When you’re pregnant, you will have tons of questions in your head about what you can and can’t do. One of them might be, “Can you use bath bombs while pregnant?” or “How do you safely take a bath during pregnancy?”
Today, we will cover what you need to know about using bath bombs, what beauty product ingredients you should avoid, and some tips for safe bathing during pregnancy.
So, let’s get into the details!
Are Bath Bombs Safe to Use During Pregnancy?
The National Health Service (NHS) does not provide any advice or recommendations regarding bath bomb use during pregnancy. However, many people believe they are safe to use.
Most bath bombs include the following ingredients:
- Citric acid
- Baking soda
- Cornstarch
- Epsom salt
- Water
- Essential oils
- Colorant (food coloring or mica)
None of the above ingredients are toxic to pregnancies. But, it is essential to remember that some essential oils can cause contractions.
Experts say it would be best to avoid bath bombs, bubbles, and special oils for bathing during pregnancy. Soaking with these additions can expose pregnant women to the risk of yeast infection because they can alter the acidic balance of their vaginas.
Yeast infections are very uncomfortable. Also, not all medications for yeast infections are safe for you while you’re pregnant.
If you want to use bath bombs while pregnant, you need to make sure they do not contain essential oils, which is considered particularly unsafe for pregnant women.
The bath bomb always leaves a film of bubbles and oils behind, resulting in a highly slippery tub. So it is wise to ask your loved one to help you into or out of your tub.
Also, your water should not be too hot, although there are few studies on pregnant women and hot baths because of the danger to the fetus.
Yet, according to animal research, when a pregnant woman’s core body temperature is 2 degrees F compared with a baseline of 99°F or higher, the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) is increased.
Bathing in hot water, especially during the first trimester, can put you and your unborn baby at risk for many complications. The complications that can occur can be:
- Drop-in blood pressure
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Birth defects
- Dehydration
Tips for Safe Baths While Pregnant
Here are some helpful tips that will allow you to enjoy a safe, relaxing bath:
How Hot Can My Bath Water Be When Pregnant
Keeping your body temperature below 101°F (38.3°C) is essential.
When you’re pregnant and healthy, your internal body temperature is about 99°F (37.2°C), or about 0.4 to 0.8°F higher than a woman’s healthy not pregnant.
Water with a temperature between 98.6 and 100°F is considered safe for bathing by pregnant women.
If you bath with water that is above that threshold for more than ten minutes, the following complications may appear:
- Drop-in blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Birth defects
- Dehydration
The following signs indicate that you are using too hot water:
- Feeling hot
- Red skin
- Sweating
If you want to know the exact temperature of the water, you will need a thermometer to keep in the water and use until your baby is born.
Keep in mind that water temperatures above 38.9°C (102°F), especially during the first six weeks of pregnancy, can cause birth defects in the baby’s brain and spinal cord and increase the chance of miscarriage.
Beauty Product Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
We recommend avoiding using some bath products, such as perfumed soaps, gels, bubbles, and special oils for the bath during pregnancy.
They can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in your vagina and cause yeast infections.
Avoid Specific Essential Oils
Remember that some oils can cause you to have contractions. It is dangerous depending on the pregnancy’s stage.
So during pregnancy, you should consult an aromatherapist or a trusted midwife before taking any bath products.
In addition, according to recommendations from the NHA, you must not drink essential oils and do not apply them directly to the skin.
The following are the essential oils you should avoid during pregnancy:
- Sage
- Aniseed
- Tarragon
- Rue
- Mugwort
- Clary sage
- Basil
- Wormwood
- Oak mass
- Hyssop
- Camphor
- Pennyroyal
- Parsley
- Red thyme
- Tansy
- Rosemary
- Juniper berry
- Birch
- Thuja
- Bitter almond
- Wintergreen
- And more
Be Careful Getting in and Out
Getting help from your husband or partner is wise if you hesitate to get in and out of your tub. There is no shame in not doing it yourself when you are pregnant.
The fact is that your growing bump and the slippery surfaces can set you up for one mighty downfall.
Limit The Bathing Time
Some essential oils may cause rashes or UTIs if you soak in them for a long time.
The best thing is to limit shower time to about twenty minutes and notice if you see any itching afterward. Also, your skin may be sensitive to some essential oils. In that case, you should avoid using them for subsequent baths.
Another good reason to limit pregnant shower time is the water’s temperature. Taking too long a bath with hot water will harm you and your unborn baby.
Conclusion
Using bath bombs during pregnancy is OK. But it is best to limit their use as they can affect the healthy balance of bacteria and pH levels in your vagina and cause yeast infections.
Also, you should take a warm bath instead of a hot shower. Water that is too hot can be unhealthy for you and your baby. You should also avoid saunas and steam rooms while pregnant.
You should also be careful not to slip when you get in and out of the tub, especially as your bump gets bigger, making it harder to keep your balance.
Thank you for reading! Please share this article with other pregnant women!
