A relaxing hot bath should not be harmful during pregnancy as long as the heat is used correctly.
Can heat be applied to the tummy during pregnancy?
When we are thinking of getting into the bathtub covered in warm water or when our stomach hurts and we remember that we have a hot water bottle that has always helped us to relieve pain, the big question comes to mind: Can we apply heat on the belly when we are going through a pregnancy? The answer is yes, as long as it is moderate heat and for a limited time.
That is, they should not exceed 37,7ºC and we should not apply heat for more than 10 minutes in the case of hot water or more than 20 if we are talking about water bags or cherry stone pillows. Remember that the body temperature during pregnancy should not exceed 38,9ºC, not even with fever.
Our body is in full transformation and we pay much more attention to the signals it sends us. We are more cautious about activities that at other times in life we would consider absolutely harmless. In fact we stopped doing a lot of things for fear of harming the baby. Sometimes it is not about stopping doing something but adjusting it to this beautiful moment in life.
Moderate heat on the belly brings us more benefits than risks
As we have seen, during pregnancy we do not have to stop applying moderate heat on the belly. The sources of heat that come from hot water bottles, cherry pit pillows or a hot shower can have beneficial effects because favor, muscle relaxation. The heat allows vasodilation and generates an influx of blood in the treated area, reducing the contraction of the organ.
For know if the water temperature is adequate if we do not have a thermometer that can be submerged in water we can do the test with the foot. If we can get into the water normally, the water is fine. If we have to do it little by little and gradually it means that it is too hot. Touch wait for it to cool down.
May we relax with a nice hot bath It does not mean that we can go to the sauna or get into a jacuzzi. This kind of heat is not moderate, it is too strong and it is better to avoid it during the pregnancy. Excess heat can cause certain malformations in the baby, affecting the development of the spinal cord, the spinal column or the brain and can even cause an abortion, especially in the initial stages.
As for the heat sources for ease the pain, Electric blankets are usually not recommended during pregnancy because many of them have temperatures higher than 37,7ºC. Even so, there are electric blankets with various temperatures and the minimum is usually lower than this value. We must pay attention to the temperature we use.
Hot water bottles or cherry pit pillows commonly used for tummy or back pain they are not large enough to change body temperature. They are considered safe for pregnancy. Anyway, it is better to limit the time and use them at most 20 minutes and repeat it every 4 hours.
First and second trimesters
During the first and second trimester of pregnancy the local heat on the belly helps to relieve pelvic pain caused by small uterine contractions and intestinal colic. It can also be useful in case of indigestion or difficult digestion. But always remember the limits of temperature and time that I have mentioned before.
Third trimester
At third trimester, in the prodromal phase of labor when the contractions already begin to be more intense, a hot shower on the belly has a beneficial effect because it helps control the pain of the initial contractions and also relaxes us, which is appreciated in those moments of nerves.
Effect of the Sun on the belly during pregnancy
There are no risks related to a woman's pregnancy in terms of sun exposure. It can be taken without problem taking the same precautions as before you were pregnant. It is essential to use a medium or high protection factor depending on the skin phototype (skin color), never less than SFP30. Direct exposure should be avoided during the hours of greatest solar intensity, approximately between 11am and 16pm. High coverage sunscreens are also a solution to protect and inhibit the formation of stretch marks.
Stretch marks and pregnancy
All the stretch marks they are a common form of skin 'scar'. They can be linear erythematous, violaceous (red streaks) or hypopigmented (white streaks). There are risk factors that can cause stretch marks to appear on our skin, including pregnancy, the use of certain medications (for example, cortisone, either topically or systemically), some diseases (Marfan syndrome, Cushing's disease) and some surgical interventions.
To improve the elasticity of the skin and prevent stretch marks from appearing (whatever the causative risk factor), a daily good moisturizer. We will talk about them in another article.
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