‘Pregnant women can enjoy hot bath without putting child at risk’

PREGNANT women can enjoy hot baths and saunas without raising their temperature to levels that might harm their unborn child, researchers have suggested.

Current health advice states that women who are expecting should avoid heat stress as it could take their core temperature beyond 102F (39C).

The NHS and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists currently warns pregnant women to also avoid saunas and Jacuzzis. But the review, which compiled the results of 12 studies involving 347 women, found that saunas, exercising or a hot bath did not dangerously elevate temperature. Researchers from the University of Sydney warn that the ban could prevent pregnant women from exercising.

Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Dr Ollie Jay, associate professor in exercise and sports science, said: “Guidelines unanimously state that hot water immersion or sauna use should be restricted. However, our results suggest that heat-stress risk is low.”

The researchers say that pregnant women can safely engage in up to 35 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise at 80-90 per cent of their maximum heart rate at air temperatures of up to 77F (25C) and 45 per cent relative humidity. They can participate in aquaaerobic exercise in water from 83F (28C) to 92F (33C) for up to 45 minutes, and sit in hot baths up to 104F (40C) or hot/dry saunas up to 158F (70C) and 15 per cent humidity for up to 20 minutes, irrespective of pregnancy stage.

Researchers added that more studies are needed to identify safe exposure and environmental limits in hotter climates. ♦ Girls must be taught at what age they should try and get pregnant, according to a new initiative.

Doctors and fertility experts from the Fertility Education Initiative said lessons on fertility should cover the effects of age. The optimum childbearing age is between 20 and 35. The average age is now 30, up from 26 in 1976.