Can I Use a Hot Tub While Pregnant?

The Short Answer: It's best to steer clear, especially in the first trimester. Hot tubs can raise your core body temperature quickly, and research links that kind of overheating in early pregnancy to a higher risk of neural tube defects. If you do dip in, keep it brief, keep your chest and arms above the waterline, and get out at the first sign of feeling too warm. A warm—not hot—bath is a gentler way to ease pregnancy aches.

A hot tub sounds like the perfect antidote to a sore lower back and swollen feet—so it's no wonder so many expecting parents want to know: Is it safe to use a hot tub while pregnant? The short answer is that it's best to avoid it, particularly in your first trimester. Here's what the research says about why, how the guidance shifts as you move through pregnancy, and what to do instead if you're craving some warm-water relief.

Is it safe to use a hot tub while pregnant?

The concern with hot tubs during pregnancy isn't the water itself, it's overheating. Hot tubs are typically kept around 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which can push your core body temperature up quickly. Several studies have found a link between a high maternal core temperature in early pregnancy and an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs)—birth defects that affect how the brain and spinal cord form.

One of the most-cited studies on this, a 1992 JAMA study led by Dr. Aubrey Milunsky, followed more than 23,000 pregnant people and found that hot tub use in early pregnancy was associated with close to triple the risk of neural tube defects compared to no heat exposure at all, even after accounting for other factors—the strongest single link of any heat source the researchers studied, including saunas, fevers, and electric blankets.

That's why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises against using hot tubs and saunas early in pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and ACOG echo this in their joint clinical reference, Guidelines for Perinatal Care, which recommends limiting hot tub time and keeping your core temperature below about 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius).

What are the risks?

• Neural tube defects: The risk is highest when overheating happens before your neural tube closes, which occurs very early—often before you even know you're pregnant.
• Dizziness and fainting: Hot water widens your blood vessels, which can lower your blood pressure. Pregnancy already affects your circulation, so this combination can make you feel lightheaded or faint.
• Infection: A poorly maintained hot tub can harbor Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the bacteria behind so-called “hot tub rash”, an itchy, bumpy skin infection that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes can affect anyone who sits in contaminated water.

Overheating is the biggest concern in the first trimester, but staying cautious about hot tubs is a good idea throughout pregnancy.

Does it change by trimester?

Yes. The neural-tube-defect risk from overheating is tied to a specific window: before roughly 6 weeks of pregnancy, when the brain and spinal cord are forming. High body temperatures after that point aren't expected to raise NTD risk in the same way.

That doesn't mean hot tubs get a green light later in pregnancy, though. Overheating, dehydration, and the dizziness that comes with dropping blood pressure remain concerns in the second and third trimesters, which is why ACOG and AAP guidance recommends caution throughout, not just in the early weeks.

How to Use a Hot Tub Safely

If you decide a soak is worth it—say, at a family gathering or hotel—these AAP- and ACOG-informed precautions can help lower your risk:

• Skip it entirely during the first trimester, when the neural-tube-defect risk is highest.
• Keep it brief. Limit hot tub time to under 10 minutes. (Guidelines for Perinatal Care recommends a similar cap for saunas: under 15 minutes.)
• Sit with your arms and chest above the waterline to help limit how much your core temperature rises.
• Check the water temperature. Cooler settings, well below the typical 104-degree range, are safer.
• Get out immediately if you feel overheated, dizzy, nauseated, or unwell.
• Stay hydrated before and after.
• Ask about maintenance. A well-chlorinated hot tub lowers—but doesn't eliminate—the risk of hot tub rash.

Safer Ways to Warm Up and Relax During Pregnancy

You don't have to give up warm-water relaxation altogether! A warm (not hot) bath is considered safe throughout pregnancy because bathwater cools over time and typically doesn't submerge your entire body the way a hot tub does. Keep the water around 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can even add Epsom salts to help ease sore muscles.

A few other pregnancy-safe ways to unwind and soothe aches:

• Prenatal massage (generally considered safe after the first trimester, with your provider's okay)
• Gentle, pregnancy-safe exercise like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga
• A heating pad on a low setting, applied to your back or shoulders rather than your abdomen
• Cool or lukewarm compresses if you're dealing with swelling

When to Call Your Doctor or Midwife

Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• Dizziness, faintness, or nausea after heat exposure
• A rash that appears a few days after using a hot tub, especially if it worsens or recurs
• Concerns about a heat exposure that happened before you knew you were pregnant
• Any symptom that worries you

FAQ

Can I use a hot tub in my second or third trimester?

The neural-tube-defect risk is highest in the first trimester, but ACOG and AAP guidance recommends caution with hot tubs throughout pregnancy because of the dizziness, dehydration, and infection risks that don't go away later on.

What temperature is too hot?

Guidelines for Perinatal Care recommends keeping your core body temperature below about 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius). Since most hot tubs run around 104 degrees Fahrenheit, it doesn't take long to cross that line.

Are infrared saunas any different?

Not meaningfully. Infrared saunas still raise your core body temperature, which is the underlying concern—not the specific heat source. ACOG's guidance to avoid saunas early in pregnancy applies to infrared models too.

What if I sat in a hot tub before I knew I was pregnant?

Don’t panic! A single, brief exposure carries far less risk than repeated or prolonged use, and most pregnancies exposed to a one-time heat event turn out fine. If you're worried, mention it at your next prenatal visit so your provider can talk through your specific situation.

The Bottom Line

Hot tubs and pregnancy don't mix especially well, mostly because of how quickly they can raise your core body temperature. The safest bet is to skip them, particularly in the first trimester, and lean on a warm bath, gentle exercise, or a good old-fashioned heating pad instead. If you do want to hop in for a few minutes at a special occasion, keep it short, keep your chest above water, and listen to your body.

• More on Pregnancy Safety:

• Straight Talk on Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
• Your Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide
• Can I Have a Glass of Wine While Pregnant?
• Is It Safe to Use Marijuana or CBD During Pregnancy?

• Maternal Heat Exposure and Neural Tube Defects, JAMA, Aug 1992
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Can I Use a Sauna or Hot Tub Early in Pregnancy?
• American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Guidelines for Perinatal Care, 8th Edition
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Hot Tub Rash
• National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine: Fever / Hyperthermia, MotherToBaby Fact Sheets

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.