Infra-Red Sauna's During Pregnancy

I am a HUGE fan of infra-red saunas, but if you're pregnant, I don't recommend utilizing them.

The sauna has been used for centuries, and are especially popular in places like Scandinavia. Studies suggest the sauna is great for preventing & managing hypertension, congestive heart failure, and can even be beneficial in recovering after a heart attack (after the acute recovery stage). The sauna is also indicated  for COPD, chronic fatigue syndromes like fibromyalgia, recovering from substance addiction, and chronic pain. For the average person, infra-red saunas are a great way to improve your health, have more energy, and promote longevity! I personally aim to use the sauna at least 1-2x per month from October-May.

However, when it comes to pregnancy, I recommend patients steer clear. Even for someone like myself who utilizes the sauna often and tolerates the high temperature of the sauna quite well, I would not personally feel comfortable using the sauna while pregnant. Here's why..

Some evidence suggests that an increased body temperature of 101º F might be teratogenic (causing harm to baby) causing an increased risk of birth defects like neural tube defects, heart and jaw defects, and pre-term labour- all which increase the risk of serious complications with baby. I know, a fever and a sauna are not the same thing, but what they have in common is that they both raise our body temperature. Since we can't single out the exact reason that a fever increases these risks (infection, dehydration, the temperature itself) we have to assume it could be any of the above and play on the safe side.

Aside from raising body temperature, the sauna also increases the risk of overheating, dehydration and fainting which pregnant women are even more susceptible to than their non-pregnant body would be. When you're pregnant, you have increased blood supply to the skin, huge hormonal changes, not to mention you're keeping yourself alive PLUS a whole other human inside you, AND a whole new organ (the placenta). Your body may not be able to keep up with the demand, making it more likely for you to faint or become dehydrated.

Using the sauna to improve your health pre or post-baby, after being cleared by your doctor, can be a great addition to your health routine. During pregnancy, it's better to stay clear of the sauna, or at the very least, reduce the temperature to it's lowest setting and reduce the time spent in the sauna.