How To Take A Bath During Pregnancy

5 years ago Baby Destination Editor

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There is nothing more relaxing than a long bath after a stressful day. Needless to say, when you are expecting a baby, you may want to take long showers just to ease the discomfort and relax your aching muscles. However, when you are pregnant, taking a bath is also quite different from the way you would normally do it. Before you jump into the shower, you need to learn how to take a bath when pregnant to make sure that you and your baby are both safe. These tips for bathing during pregnancy will come in handy at any stage of your pregnancy.

Also read: 6 Simple Healthy Habits during Pregnancy

What Precautions to Take?

There are some important precautions to take while bathing during pregnancy. This is necessary to make sure that you do not develop any complications such as induced labor when you are into the latter part of your pregnancy. Here are some important things that you should keep in mind:

Make sure that you always use a placemat if you like to soak yourself in the tub. This will ensure that you do not have any falls or accidents when you are getting in and out of the tub. You need to additionally ensure that the floor of the bathroom is not too slippery in case you decide to take a nice, warm shower.
Avoid bubble baths and using bath bombs. They tend to make the surface of the bathtub even more slippery than usual.
Avoid products that contain any chemicals. This includes your bath salts, body scrubs, and other bathing products. Try to choose natural and organic products as they do not contain harmful substances like phthalates and other chemicals that can harm your baby and even lead to allergic reactions. Moreover, your skin is a lot more sensitive when you are pregnant.
The most important precaution to take while bathing in pregnancy is avoiding very long baths. As tempting as it may be to soak yourself in a lukewarm tub of water, it can lead to vaginal infections or even skin infections.
Your bath should not be more than 15-20 minutes long.
Install filters in the taps, especially if you have hard water or contaminated water supply to your home. Using filtered water ensures that your skin does not encounter any harsh chemicals. It also keeps your little one safer each time you take a bath.

How to Take A Bath When Pregnant

It is important to know how to take a bath when pregnant for the three trimesters. Each one is different and the care that you need to take is also quite different.

First Trimester

The organs of your baby are developing during this time. So, you need to be additionally careful.
It is best that you take baths using warm water or tepid water during the first trimester.
The ideal temperature of the water is less than 102 degrees.
Make sure that all the products that you use are natural and free of chemicals.

Also read: 5 Ways To Deal With Constipation During Pregnancy

Second Trimester

This is when your baby bump becomes very evident. Also, you are unable to find your balance as easily as you could before.

Make sure that you consult with your doctor before you begin to take more frequent baths.
Use a thermometer before you actually soak yourself in a bathtub.
The time that you spend in the bathtub should be limited. This is when you are most prone to allergic reactions as well as vaginal infections. A good soak should not be more than 15 minutes long.
If you are experiencing any muscle pain, try methods like soaking just your feet or even using a hot pad to relieve the pain.

Third Trimester

You are now closer to your due date. You are also likely to feel more irritable and achy. However, taking a bath is not easy during this stage.

It is a good idea to avoid taking a bath using a tub during this phase as you will need some assistance to get in and out of the tub. It is also less risky to choose a shower instead of a tub bath. Both are equally effective in relaxing your body.
If you are able to take a tub bath easily, make sure that the temperature of the water is comfortable for your skin. In case of any discomfort, you must ensure that you get out of the water and change the temperature to suit you.
Never take a shower on any slippery surface. During the third trimester, you are a lot bigger and may find it much harder to find your balance. Use anti-slip mats whenever you can or else make sure you have someone around the house whenever you take a bath so that they can attend to you when you need them or in case of an emergency.

Also read: Gestational Diabetes: Symptoms & Signs During Pregnancy

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