I've heard that it's not good to go into hot tubs or take hot baths while pregnant, but I was wondering about hot showers. I thrive on hot showers. Anything less than hot when I get out of the shower leaves me feeling cold, but I'm just wondering if hot showers are actually okay. I thought I recalled my OB saying (two years ago) as long as it wasn't over 100 degrees....but, I'm fairly certain my showers are muuuuch hotter! =P I haven't had my first OB appointment for #2 yet, so I decided to ask here first! 
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100 degree water is chilly!! Hot showers don't raise your core temp the same way a hot tub does. I took my same HOT shower while pregnant.
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I was told (I forget where) that hot showers were OK because your whole body is never submerged-- your front or your back are always getting air on it, unlike in a tub where you are surrounded. That said, I wouldn't let the room get SO steamy and hot that I felt like my body temp was rising.
Then again, I also went in hot springs for 5 minutes and it was amazing. But I kept half my body out of the water and was nervous the whole time!
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I did for a while, but sometime late in the second trimester they started to make me feel dizzy and a little bit suffocated (the steam for the latter, I'm sure), so I cooled them down some, and always had the door open.
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@cranberryapple: I showered with hot water all the time. I kept my baths very cool which resulted in me hating baths while pregnant. I did get in a hot tub once but the way the stools were in the hot tub made it so when I saw down, only my legs and butt were submerged. My hips and belly and above were all getting cool air.
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it's so cold out these days, i can't imagine giving up my hot showers. i've given up sashimi, caffeine, sleeping on my back, etc. but i can't give up my hot showers. i haven't gotten dizzy so hopefully it's okay. but i did hear that it dries out your skin, and might exacerbate itchy bellies.
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100 degrees wouldn't be nearly warm enough for me! I would still take them, but I let the water hit more of my back then my belly. I wouldn't have the water scalding, but still nice and hot.
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Lots of hot showers!
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I'm all for super hot showers
definitely think it's different than your body being submerged in water.
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Yep.
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I still take hot showers, but I can't stay in as long because they make me feel dizzy now.
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All the time! My OB never said anything about not taking hot showers...probably for the reasons others said (your core temp won't rise enough). I usually have my bathroom fan running too though. I like to let the really hot water hit my lower back/hips when they hurt. It always helps so much!
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Hot showers for sure. And fairly hot baths. Midwife said it was fine because it cools down so quick, unlike a hot tub which stays hot.
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I didn't take baths but I did take plenty of hot showers. Felt good on my aching body in the 3rd trimester.
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lots of hot baths and lots of hot showers. I like my showers almost as hot as my water will go. my husband thinks they're PAINFULLY hot. maybe I am a rebel?
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@Rainbow Sprinkles: I had to laugh out loud at this. DH can't handle the heat either!
100 degrees isn't hot enough! I only keep half of my body in the water so I don't over heat while pregnant.
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I did, I think like PP said, the bath is bad because you are sumerged in the hot water. The first 4 months I took luke warm showers because I would get nauseas if it was hot.
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Oh yes
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Yes! I just make sure to drink a lot of water before and after.
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I take really hot showers but I generally stand with my back to the shower so my belly isn't really getting the full brunt of hot water. Also I rarely take showers more than 10-15 min long, whereas in a bath I would sit there for an hour. (So yes to showers, no to baths).
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I take scolding showers to the point where my skin turns bright red. I didn't stop during pregnancy.
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I think it's ok, but I did almost faint a couple times in the shower when I was pregnant. If I let it get too steamy and stayed in too long, I'd have trouble breathing and get dizzy. It also had to do with standing for long periods of time, though, because it would happen while waiting in lines.
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Heck yeah
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Yes! Someone told me I was going to boil the baby! And no I'm not kidding. I asked my doc if it was safe because it helped with my back pain and he looked at me and said 'yes. You won't boil the baby' he must hear it all the time.
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Yes, I still take really hot showers.
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Hot shower here too. I agree that since you're not submerged like in a tub you'll be fine.
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I never changed my showers while pregnant. I was pregnant during the winter both times so I needed the showers :-).
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Yup!! I just made an effort to not let the hot water spray on my belly too long.
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Yup. A hot shower sitting down every night! I crank it up to the max hotness and I am like 36 weeks! I feel soooooooo much better after.
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Definitely. It's one of the highlights of my day! That's one of the few areas I never let myself worry about while pregnant. I do avoid hot baths though (I get dizzy) and hot tubs.
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I did. There was a time though during the second tri ~14 weeks, when I had a bad dizzy spell from being in the hot shower. At that point, I changed my showers from being very, very hot to just very hot.
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HOT showers!
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@Rainbow Sprinkles: that's how I like my showers too! Hubby doesn't understand....I think he takes cold showers lol
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Definitely the highlight of my day, taking a nice hot shower to sooth the back/butt pain. I could quite happily live in the shower for the last few weeks of this pregnancy!
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Love hot showers and enjoyed them during my pregnancy, especially with my first when I was pregnant in the winter.
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I love my hot showers. I was pregnant in the summer, so I took it down to lukewarm then since it was so hot outside, but the rest of the time, my showers were nice and toasty.
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The hotter the better!!
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I live for scalding hot showers!!!
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@cranberryapple: I am a hot shower addict. I couldn't give it up when pregnant, and when I asked my OB about it she looked at me like it was a stupid question
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Oh for sure I did! I can't stand being cold, and you're uncomfy enough when pregnant!
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