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 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 are kept hotter than bathwater and you stay in longer, so they heat you up faster than a bath, and there's also a small infection risk from shared warm water. 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, keep your upper body and arms out of the water, 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 your torso out of the water
- 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, since blood pressure drops more readily in pregnancy. |
| 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 single exposure is not generally treated as cause for alarm. Mention it at your next appointment so it's noted, and avoid them going forward.
Staying safe and active in pregnancy
Most “can I do this?” questions in pregnancy come down to three things. Overheating — anything that pushes your core temperature above about 102°F (39°C), like hot tubs, saunas, and very hot baths — is best avoided, especially in the first trimester. Impact and balance — falls, contact sports, and jarring, high-force rides are the reason some activities are off-limits later on. And infection or absorption — the reason tattoos and some treatments call for caution. Set against that, movement is actively encouraged: about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week is recommended in a healthy pregnancy. When in doubt about your situation, your midwife or provider is the final word.
For the full picture, see our pregnancy safety guide, and 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 are kept hotter than bathwater and you stay in longer, so they heat you up faster than a bath, and there's also a small infection risk from shared warm water. 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, keep your upper body and arms out of the water, 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 are kept hotter than bathwater and you stay in longer, so they heat you up faster than a bath, and there's also a small infection risk from shared warm water. 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, keep your upper body and arms out of the water, 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.