As your belly grows larger and your balance worsens during pregnancy, having concerns about taking showers and baths is very common -- not to mention wondering how you’re supposed to shave your legs. While some believe that bathing while pregnant should be avoided, there’s no reason to give up either your hygiene habits or your weekly relaxing bath. Here are a few tricks to stay clean without any bath time accidents.
Shower Safety
The biggest concern with showering while pregnant is falling. Joints and ligaments loosen up throughout pregnancy to make delivery easier, this can also cause more damage from a fall. In addition to looser joints, your center of balance will begin to shift as your belly grows. A non-slip rubber mat placed on the bottom of the tub can help prevent slips and falls during shower time -- especially if you’re generally uncoordinated.
Bath Restrictions
Hot tubs and saunas are pretty much off limits for the duration of pregnancy. However, the idea that pregnant women are restricted from taking baths is a complete myth. Baths are perfectly fine as long as you keep the temperature regulated -- although if you’ve lost your mucus plug or had your water break, it’s a good idea to check in with your obstetrician or midwife beforehand.
Many experts actually suggest baths to help pregnant women relax or release the tension in lower back muscles (and basically every where else) -- feel free to add a few candles and some gentle music. No matter where or how you’re taking your bath, make sure the temperature stays below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. You can get in hot water, but it’s not recommended and you definitely don’t want to be in it for more than about 5-10 minutes. 100 degrees is hot enough to raise your body temperature enough to be dangerous for a growing fetus, especially early on in your pregnancy.
Enlist Help
The further along you are in your pregnancy, the better it is to have your partner or other family member around anytime you bathe. Slippery shower floor aside, just getting your foot up over the edge of the tub can be tricky. Some bathrooms are arranged so you can get extra support from a hand on the counter, so you may not necessarily need someone literally helping you in and out of the tub. Still, it’s not a bad idea to have someone in the house in case you do happen to slip or fall.
How to Shave
Shaving is probably one of the most difficult hygiene habits to maneuver while pregnant. If you’re not worried about a little leg hair, good for you! However, if you can’t stand the way your pants get stuck on that prickly stubble, it might be time to find a new way to shave. If you still have or finally found your pregnancy balance, try propping a leg on the side of the tub to shave, resting a shoulder against the shower wall. This isn't recommended for those with poor balance or prone to falling. It also doesn’t work for everyone (seriously, the belly).
Alternatively, sit on the floor or edge of the tub, perch on the toilet with a leg over the tub, or bring in a chair from elsewhere to get closer or more comfortable. If all else fails, ask your partner for help.
