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Epsom Salt Baths During Pregnancy

Epsom Salt Baths During Pregnancy: Anecdotal Evidence Abounds

Epsom Salt baths during pregnancy have helped countless women to feel better in various ways that may seem too good to be true.

While most pages on the Pregnancy and Postnatal Learning Center on-line portal are well-supported, in terms of research, Epsom Salt baths, and Epsom Salt baths during the prenatal phase, are both topics without much research.

An so, we are left to rely strictly on anecdotal evidence. The mechanism by which Epsom Salt baths exert their effect is not well understood, however, most health scientists surmise that it's the free Magnesium ions that enter the body cutaneously, or through the unbroken skin.

While this makes sense, and women know the benefits of an Epsom Salt Bath firsthand, some doctors will still say that the benefits are merely a placebo effect, and nothing of substance.

However, without testing this hypothesis, and yet pushing the validity of such unfounded conclusions, doctors holding to this belief are actually not soundly executing the principles of the scientific method.

The Facts About Epsom Salt Baths: Placebo or Effective?

While the research into Epsom Salt baths is nonexistent, there are certain facts regarding Epsom Salt Baths that we an all agree upon.

1. Epsom salt baths do release Magnesium, which can relax muscles and soothe the mind and emotions.
2. The skin is a semi-permeable membrane, and all kinds of chemicals and substances can be absorbed through the skin, some beneficial, some neutral, and some hazardous.
3. Magnesium ions are safely be absorbed through the skin. There is no hazard of ODing on Magnesium, either!
4. Women, and prenatal women, specifically, have reported that Epsom Salt baths are incredible and have enumerated the benefits.
5. Some such women, people who were our clients, are nurses, doctors, and other health professionals, themselves, and provided reliable oral accounts of how Epsom Salt baths have helped them.
6. Accounts of pregnant women, and women and men of all ages, report the same, and such positive accounts may be found all over the Internet.
7. To date, no research has been done refuting these claims or contradicting the accounts of women and alleged benefits of Epsom Salt baths.

Are Epsom Salt Baths During Pregnancy Safe?

Taking Epsom Salt baths during pregnancy is safe, however there are a few things to think about; water temperature and the duration of the bath are factors that should be considered to avoid overheating, and the the amount and purity of the Epsom Salt are also essential variables.

Keep in mind that you should not bathe in cold water, nor should you set the temperature of the water too high.

Also, there are some contraindications. (see below)

Are There Any Contraindications to Taking Epsom Salt baths During Pregnancy?

Broken Skin: Any broken skin you have will cause burning, and should be covered with a coating of oil or Vaseline to prevent this discomfort.

Having Fever: If you're experiencing fever for any reason prenatally, a more tepid bath temperature may be in order, so as not to over-heat your body. So, you can still take an Epsom Salt Bath, but at alower teemperature than you might otherwise prefer.

Are There Any Dispelled Myths About Taking Epsom Salt Baths During Pregnancy?

Fetal abnormalities: Magnesium sulfate CANNOT cause fetal abnormalities from taking an Epsom Salt Bath.

Magnesium sulfate is actually widely used internally in Western medicine during pregnancy to treat a number of serious disorders and conditions. (please see below).

The therapeutic dose given orally to prenatal women is hundreds of thousands of times the dose you receive by spending time in an Epsom Salt bath.

Continuous use of magnesium sulfate at doses of 10 - 30 grams daily by oral route for more than 5 to 7 days can cause fetal abnormalities, such as skeletal demineralization, hypocalcemia, and congenital rickets.

Obviously, this does not apply to an Epsom Salt bath.

Neonatal fractures: Magnesium sulfate CANNOT cause Neonatal fractures from taking an Epsom Salt Bath. Orally administered Magnesium sulfate has been linked to neonatal fractures, but againm that;'s via oral route, at a dose that is ridiculously higher than any amount you might absorb through your skin during a bath.

