Hi girls,

So I have a recurring worry that I can't seem to shake. I have my 20 week anomaly scan coming up in 9 days and I know I'll have more information then, but when I was around 5-6 weeks pregnant, I used a hot tub - it actually had a very high temperature as I tolerate high heat pretty well. I was probably in it for 10 minutes or so and I only used it once. I hadn't known I was pregnant very long and simply had never heard that pregnant women (especially in the first tri) should not use them due to increased risk of neural tube defects. Since reading about it, I've been constantly worried that my baby will have been hurt by what I did. I'm having a hard time evaluating just how much higher my risk is now, but off & on the thought comes back to me and I worry, worry, worry about it. I know only time will tell for sure, but wondering if anyone else has used hot tubs (especially in previous pregnancies) and if things turned out okay.

Another reason for this worry is that on every scan I've had of baby there has been very low movement. This has never concerned my sonographer but I worry a bit. I had an early scan at about 8&3 and the bean did one little bounce. At 12 week scan, baby simply squirmed a bit - turned its head or moved its arms, but seemed pretty much still/asleep. I just saw baby again last week at the ER (was having sharp pains and panicked) and again the sonographer said that baby looked asleep, although it did wiggle a few times then too. I haven't felt much of any movement and never really seen my baby moving so I am worried even more about neural tube defects?? Can anyone put my mind at ease, even a little?

I wouldn't worry. If you had any neural tube defects then they probably would have picked it up in one of the scans already. Especially as the LO was so tiny and you only stayed in a while - I'm sure all will be fine.

Before 14 weeks-ish I don't think they are that active at all. At my 8week scan my LO didn't move at all, and at my 13 week scan there was a bit of movement but not a lot. Maybe you just caught your LO asleep each time!

i never heard about the hot tub thing untill this month and to be honest it doesnt worry me, i have very hot baths (this is my 4th pregnancy) and iv had very hot baths throughout all of them cause iv never heard of it not being recomended. my midwife has also recomended i have a hot bath to ease aches and pains. i asked my mum about it and she said she always had hot baths when pregnant with me nd my brothers aand we are fine.
iv had quite a few scans in this pregnancy and i think all but 2 the baby was asleep my 12 weeks scan baby barley moved at all and i got worried and the specialist told me off lol and told me 'babies are allowed to sleep aswell' just so happens they want to sleep when we have that appointment xx

I went to spa when I was about 6 weeks pregnant...I used a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub style thing and my LO is absolutely fine on his scans...I asked the spa place about when I arrived and they just advised I should follow the guidlines!

I wouldn't worry - I would be really surprised if you had harmed your LO in anyway....

In terms of not feling much movement I have only been feeling regular movement for the last week or so and I'm a couple of weeks ahead of you so again I wouldn't worry..

Was the HB etc all fine on your last scan/.

xxx

for this scan try eating a mars bar before you go in.. the sugar should make baby dance a little bit! .. By the way.. my MIL has a hot tub (at 37 degrees) which i have used frequently throughout my pregnancy as my m/w said it would be fine at that temperature as its no warmer than your bath.. xx

thank you, girls! i appreciate the reassurance. i never thought i would be a person to worry so much about every little thing but i had no idea how much i would love my baby from the start and want to be a mom so badly once i was pregnant. i don't want to do anything that hurts my little one.

yes, the heartbeat has always been really good, 149 - 160 every time. i will definitely try eating some sugar right before my next scan and hopefully see a playful baby!

dont worry enjpy your scan I am sure everything will be fine xxx