Are Saunas Good For Pregnancy?
by: Amy
Nutt
Saunas are usually treated as relaxants and stress busters. Women who are
accustomed to using saunas before pregnancy are not sure whether or not to
continue using saunas after they find that they are pregnant. During pregnancy,
the safety of your baby has to be of utmost concern.
Most medical
practitioners advise against using saunas during pregnancy. As per the advice of
the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) saunas are not
advisable during pregnancy for more than 15 minutes at a time – and if you can
do without it, all the better.
It is believed that the high temperatures
in the environment of a sauna could interfere negatively with the development of
the fetus, especially in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. High
temperatures are particularly harmful during the first twelve weeks of
development of the fetus and hence, any such exposure should be totally avoided
during this time.
Doing anything that would cause a pregnant woman’s
core temperature to rise is considered to have the potential harming the unborn
baby. Even running a fever can result in harm to an unborn fetus, so
deliberately raising body temperature is certainly ill-advised for a pregnant
woman.
The potentially damaging impact of heat on your unborn child is
not the only reason you should avoid using a sauna during pregnancy. Another
reason why you should not use saunas during pregnancy is because it might induce
dizziness and utter exhaustion, which are harmful for you and the baby.
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Alternatives To Sauna
If you are totally addicted to saunas, you
will need to find alternative ways to enjoy the heat without risking the healthy
development of your unborn child. For de-stressing, you could use body massages
which would help your muscles unwind and relax. There are many professional
massage parlors which you will find especially welcome during this time. There
are even licensed massage therapists who specialize in pregnancy massage
techniques. Alternatively, you could ask your partner to give you a massage
every now and then when.
If what you really miss about the sauna is the
heat, you could try taking a hot tub bath, of course taking care not to use very
high temperatures and not to stay in the hot bath water for more than 15
minutes. Even a short warm bath can go a long way toward relaxing your body and
your mind.
There are many other ways to relax and make you feel good.
Yoga can be an excellent means of relaxing. Additionally, practicing the
breathing exercises that you need to learn for the birth of your baby anyway can
be very relaxing. Taking long walks is also an excellent way to relax and
distress without putting your unborn baby at risk. When it comes to saunas and
pregnancy, it is much better to wait until after the baby is born. Instead of
choosing to stick with your sauna habit, choose to be safe and avoid any risks
to yourself or your baby.
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