Hypermagnesemia: Magnesium sulfate CANNOT cause Hypermagnesemia from taking an Epsom Salt Bath. If administered orally at doses customarily given to pregnant women within two hours of delivery, magnesium sulfate can cause hypermagnesemia in the neonate. This in turn leads to potential respiratory and neuromuscular depression, which is an extremely serious condition.

Some doctors will tell you that Epsom Salt baths are dangerous, but because they're confusing the hazards of MgSO4 treatment during pregnancy with bathing in Epsom Salts (MgSO4).

What's The Highest Temperature An Epsom Salt Bath During Pregnancy Should Be?

Most birth professionals will tell you it's 100°F (38°C) for ten minutes, however studies show that 40°C for twenty minutes didn't adversely raise a pregnant woman's core temperatures to levels that were dangerous to the fetus.

The concern is with the mother's body temperature rising too high. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends keeping a pregnant woman's core body temperature below 102.2°F.

A meta-study published in 2019 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that a pregnant woman may comfortably deal with heat-stress from a sauna or hot bath at 40 degrees Celsius for up to twenty minutes.

That's a slightly higher temperature than is often recommended by doctors, and twice as lengthy. Most doctors will tell you that the maximum amount of time is ten minutes at 38°C.

In such matters, it's advisable to consult with your birthing professional and discuss this matter further.

Heat stress and fetal risk. Environmental limits for exercise and passive heat stress during pregnancy: a systematic review with best evidence synthesis.
(Ravanelli N, Casasola W, English T, Edwards KM, Jay O. Heat stress and fetal risk. Environmental limits for exercise and passive heat stress during pregnancy: a systematic review with best evidence synthesis. Br J Sports Med. 2019
Jul;53(13):799-805. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-097914. Epub 2018 Mar 1. PMID: 29496695.)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29496695/

What Kind of Epsom Salt Should I Buy For Prenatal Epsom Salt Baths?

We advise buying the cheaper, bulk-sized store brand of laboratory-pure MgSO4 like you find at CVS or Walgreen's, rather than the "high end" boutique brands of colorful handcrafted Epsom Salt blends that are better suited as interesting gift ideas.

There are many brands out there that feature essential oils infused into the Epsom Salt, and some even have little bits of herbs and flowers thrown in.

And, that's the better brands. Others are full of dyes and artificial fragrances.

Avoid all of these for prenatal-time Epsom Salt baths.

Any such additives tot he Epsom Salt can be irritating, even for a person who isn't pregnant.

It's both a better deal and a purer substance than the smaller bags in beautifully packaged boxes with a tiny amount of Epsom Salt infused with a blend of essential oils, offered at a significantly higher cost for the same amount.

Consumers pay dearly for a few drops of added essential oils.

It's not worth it. If you wanted to add essential oils to your bath, you should do so yourself, with your doctor's approval, adding precise amounts.

Some essential oils can cause uterine contractions and others are skin irritants, so this is a serious matter, potentially.

As this is the case, avoiding essential oils in a bath during pregnancy is the easiest way to avoid these concerns and potential issues.

However, if you're an avid enthusiast, and you're well-familiar with essential oils and their effects, uses, and most significantly, their hazards and cautions, realistically, you're probably going to want to keep using essential oils during pregnancy to deal with symptoms as they arise, rather than resort to pharmaceutical solutions. That's you right.

Just be sure to discuss any essential oils you plan to use in your bath, as well as any you might be applying topically, or even ingesting, with your health care professional managing your pregnancy so that together you can talk about any essential oils that may be contraindicated in pregnancy.

It's always best to bathe in clean water in a clean (just-bleached) tub, and add only pure salts, whether sodium salt or Epsom Salt, as well as any additional ingredients you mindfully choose, after through research and discussion with your pregnancy provider.

Can I Use Bath Bombs Instead?

Bubble baths, bath bombs, bath salts, and other bath products with dyes and fragrance should be avoided, however, bath bombs, and other bath products with pure ingredients are fine for adding to a bath during pregnancy.

In fact, there are such bath bombs specifically formulated with high amounts of Epsom Salt, but also contain other ingredients like plant seed oils and essential oils.

