TRUTH OR TALE NO. 5

Posted on 29 January 2018

When pregnant, taking a hot bath can harm your baby.

ANSWER: Truth

There’s ample evidence to prove that this tale is true.

In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that expecting mothers who use high-heat hot tubs and whirlpool baths are twice as likely to have a miscarriage.

The same holds true for regular baths and even saunas. As soon as expecting mothers are submerged in water, or closed high-humidity rooms with temperatures exceeding 37.7 °C they run an increased risk of miscarriage.

In addition to this, the higher the frequency of use of hot baths and saunas, the higher the risk of it harming your baby.

Sources: 

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/158/10/931/80747