Are hot baths/saunas bad for a pregnant female?

 For centuries there has been a myth propagated that pregnant women should avoid hot baths and saunas. The reason is that the high temperature may affect the fetus.

It has been known that when the pregnant mother has a persistently high temperature it can lead to drop in heart rate and thus this could result in decreased oxygen supply to the fetus. There are also anecdotal case reports that high body temperature from fever or any external causes may increase risk of miscarriage especially if it occurs during the first trimester. However, this high temperature must be long lasting.

So what should a pregnant female do?

The main thing a female should do is avoid a prolonged increase in core body temperature. A hot bath or shower is perfectly fine but one should avoid prolonged stays in the sauna or hot tubs.

Women who live in hot humid climates should try to stay cool. However, again these are just speculations. Women who live in the Sahara and in the Middle East are exposed to year round hot temperatures and give birth to babies born without any major problems- so it is time to debunk the temperature myth. However, remember that too much of one thing is never good.