Bath products with cheap fragrances, chemicals, or dyes can alter vaginal pH and lead to vaginal irritation, yeast infection, or urinary tract infections, and that's true for females of ANY age, so why ever buy such products?

How Much Epsom Salt Should I Use?

Many sources recommend a cup or two of Epsom Salt for a prenatal bath, but there's no scientific reason that suggests you can't use even more without ill effect!

From experience, two cups sounds about right; we'd suggest going toward the higher end of the scale, rather than the lower.

There are presently no definitive studies establishing precisely how much MgSO4 should be added to a bath for humans, and neither is there any such research focusing on pregnant women, as sub-population.

Know that putting less, rather than more, Epsom Salt, is the error most people make when adding Epsom Salt to a bath during pregnancy, not using sufficient quantities of Epsom Salt to exert its positive effects.

You could dump in an entire bag and suffer no ill consequences.

There really isn't a hazardous amount of Epsom Salt you can add to a hot bath during pregnancy.

Many people do not know this, but flotation tanks at spas are filled to saturation with MGSO4.

What Are The Benefits of Epsom Salt baths During Pregnancy?

Epsom Salt baths have helped many pregnant persons to better endure their time being pregnant, reducing aches and pains but also accomplishing so much more for many women.

Epsom salt baths can help with many pregnancy-related symptoms, including, but not limited to:

reducing aches and pains all over the body,
helping with sore muscles, tendons, and ligaments,
reducing round ligament pain,
reducing pelvic floor pain,
stopping leg cramps,
controlling headaches and migraines,
helping to combat feelings of stress,
infrared energy, or heat, from the bath can help aid relaxation,
magnesium may naturally reduce stress,
Hemorrhoids from prenatal constipation,
itching skin as your belly skin stretches to accommodate the growing baby,
raising magnesium levels, as many women of childbearing age are magnesium deficient,
Relaxing your body, Spirit, emotions, and mind,
Helping pregnant people transition from the day to the night,
Releasing longstanding pregnancy constrictures, which can make finding a comfortable position on the bed easier so sleep comes sooner,
easing pain, such as lower back pain or mid-back pain, for instance.

Can We Absorb Too Much Magnesium During A Prenatal Epsom Salt Bath?

While we do absorb both Magnesium and Sulfur cutaneously, and Epsom Salt changes from molecules of MgSO4 to Magnesium and Sulfur ions when it contacts water, we absorb such a small amount of Magnesium from Epsom Salt through our skinthat this cannot meet our nutritional needs for Magnesium, let alone create a situation where we have too much Magnesium in our bodies.

Epsom Salt also releases some water of its own, in fact, once wet by water.

Hydrated forms of MgSO4 are what you will find sold in stores, usually the heptahydrate, MgSO4·7H2O, though the range can be from 1 to 11 water molecules.

Bathing in Epsom Salt is safe, as this substances can even be ingested orally as health supplement at a n exponentially higher dose than you will get bathing in it.

Health experts agree that neither can you get sufficient nutritional Magnesium through your skin, nor can you overdose on this element in this manner.

With that said, do not ingest Epsom Salt without the advise of your pregnancy health professional.

What if I Drink Some Water From an Epsom Salt Bath During Pregnancy?

If you drink some of the bath water by accident, and you're concerned because there was some Epsom Salt added, don't be alarmed.

It's such a small amount of Magnesium and Sulfur that it wouldn't even register on a urine test. It would take a lot more than that to raise your levels, if that were what you were intending to do by design.

In fact, Epsom Salt, at levels that are hundreds of thousands of times you would receive if you drank a few gulps of bath water with two cups of Epsom Salt dissolved in it, is completely safe and is a treatment for various issue of pregnancy, as a matter of fact!

What If I Begin Feeling Overheated During Or After A Pregnancy Epsom Salt Bath?

If you begin feeling overheated, you can simply move to a cooler room once you've dried off.

Or, if you're still in the tub, just drain the water and stand up to take a cooling shower, not necessarily cold water, but water that feels like it's helping with your overheating condiiton.

