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Bathing and pregnancy
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Visiting a bathhouse is an ancient Russian pastime that is still relevant today. Well, who among us does not like to sweat in a hot steam room, improve their health, and just have a good time? And how many different procedures have already been invented for effective weight loss using a bathhouse! It is not surprising that it is women who most often go to a bathhouse or sauna for the purpose of improving their health and body and organism properties. But is it possible to visit such a wonderful establishment before and during pregnancy?
Bath when planning pregnancy
Any woman knows that it is better to avoid a sauna during pregnancy. But can such a procedure affect the planning of a child and the desire to become pregnant?
Even doctors cannot give a clear answer to this question. The opinions of specialists on this topic are radically different. Some doctors are sure that visiting a bathhouse will not only be harmless, but also useful for planning the pregnancy of the expectant mother, based on the facts of cleansing the body of toxins and harmful substances during a visit to the steam room. Others tend to deny the benefits of a bathhouse when planning a baby, because high temperatures can lead to disturbances in the woman's body, and it will be quite difficult to conceive a child.
And, of course, if a woman has any acute diseases, then visiting a bathhouse when planning a pregnancy is strictly prohibited for her. Such diseases include epilepsy, cancer, heart defects, hypertension, bronchial asthma and infectious diseases accompanied by fever.
Future fathers should also be more careful when visiting a sauna. Frequent visits to the steam room can significantly worsen the condition of the sperm, and then the problem with conceiving a child will be on the man's conscience. The optimal temperature for male testicles remains 35 degrees, and any increase in it will have its consequences, in particular, the activity of spermatozoa may decrease, and "boiled" spermatozoa will no longer be able to fertilize the egg.
There are cases in gynecological practice when a bathhouse can become the only salvation for successful conception of a child. This applies to diseases of the female ovaries, uterus or during menopause. In such cases, visiting a bathhouse can be prescribed as a treatment, but even then it should not be abused.
In any case, visiting a sauna when planning a pregnancy should only take place after consultation with your doctor. And then you will definitely not have any problems with conceiving a baby.
Visiting a sauna during pregnancy
If the question is about visiting a bathhouse directly during pregnancy, then the answer will not be so categorical. Of course, in the early stages of pregnancy, visiting a bathhouse will be prohibited, since high temperatures in the steam room can contribute to the improper formation of the placenta and, as a result, pathologies and disorders in the development of the baby. If a woman's body is at risk of miscarriage or other difficulties with bearing a child, then visiting a bathhouse will also be contraindicated, since in such a situation such procedures can only complicate the symptoms and lead to a miscarriage.
It becomes safer to visit a sauna or bathhouse from the 2nd month of pregnancy. If the expectant mother is quite healthy and the pregnancy is proceeding normally, then such procedures can, on the contrary, become additional preparation for childbirth. We all know that almost all women suffer from varicose veins and significant blood loss during childbirth, and a bathhouse, like nothing else, will help strengthen the body's circulatory system and increase the elasticity of the ligaments. Plus, a bathhouse will help avoid stretch marks, which are typical for the process of bearing a child. Therefore, a bathhouse in moderate quantities in the late stages of pregnancy will not only be harmless, but even on the contrary - it will bring significant benefits to the mother and her future baby.
Recommendations for visiting a sauna during pregnancy
In order for visiting a sauna during pregnancy to have a positive effect, you should follow simple recommendations.
- Using essential oils in the steam room will help cleanse the lungs and provide both the expectant mother and the baby with oxygen. This procedure will also serve as a good preventive measure against colds.
- The temperature in the steam room should not be higher than 95 degrees, and you should not stay in it for more than 7 minutes. These are the optimal conditions under which the bath will have a therapeutic effect on the body of a pregnant woman.
- Between visits to the sauna, drink herbal tea - it will improve your metabolism and cleanse your body of toxins and harmful substances.
- Do not use the broom during pregnancy. For a pregnant woman, simple warming up will be quite enough.
By following these rules and adhering to the advice and recommendations of your doctor, you can easily visit the sauna during pregnancy and keep your body healthy and ready for childbirth.