Can I take a bath during early pregnancy?

In the early stages of pregnancy, many people are reluctant to take a bath because they are worried about catching a cold. However, if expectant mothers do not pay attention to taking a bath when the weather is hot, it is very likely that the body's immune function will be damaged. There are several things to pay attention to when taking a bath in summer. First of all, try not to take a sitting bath or stay in it for too long. You can take a shower regularly to keep your body clean.

What should pregnant women pay attention to when taking a bath?

After a woman becomes pregnant, due to changes in the body's endocrine system, her metabolism gradually increases, and the secretion of her sweat glands and sebaceous glands also becomes more active. Therefore, pregnant women need to take a bath more than ordinary people in summer to keep their skin clean and prevent skin and urinary tract infections.

There are three things to note when taking a bath in summer:

That is, the water temperature should not be too high or too low, the bathing time should not be too long, and it is best not to take a sitting bath.

In the early stages of pregnancy, that is, the first 3 months, the room temperature should not be too high when pregnant women take a bath. The temperature should be such that the skin does not feel cold.

The water temperature should be warm, similar to or slightly higher than body temperature. Generally speaking, the water temperature should be below 38°C. Because if the water temperature or room temperature is too high, it is likely that the fetus will develop poorly due to lack of oxygen. In the later stages of pregnancy, you should avoid taking very hot baths, and the bath time should not be too long. Otherwise, it is easy to suffer from hypoxia and suffocation, and it may also cause fetal intrauterine hypoxia, and in severe cases, even fetal stillbirth. Some women combine hot and cold water when showering for skin care. This method can easily affect the uterus and fetus during pregnancy, so pregnant women should not use this showering method.

Pregnant women should not take a bath for too long. Pregnant women are prone to symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and chest tightness when taking a shower. This is because the air in the bathroom gradually decreases, the temperature is high, and the oxygen supply is relatively insufficient. In addition, the stimulation of hot water can cause the capillaries on the surface of the body to dilate, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the pregnant woman's brain. At the same time, the fetus will suffer from hypoxia and accelerated fetal heart rate, and in severe cases, the development of the fetal nervous system may be adversely affected. Therefore, experts recommend that pregnant women should limit their bathing time to about 10 to 20 minutes.

In addition, pregnant women should not take a sitting bath to avoid hot water submerging their abdomen. It is best to take a standing shower. If you feel tired or uncomfortable, you can sit and rest for a while. Pregnant women experience significant endocrine changes after pregnancy. The acidic secretions in the vagina that have a sterilizing effect decrease, and the body's natural defense function is lowered. At this time, if you take a sitz bath, the chance of infection increases, because the bacteria and viruses in the water can easily enter the vagina and uterus, causing vaginitis, salpingitis, or causing urinary tract infection. In addition, sitting baths can easily cause suffocation and are not good for the fetus.