For many expectant women, sitting in a sauna room sounds like a great way to ease her muscle aches related to pregnancy. It is important to use caution during pregnancy especially when choosing a sauna for relaxation or pain relief. Saunas can resulted hyperthermia that is nothing but an abnormally high body temperature.Constant and extreme heat are the main concerns with using a sauna while pregnant. While this heat may be relaxing as well as feel good too, but it may not be safe for one’s baby-to-be. When babies are in womb, they have no control over regulating their body temperature. This means that they can’t tolerate the over heat of a sauna.
Concerns
According to the Organization of Teratology Information Services or OTIS, a human body temperature of 101º F and above can raise concerns while pregnant. Some research has shown an increased risk of birth defects in babies of mother who had an increased body temperature during her first trimester of pregnancy.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists or ACOGalso suggested that becoming overheated in a sauna is not good at all during pregnancy. There are various kinds of saunas, and every sauna is programmed to maintain a different humidity leveland temperature. Before going to use a sauna during pregnancy, it is best to ask the advice of own health care provider.
Feeling faint
In generally if anybody overheat, more blood flows close to his/her skin to help cool their body by sweating. This means there’s less blood flow to internal organs, like his/her brain. If we don’t get enough blood and oxygen to our brain, it can make us feel faint.When anyone is pregnant, the hormonal changes in her body can make her feel faint more often. She therefore may want to avoid situations where she could get too hot.If a pregnant woman is using a sauna pregnancy first trimester, the temperature shouldn’t be above 35C or 95F. Some hot tubs can be as hot as 40C or 104F, so it’s recommended to avoid them.
Precaution
If one’s doctor approves her using a hot tub occasionally during pregnancy, she should take some important precautions which includes:
- don’t stay in it for more than 10 minutes
- don’t use a hot tub daily or even frequently
- don’t sit near the jets where from the hot water is pouring into the hot tub
- get out of the hot tub immediately if a pregnant woman starts to feel faint or nauseous
Alternative of Sauna
Pregnancy can also be quite uncomfortable at sometimes, especially in the last two or mostly last trimester when woman is carrying that much more extra weight. Prenatal massages are a great option then, for some relief, as is prenatal yoga. Getting exercise in a swimming pool will help her stay in shape while getting the weight off her joints. At home, she can also try using warm packs or taking a warm bath. But it is recommended not to go for sauna pregnancy second trimester or later on, before delivery.
