Shooting while pregnant?

[Dagostino480]

My sister has just announced that I will be an uncle by the end of the year! As our family loves to go shooting I was wondering if there is any guidelines to shooting near here while she is pregnant? Will/ can it hurt the babies ears? Is there anything we should be concerned about?

I am not sure if this is the right forum for this post seeing as I am a guy. But I figured the ladies of this forum might have better input on this subject. Feel free to move this thread as nessesary.

[Killer Bee]

CONGRATS!

Mrs. Bee was prohibited by her department's policy to participate in range quals while she was pregnant both times.. from what I recall, the two big concerns are lead exposure and noise damage [when fetus is developing auditory organs].. I would think there's enough insulation there, but why risk what most doctors will ask pregnant women to avoid.. there's also an inherent danger of a gsw when participating in shooting activities, especially the recreational variety..

so my advice for a pregnant woman would be to avoid recreational shooting and pay close attention to cleansing lead contact from skin after the baby's born..

she needs to ask herself and the baby's father, just how important is shooting vs potential risks..

good luck to your family and wish your sister a safe delivery and a healthy baby

[Dagostino480]

CONGRATS!

Mrs. Bee was prohibited by her department's policy to participate in range quals while she was pregnant both times.. from what I recall, the two big concerns are lead exposure and noise damage [when fetus is developing auditory organs].. I would think there's enough insulation there, but why risk what most doctors will ask pregnant women to avoid.. there's also an inherent danger of a gsw when participating in shooting activities, especially the recreational variety..

so my advice for a pregnant woman would be to avoid recreational shooting and pay close attention to cleansing lead contact from skin after the baby's born..

she needs to ask herself and the baby's father, just how important is shooting vs potential risks..

good luck to your family and wish your sister a safe delivery and a healthy baby

We were going to go out last weekend but decided against it because we did not know the health factors. Tomorrow, they have just had their first doctors appointment so everyone is super excited! We are defiantly putting the babies health above all else, to the point that she has a list of food and cheeses that she will not eat.

Didn't even think of the factors of lead. My first thought was on the noise level. Thank you for the info!

[Killer Bee]

We were going to go out last weekend but decided against it because we did not know the health factors. Tomorrow, they have just had their first doctors appointment so everyone is super excited! We are defiantly putting the babies health above all else, to the point that she has a list of food and cheeses that she will not eat.

Didn't even think of the factors of lead. My first thought was on the noise level. Thank you for the info!

oh boy, standby for the diet roller coaster.. certain dairy, no uncooked meats, no caffeine, etc.. it's a trip what women will sacrifice

although it's a good idea for everyone, every time, might want to get some d-lead or clean-all heavy metal soaps for the family in contact with your sister and later, the baby.. same types of soaps most ranges carry in their restrooms..

again, congrats!

[DontTaseMeBro]

I would not let my wife shoot or pump her own gas while she was pregnant. Lead/toxic fumes. There are enough stupid people on this planet, I didn't want to add to the number.

[movie zombie]

9 months of self-sacrifice v. a child having lifetime health issues?!
yep, priceless.................

[Condorguns]

When pregnant I stopped all shooting and loading. That being said I still owned a gun shop and carried my CCW.
I didn't live in a bubble, but because of the unknowns I reduced the risk where I could. 20+ years later the kids are grown and strangely well adjusted adults now.

[EMR]

CONGRATS!

and noise damage [when fetus is developing auditory organs].. I would think there's enough insulation there...

Sound waves require a medium to travel through. That's why there's no sound in the vacuum of space and underwater sonar is basically sound waves. Amniotic fluid, however will allow much of the percussion of the shots to reach the fetus' developing ears.

[BadKitty]

We've had this question posed to us before with varying viewpoints. I would suggest you look through what other Calgunners have commented on previously in these different threads:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=816603&highlight=pregnant

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=694893&highlight=pregnant

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=678374&highlight=pregnant

Best wishes

[The Last American Hero]

I would not let my wife shoot or pump her own gas while she was pregnant. Lead/toxic fumes. There are enough stupid people on this planet, I didn't want to add to the number.

Yeah, I hear most of the lead risk is in the fumes from the primer, not the pure lead of the bullets that will get washed off the skin before getting absorbed.

As a side note, besides getting a blood test for lead as part of the massive battery of tests they no doubt do these days to preggers, I'd be watching out for new lead paint dust dangers if doing any remodeling/repairs to any dwellings in prep for the new family member.

Just talked to a Union buddy with otherwise very good union "Cadillac" Health Ins. and he was pissed that one thing they DO NOT cover is a general checkup for his new infant. They will pay for stuff if found, but wont pay to look for it.

[Steponmytoes]

Pregnant women can't eat sushi and aren't supposed to eat cold cuts... bottom line is that a developing baby in the womb is fragile. Lead in the air and loud noises can't be good for him/her.

[bug_eyedmonster]

My wife is 12 weeks pregnant now. Three weeks ago, we went to shoot trap. Stay away from indoor ranges or larger caliber rifles/pistols and she should be fine in the first trimester.


Jerry

[BonnieB]

First of all, I totally support parents-to-be, who put the health and first rate development of their child first. Small sacrifices, huge long term gains.

In passing, a friend of mine was sick for six months after eating cheese made from raw milk. It came from a gourmet store, but it turned out to be a bad idea, even for a 70 year old man. It was a bacterial infection of some kind. I don't know if it could be transmitted in-utero, but why take risks unnecessarily?

That said, isn't it miraculous that those of us over 60 survived at all? Mothers smoked and drank, ate whatever sounded good, gained 50 pounds, took no exercise or pre-natal classes, no pre-natal vitamins or special anything. They just lived their lives while they waited. None of the modern pre-natal stuff was even known at the time. No one knew that lead painted woodwork was bad for children to gnaw on. I wonder how many pregnant women painted their babies rooms with lead paint in those days. Because that's all the paint there was. I remember seeing my mother ride a bike down a steep the hill, to get my father's check to the bank before 3 on a Friday so the mortgage check wouldn't bounce. She was 8 months pregnant with my sister at the time. And no one thought a thing about it, except it was a funny sight to see her spin down the hill with her big belly and her long black hair streaming out behind her.

Just miraculous that we survived to be as healthy and gifted as we are...

[savannah]

The way that I look at it is this.........it is only nine months. If there is questions or concerns then why bother taking a risk. Just enjoy the pregnancy and knowing you are doing everything to make sure the baby is healthy.

[odysseus]

This topic comes up all the time on here. We have had people report back from real MD's on the topic. Not a bad idea too to talk to a MD on any real medical questions vs online forums.

It goes like what is being said here, just avoid it during the pregnancy. Sure it may be fine, but there is no need for any quotient of risk there so just waive off for the relatively short period. Just like a lot of other activities like rock climbing, demolition, dust cropping, race car driving, etc. lol. Common sense.