It’s best to be cautious about having a hot bath, although having a warm bath is fine – and a good way to relax.
Warm should be comfortable enough so that you can get straight in without having to get in bit by bit. It also shouldn’t affect the colour of your skin and make it red, or make you sweat.
Test the water with your elbow or forearm before getting in. This part of your body is more sensitive to temperature than your feet or hands.
You need to be cautious because a hot bath could push up your core body temperature, and this could be dangerous for your baby. Studies on animals suggest that overheating, especially in the early months of pregnancy, may cause birth defects in their offspring.
The type of birth defects that might arise affect the brain and spine. These are called neural tube defects (NTD). Spina bifida is one example of an NTD. But the risks of overheating are greater with hot tubs and saunas than baths. Baths cool rapidly, whereas hot tubs and saunas are maintained at a constant high temperature.
If the bath water is too hot, you could also feel faint or sick, as the heat can lower your blood pressure a bit too much. This can affect blood flow to your baby, which is unsafe at any stage of your pregnancy.
Tempting though it is to relax in a scented bath, it’s best not to use bubble bath, bath salts or bath oils during pregnancy. This is because they can alter the acidic balance of your vagina and make you more likely to develop thrush. Thrush can be very uncomfortable for you and, if left untreated, could pass to your baby during birth. If you miss the bubbles and want to make your bath more luxurious, try lighting some scented candles instead.
source:http://www.kidsloverscenter.com/
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