The shower water should be no warmer than 100°F (37.8°C), so that you can effectively lower your core temperature, if you're actually so overheated that your core temkperature is rising.

Usually, you'll just be feeling overheated without actually raising your core temps, but these are just precautions, and may make you feel subjectively bette,r too.

Signs of overheating include feeling hot, sweating, and reddened skin.

Signs of more serious overheating include dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea, and can lead to a fall or even fainting.

Are There Any Accepted Medical Uses of Magnesium Sulfate In Pregnant People?

In fact, there are multiple medical treatments for conditions arising during pregnancy that involve administering MgSO4, namely Toxemia of Pregnancy, Torsades de Pointes, and MgSO4 is also used as a tocolytic agent to curtail threatened preterm labor. Tocolytics work to stop contractions, thereby delaying delivery. Besides Magnesium Sulfate, there's also Indomethacin and Nifedipine, which all do the same thing.

In Toxemia of Pregnancy, Magnesium Sulfate is indicated to prevent seizures arising from pre-eclampsia, and for controlling seizures with eclampsia.

When pregnant people suffer from Torsades de Pointes, a rare but potentially fatal long QT syndrome condition involving abnormal repolarizaiton of the heart, believe it or not, Magnesium Sulfate, or Epsom Salt, is what's relied on to save lives every day around the globe.

What Are The Issues Associated With Medical Treatments Using Magnesium Sulfate In Pregnant Women?

The biggest issue that pregnant women have with the high doses involved in such treatments using Magnesium Sulfate as a drug is that calcium and magnesium exist in a balance within the body, and by taking too much magnesium, for too long, the ratio is thrown off. This can result in hypocalcemia in the developing fetus, and even skeletal abnormalities.

Under normal circumstances, nutritionists advise that calcium and magnesium must be taken in a specific ratio of 2:1, as both compete for absorption in the body.

Too much calcium and too little magnesium can adversely affect absorption of magnesium, and the reverse is also true, too much magnesium makes the body unable to get a sufficient amount of calcium.

Nutritionists suggest maintaining a balanced ratio for optimal bone health. However, the benefits don't stop there.

Calcium and magnesium are the two elements that affect the heart in significant ways, acting in opposite ways to one another, and the balance is crucial to proper cardiac functioning.

Maintaining a healthy Ca:Mg ratio over time leads to better overall physiological function, as both minerals are utilized in a significant number of processes within the human body.

When using MGSO4 for its beneficial effect in these instances during pregnancy, it is understood that this ratio is temporarily altered, and as a result, Magnesium Sulfate cannot be administered at such high doses for very long.

The dosages, as you will notice, are way higher than sitting in a bath could ever provide, and is still regarded as safe for the mother and fetus, when administered at such high doses for as long as a week.

As an example, let's take a look at the various guidelines.

Toxemia of Pregnancy Dosage Guidelines:

4-5 g (diluted in 250 mL NS/D5W) IV in combination with either (a) up to 10 g (20 mL of undiluted 50% solution) divided and administered IM into each buttock or (b) after initial IV dose, 1-2 g/hr IV; may administer q4hr as necessary

Torsades de Pointes Dosage Guidelines:

With pulse (ACLS): 1-2 g slow IV (diluted in 50-100 mL D5W) over 5-60 minutes, then 0.5-1 g/hr IV

Cardiac arrest (ACLS): 1-2 g slow IV (diluted in 10 mL D5W) over 5-20 minutes

Preterm Labor (Off-label) Dosage Guidelines:

Used as a tocolytic to stop preterm labor (Off-label)

Loading dose: 4-6 g IV over 20 minutes; maintenance: 2-4 g/hr IV for 12-24 hours as tolerated after contractions cease

Do not exceed 5-7 days of continuous treatment; longer treatment duration may lead to hypocalcemia in developing fetus resulting in neonates with skeletal abnormalities related to osteopenia

https://reference.medscape.com/drug/mgso4-magnesium-sulfate-344444

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