pregnancy and guns...

[semperfidelis354]

so my wife is pregnant with our first! yay for me!!!! I was wondering about continuing going shooting with her or not? it sounds silly probably but i was thinking about the loud sounds and solvents and carbon weapons produce and it got me wondering...

Should she refrain from shooting and just sit back and watch?

and I being silly and over thinking everything?

I would prefer any ladies who have gone through this to give any advice they can, thank you!

[zvardan]

Noise no, chemicals, maybe.

In terms of handling a weapon, perhaps the lead would be the only issue, but then again, firing outside tends to limit lead exposure in terms of inhalation. Have her wear gloves to shoot. Clean the guns for her.

[HK35]

Congrats!!!

I would NOT bring the wife shooting at all. The issue is with lead exposure.

High blood lead levels increased risks of pregnancy hypertension, spontaneous abortion, and reduced offspring neurobehavioral development. High maternal lead levels have also been linked to reduced fetal growth. Some studies suggest a link between increased parental lead exposure and congenital malformations.

[DVSmith]

A pregnancy is a short period of time. There is no reason to expose her to lead and chemicals. The noise issue should not be ignored either. There are several writ-ups floating around such as this one:

http://iweb.tntech.edu/cpardue/pregnant.html

Err on the side of caution and have her stay away from the range and keep cleaning activities contained and away from her.

Disclaimer: I am not an MD and I do not play one on TV.

[hcbr]

Congrats! I'd stay away from the range, considering this is your first, i'd take all precautions and just have her cruise to the birth within those 9 special months!

Otherwise, think of this as your time with the boys before the real fun begins

[WDE91]

Im thinking
avoid=best or limit greatly=good

no cleaning
no indoor ranges
nothing of large recoil

it is only for 9months and the possible negative effects have the potential to be rather nasty

[AragornElessar86]

The noise is definitely an issue. When my wife was pregnant her Gyno told her that basically if she has to wear hearing protection the baby needs to also. Good luck figuring out how to manage that one.

[WDE91]

This sounds like the perfect time to buy a bb or pellet gun

lower noise
not at many lead risks
lower recoil

[FeuerFrei]

My WAG.
Does the baby jump/startle when loud noises occur around the house?
Common sense. If the baby jumps/startles then no loud noises at all.
If baby is calm then the fluid that surrounds the child will prevent noise from harming ears and making baby jump/startle.
*IMO if you swim, try going under water and listen to someone (out of the water) talking to you. Can you hear them well? Water/fluid conducts sound really well when the sound is emanated from a source in the water. No so much from something out of the water. Maybe this translates to baby in womb?

[Splinter]

DO NOT LET HER NEAR GUNFIRE! Heck, almost every indoor range I have been to wont let you in the shooting range if you are pregnant. It will damage the babies ears. And please, if you have any real concerns a quick call to your doctor is a much better idea then asking people on calguns! Noise, chemicals(LEAD), Stress to mother, come on man, this is your first! Please be overly protective of that little creature until it can speak for itself. I would avoid shooting until done breastfeeding in my opinion.

[Shellshocker66]

I think the hearing protection for a baby is FUD. They are well protected with fluid around them not to mention a layer of fat that is part of the abdominal wall. Best insulation around.

Now the exposure to lead/chemicals might lead to a problem.

[semperfidelis354]

good to know, some friends and I were making plans previously to take our wives/GF's to some private property for some introdution shooting and a bbq. probably be best if she stays aroud the house then

[Splinter]

I think the hearing protection for a baby is FUD. They are well protected with fluid around them not to mention a layer of fat that is part of the abdominal wall. Best insulation around.

Now the exposure to lead/chemicals might lead to a problem.

You can "think" whatever you want. I would say it is downright irresponsible to try to use some bogus theory as support for exposing a developing human life to possible harmful situations. Doctors recommend babies not be exposed to ANY loud noises, including fireworks! Pregnant mothers should remain in soothing environments. Just hearing another persons voice can accelerate a babies heart rate! I cant imagine what a firearm barely a few feet away could do to a developing babies ears, or what response it could cause! Just for the lead exposure the doctor recommended my friends wife wait until she had stopped breastfeeding to even handle ammunition! I would rather be cautious then even risk a one in a million chance of hurting my child?!?!? Pretty insane to give unqualified advice. I have seen and felt a baby moving around to music, pretty sure a gunshot would have an incredible effect on a baby. Thats my feelings on this, if you cant go without shooting for 9months, you are not ready to have a baby!

[Creampuff]

Unlike some exposure, where there is a safe amount in parts per million. There is no safe amount of lead exposure. Like others have mentioned, I would wait until later.

I apologize for posting in the Ladies forum. These post show up when I hit the "New posts" button.

[Whiterabbit]

We asked the doctor. No FUD.

If she needs ear protection, so does the baby.

No shooting. Period.

(my wife is due in September)

Congratulations on being a new parent.