can pregnant women go shooting?

[smak28]

Dont do it! I had high levels my blood and did a ton research. Lead affects brain growth babies and kids most. Also be cautious of spreading lead around your house after shooting. Wash your hands, arms, face before spreading lead around your house. Your shooting clothes should be isolated once you get home. Indoors is bad and outdoors is better. Just be aware to be clean. Don't let lead affect your babies and kids! Be cautious please!

[Librarian]

FAQ - and no clear answer.

Both major considerations have been mentioned - lead exposure and hearing damage to the fetus.

See also prior threads -

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1003783&highlight=pregnant

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=920718&highlight=pregnant

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=877954&highlight=pregnant

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=704896&highlight=pregnant

[vtrigger77]

Thanx librarian. Im not going to risk it. I can wait.

[DMotivate]

My wife is currently 16 weeks and has decided not to partake in shooting. Her decision is not because of lead but the noise. The enjoyment of shooting isn't worth the anxiety of possible harm being done to the little one.

[Condorguns]

I quit at 4 months. At the time I was reloading and casting my own bullets. I quit that the day the pregnancy was confirmed.

[postal]

Can my wife smoke, drink, do crack, and play with mercury while pregnant? Whaddyall think?

This is just a baffling question to me.....

WHY WOULD ANY RESPONSIBLE PERSON take any kind of risks with a child on the way?

oh... I get lonely shooting at the range by myself..... Uh... maybe you should enjoy your alone time at the range while you can before the kid comes and wrecks your shooting budget? And your alone time?

It sounds like you have more 'separation anxiety' than my dog....

[TKM]

Mom took me to Woodstock while she was pregnant with my kid brother. I don't believe she's gone a week without shooting (while in the U.S.) in her life.

Not a problem unless you don't want a brother who sucks. (Not sure I can blame that on bad music)

[tiechshlime]

After reading all of this I can't believe all of my kids are still alive.

[Packer]

The issue is not acoustic

Its lead

Thats what you want to watch out for, profound developmental damage can be done.

So, make sure you know what everyone is shooting, how its ventillated etc

But really, why does a pregnant woman need to go shooting?

[SB1964]

WHAT? I was in a few race cars when mom was preggy, airplanes too. I shake a lot & can't hear a thing. May be from lead & it might be from noise, I'm not too sure.

[Librarian]

The issue is not acoustic

Its lead

Thats what you want to watch out for, profound developmental damage can be done.

So, make sure you know what everyone is shooting, how its ventillated etc

But really, why does a pregnant woman need to go shooting?

Having read the links in the earlier threads, I think you should present some experimental data to justify the dismissal of the possible hearing damage.

[Eljay]

You'll definitely get different answers from different pediatricians and it's not like anybody's done a real study or anything. Can you imagine? Take 100 pregnant women to the range and try to detect if their kids have slightly hurt hearing or average 5 IQ points lower or whatever?

Bottom line is that given all the things women skip out on during pregnancy just in case, going to the range seems like a small sacrifice. If you're concerned she'll lose her edge or something she can always dry fire.

[iluvmycolt]

Lead is a risk. I wouldn't let my wife.

^^^this....lead exposure puts the fetus at risk for various health issues.

[iluvmycolt]

You'll definitely get different answers from different pediatricians and it's not like anybody's done a real study or anything. Can you imagine? Take 100 pregnant women to the range and try to detect if their kids have slightly hurt hearing or average 5 IQ points lower or whatever?

As far as I know, there are no studies that have been conducted in regards to pregnant women shooting. However, there have been plenty of studies conducted on lead and how it is stored in the bones of a person for a very long period of time. So what that does this mean for women. Well, results of these studies indicate that lead can mimic or inhibit calcium during formation of bones and brain of fetus which can result in various health and behavior issues. I can go on and on, but to keep it short, no amount of lead exposure is safe for the fetus. All these info provided are based on a previous research assignment my group member and I had to do and present to the class.

[Condorguns]

But really, why does a pregnant woman need to go shooting?

My biggest worry was no longer getting practice time in on my carry gun. Just because I was pregnant doesn't mean I quit carrying for defense.

Also many women enjoy their range time. This is our hobby the same as a man. We like to see our friends at the range and we like to play with our guns.