Are Saunas Good For Pregnancy?
Author: 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.

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.


About The Author: Saunafin specializes in the factory direct
sales of Infrared Saunas, Steam Showers, Sauna Kits, Pre-Fab
Saunas, Sauna Heaters, and Steambath Generators.
http://www.saunafin.com/