Not in the first trimester. Prolonged hot tub, steam room and sauna use can elevate your body temperature and cause birth defects. Of course, it’s likely that if your temperature were too high, you’d feel uncomfortable and get out. A very warm bath or shower is fine, but avoid soaking for a long time, says certified nurse-midwife Eileen Ehudin Beard, a senior advisor at the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Some women find comfort in a warm tub during labor and if monitored, this is safe; in fact, it’s offered at some hospitals.
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