionally, if you are hesitant about increased risk, you can always opt for a refreshing shower.

3 surprising things to avoid for a safe pregnancy

Apart from the well-known pregnancy no-nos—like smoking tobacco—there are several other things you should avoid in early pregnancy , some of which may not be as obvious. These include:

1. Cleaning the litter box – Cuddling up with your kitten can be another sweet way to unwind while you’re pregnant. But if you live with a partner, pal, or family member, see if they can take care of the litter box. Cat excrement may contain parasites that can pose a danger to your baby in-utero. Exposure to these parasites may heighten the risk of:
   • Miscarriage
   • Seizures
   • Developmental disabilities
2. E-cigarettes and vapes – Just like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes are simply not safe to use while you’re pregnant, as nicotine can impair fetal brain development.
3. Certain types of massage – As a general rule, it’s best to stick with prenatal massage (administered by a trained, seasoned massage therapist) during your pregnancy. Enjoying the benefits of prenatal massage and deep tissue massages are generally inadvisable during the first trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, massage work or positions that put pressure on the abdomen should be avoided.

Safe, soothing self-care ideas for when you’re expecting

Many of us have heard that taking care of yourself is a way of taking care of others—and if there’s any phase of life where this adage becomes literal, it’s pregnancy. Establishing a self-care ritual is a way of tending to your own needs, as well as your growing baby’s.

That said, deep self-care rituals like bathing or prenatal massage may not always be attainable when life gets in the way. If you’re stumped on easy, accessible ways to incorporate self-care into your routine, let these activities be your inspiration:

• Take an online prenatal yoga class – If you’re looking for a more dynamic way of soothing and stretching your body, try a pre-recorded prenatal yoga class or prenatal yoga tips. Prenatal yoga has been shown to help support sleep and relaxation, and you may also walk away with accessible tools to help you navigate those first few months of motherhood, like deep breathing exercises.
• Tune into a pregnancy podcast – Listening to a podcast about fierce mamas around the world is an excellent way to stay informed and inspired about the journey you’ve embarked on. A few of our favorites include:
  • Big Fat Positive, a laugh-out-loud show that follows two new moms from pregnancy to parenthood.
  • Common Sense Pregnancy, a pregnancy podcast for moms who want science-backed, real-world advice on pregnancy topics that don’t get talked about enough.
  • The Birth Hour, a podcast that covers extraordinary birth stories and the incredible and challenging moments of early motherhood.
• Try prenatal bonding exercises – There are countless ways to connect to your future little bundle before you’ve even met them. You can try reading aloud to your growing bump, creating a pregnancy scrapbook, or cooing lullabies to them at bedtime. Not only can these exercises help you bond with your baby-to-be, but you may find they also have soothing effects on you, too.

Stay calm and informed with SneakPeek

From the first trimester to the third, you deserve to soak in as much self-care as you can before it’s time to break out the rubber ducks. For more science-backed ways to stay centered and informed during pregnancy, check out the SneakPeek Test.

Our Early Gender DNA Test lets you discover the sex of your baby just 6 weeks into your pregnancy with over 99% accurate1, DNA-based gender blood test results. That’s a full 6 weeks sooner than your first ultrasound! You can also easily take the test from the relaxing comfort of your own home. Then, send it to our lab, and we’ll review your results on the same day we receive your sample. When they’re ready, we’ll email your results to you or a trusted friend so that you can experience your gender reveal exactly how you want to.

SneakPeek is OBGYN’s #1 recommended early gender test, with the trust of 1 million moms behind us. Discover more on what you can learn about your baby-to-be by checking us out today.

Editorial Policy

At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:

Dr. Heather Soper, Certified Nurse Midwife

Dr. Heather Soper brings over 15 years of experience in women's health and obstetrics to her role as the owner of The Genesis Resort for Birth. Complementing her clinical practice, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at James Madison University, where she educates nursing students with a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care. Her advanced training and dedication to midwifery are evident in her contribution to both academia and the wellness of expectant mothers.

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