Can You Go in a Hot Tub While Pregnant?

Best avoided (overheating)

It's best to avoid hot tubs in pregnancy — they can raise your core temperature too high, especially in the first trimester.

The full answer

The concern with hot tubs and jacuzzis is overheating. Sitting in water around 104°F (40°C) can push your core body temperature above 102°F (39°C), and a raised core temperature — particularly in the first trimester — has been linked to a higher risk of neural-tube defects and other problems. Hot tubs stay at a constant high temperature, while bathwater cools as you sit in it, so a hot tub heats you up faster. Hot tubs that aren't cleaned well can also carry germs that cause infections. For these reasons the usual advice is to avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas in pregnancy. If you ever do use one, keep it brief, turn the temperature down, and get out immediately if you feel hot, dizzy, or unwell. A warm — not hot — bath is a safer way to relax.

Safer alternatives

Safer choice: a warm (not hot) bath instead
If you ever use one, keep it very brief and the temperature turned down
Get out at once if you feel hot, light-headed, or unwell

When to avoid: Avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas — especially in the first trimester and any time you feel overheated.

Hot Tubs by trimester

Stage	What changes
First trimester	This is where the caution is clearest. Hot tubs are held at a temperature that can raise core body temperature, and the first trimester is when that matters most for development.
Second trimester	Still advised against. Fainting becomes a more practical concern too — feeling faint is common in pregnancy, especially when getting up out of hot water.
Third trimester	Same guidance, with getting in and out safely an additional consideration late on.

Common questions about hot tubs in pregnancy

Why are hot tubs a problem in pregnancy?

Because they're held at a constant high temperature, so unlike a bath they don't cool down — which makes raising your core temperature much more likely. Guidance is generally to avoid them, particularly in the first trimester.

Is a warm bath the same thing?

No. A bath cools as you sit in it, and you can control the temperature. Warm — not hot — baths are generally considered fine, and are often recommended for aches later in pregnancy.

I sat in a hot tub before I knew.

A short, one-off soak is less of a concern than long or repeated ones, because the risk depends on how hot you got and for how long. Mention it at your next appointment — routine scans and blood tests can check for neural tube defects — and avoid hot tubs going forward.

How using a hot tub fits your own pregnancy is worth a quick check with your midwife or provider. The general rules on overheating, falls and exercise are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go in a hot tub while pregnant?: It's best to avoid hot tubs in pregnancy — they can raise your core temperature too high, especially in the first trimester. The concern with hot tubs and jacuzzis is overheating. Sitting in water around 104°F (40°C) can push your core body temperature above 102°F (39°C), and a raised core temperature — particularly in the first trimester — has been linked to a higher risk of neural-tube defects and other problems. Hot tubs stay at a constant high temperature, while bathwater cools as you sit in it, so a hot tub heats you up faster. Hot tubs that aren't cleaned well can also carry germs that cause infections. For these reasons the usual advice is to avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas in pregnancy. If you ever do use one, keep it brief, turn the temperature down, and get out immediately if you feel hot, dizzy, or unwell. A warm — not hot — bath is a safer way to relax.
Why is using a hot tub not recommended in pregnancy?: The concern with hot tubs and jacuzzis is overheating. Sitting in water around 104°F (40°C) can push your core body temperature above 102°F (39°C), and a raised core temperature — particularly in the first trimester — has been linked to a higher risk of neural-tube defects and other problems. Hot tubs stay at a constant high temperature, while bathwater cools as you sit in it, so a hot tub heats you up faster. Hot tubs that aren't cleaned well can also carry germs that cause infections. For these reasons the usual advice is to avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas in pregnancy. If you ever do use one, keep it brief, turn the temperature down, and get out immediately if you feel hot, dizzy, or unwell. A warm — not hot — bath is a safer way to relax.
When should I avoid using a hot tub during pregnancy?: Avoid hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas — especially in the first trimester and any time you feel overheated.

Sources

This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.