We studied the effect of hot-spring bathing by pregnant women on the Apgar score of their vaginally delivered babies by retrospective investigation.
The subjects were classified into four groups: group 1 consisting of 33 pregnant women who took hot-spring baths everyday, group 2 consisting of 166 pregnant women who took plain-water baths with additives everyday, group 3 consisting of 308 pregnant women took plain-water baths without additives everyday, and group 4 consisting of 34 pregnant women who showers everyday.
In group 1, the Apgar score was 9 for 27 babies (81.8%) and 8 for six babies (18.2%). In group 2, the Apgar score was 10 for two babies (1.2%), 9 for 125 babies (76.2%), 8 for 37 babies (22.6%), 7 for one baby (0.6%), and 6 for one baby (0.6%). In group 3, the Apgar score was 10 for five babies (1.6%), 9 for 227 babies (73.7%), 8 for 69 babies (22.4%), 7 for four babies (1.3%), 6 for one baby (0.3%), 4 for one baby (0.3%), and 3 for one baby (0.3%). In group 4, the Apgar score was 9 for 30 babies (88.2%) and 8 for four babies (11.8%).
No significant correlations were observed between the Apgar score and the groups who bathed in different ways (hot-spring bathing, plain-water bathing, or showers).
In conclusion, pregnant women can bathe in hot springs without fear of affecting their babies.