[Aaryq]

Howdy, Folks
My wife just found out she's pregnant with our 3rd bundle of joy!!!!! YAY!!!

I was curious as to if there is any reason not to have her go to the range (indoor) with me because of medical concerns for her or the baby?

[Papa Whiskey]

I have no source to back this up but I would imagine the inreased exposure from lead to the skin and lungs would be undesirable for a pregnant woman. I would wonder about possible noise issues as well. Does your fetus wear earplugs?

[Papa Whiskey]

by the way, congratulations.

[Galen]

Congratulations!!!

Lead exposure would be the first thing that comes to mind.

[camacho]

Congrats to you! Lead would be the only thing I can think of, however, I would not know if the amount she would be exposed to is harmful. See below for led and pregnacies:

http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/chemlist.htm
http://www.fetal-exposure.org/LEAD.html

[kingpin008]

Lead is a huge issue. Even the best indoor ranges generally have crappy air circulation, and even if they mandate totally-jacketed rounds to keep the lead down, most of the lead in the air comes from the smoke generated by primers anyhow.

That, and after a certain point in development, the fetus can indeed be affected by the concussion of gunfire.

I really wouldn't risk it. Shooting is a great pastime, and important to keep up with, but nothing should be more important than the health of your new kid.

[SoCalShooter]

Congrats!!

[justin 561]

Congrats on the score! Hoping to have one of my own soon.

[icebones]

good news buddy,

better safe than sorry, i would keep her well away from an indoor range, even if the range required lead free ammo and clean primers.

if it were my wife, i wouldnt risk it.

once agin congrats...

[sammy]

From what I understand babies in the womb are very sensitive to noise. My wife and I went to a low key concert while she was 5 monts in and she could tell the baby was not happy. We wound up leaving early because of it. I would put it off for sure. Congrats!!

[Aaryq]

That's kind of what I was thinking...She'll be angry, but she'll understand. Just when I get that hook firmly secured, she can't go shooting anymore. Oh well, 9 months and we'll go back. What about outdoor ranges?

[32winspl]

I'd worry more about the decibel level. While possibly somewhat insulated from the sound level, and the Baby is suspended in a liquid environment; from my SCUBA diving days, I KNOW that sound is transmitted many times better through water than through air... above the surface, I could SEE boats 2 miles distant and not be able to hear them. But below the surface, I could hear them excellantly! 2 miles +/- away. Im' talking about NO boats visible closer than 2 miles away.
I'd really suggest that you ask your OB/GYN before you allow her to accompany you to the range.
Robb

[Grandpa Shooter]

There is a thread on APS with references stating explicitly that the decibel level of gunfire transmitted through the amniotic fluid in the womb is indeed damaging to the ears of an unborn child.

I wouldn't risk it.

[springmom]

Noise, and the air quality. I know, indoor ranges are supposed to filter their air. But this is your baby you're talking about...

The noise is louder inside too. Indoor range time really ought to be off the list for the duration.

Springmom

[shouldifail]

heres a pretty good article on shooting while pregnant. i found it when my wife was pregnant with our little one.
congrats!http://iweb.tntech.edu/cpardue/pregnant.html

[Neo-Luddite]

Shoot outdoors. Avoid lead--fumes indoors as said are nasty. Those in-situ don't have hearing protection and live in sound-conductive bags of water (OK--they might not HAVE developed ears yet, but lets not quibble). Outdoors with say a .22, MAYBE---but why take the chance?

It's summer. Buy a BB/pellet (buy non-lead pellets) gun or nice air-soft set up for your wife to practice with outside or even indoors. Safe, cheap, fun--other two 'bundles' can enjoy also, maybe, if old enough. Something new.

For me personally, I get as much (if not more) fun shooting my Crossman 1377 pistol in my backyard at cans as I do shooting my M-1 at a 500yrd target.



Congrats and all the best!

-Mike

[borntwice]

Congratulations on the new baby. Have another one for me, while your at it. Just kidding. In any case, it is good to see that somebody is still reproducing. LOL.

Oh, and get a noise suppressor for her handgun, and you should be O.K.

[Kind of Blued]

Congratulations. This sounds like a good reason to buy a suppressor, a .22 pistol, and do some outdoor plinking. :)