The Tub is OK but the Jacuzzi is Not. Huh?

I am going to bash this notion once and for all. When you find out you're pregnant, one of the first things you hear is "no jacuzzi for you!" I followed this advice because it made sense at first. The idea is you can't raise your core temperature too high or you'll "cook your baby." (Enter weird, gross images I immediately get of growing a hard boiled egg inside my stomach.)

I even spent a day at the spa with my mom which was awesome, and sat primly on the side of the large comfy hot tub dangling my legs while she indulged. So from a woman that tried to follow the rules, let's have at it.

You see, once you get to about 6 months pregnant, you get sore. Your back hurts. Your feet hurt. Your ankles are swollen and the only thing you think about at the end of the day is a nice hot bath. Your doctor and pretty much every prego site out there encourages bath time for preggie, too. It reduces stress, reduces swelling, and makes you feel a lot nicer all over.

Well now I am 7 months pregnant and my crappy bathtub that holds about 6 gallons of water not only doesn't cover my body but I swear soon I will have to wedge myself in and will need a crane to get me out. We have an killer Jacuzzi sitting in our beautiful backyard, just downstairs and I have found myself literally dreaming about it.

So I did some research. And I did some more. Because truthfully I am a nervous person and the last thing I want to do is the *wrong* thing. But I gotta tell ya, there's really no evidence that going in the Jacuzzi is a problem. Some sites say it's ok if the water is 100 degrees or under. Now I am not a doctor and this is NOT medical advice so please don't take me as the end all be all-- but here's my conclusion for myself:

Jacuzzi is A-OK. If it is hot, don't stay in too long. If you water has broken, don't go in because that Bromine or Chlorine can't be too good. And if 5-10 minutes in a Jacuzzi that fits your body will help you out, do it. Don't think twice.

You will know if you are getting overheated. And then it is time to get out. Come on girls let's start trusting our own instincts here and be reasonable. Let's try to be as comfortable and as reasonable as possible during our pregnancies. Good luck and carry on! (haha)