Gus,
Not to argue any points with anyone, about whom is the more knowledgeable doctor or expert, I prefer to get back to your question and to answer you directly on your question. There is a lot of controversy among the so called experts. I will use one exampole of something from this threa that I think has some grea advice, and maybe some not so great advice, but none bad; then I will add my thoughts.
Lead is insidious and accumulates. If you're going to shoot - as my wife's OB who is familiar with these things says - avoid all exposure to lead. That means long clothes, respirator, changing clothes immediately after shooting and washing exposed areas with cold water, outdoor ranges and CleanFire ammunition. Her advice was to avoid shooting in general while pregnant. You won't lose that much skill, and damage from lead is forever.
I agree with most of the things said above. As collateral duties on my job, I was a firearms instructor for 14 years. Our agency would allow pregnant agents to wear face/dist masks to avoid breathing in lead, and if I remember rightly they could also avoid the range altogether at their option while pregnant. When you leave a range, it is always a very good idea to change clothing if you are at all concerned about lead exposure, keep on the respirator mask while doing so. Studies have shown that lead from a range is tracked home on boots/shoes, jackets, pants, shirts and so forth. In addition a shower right after the range is also recommended.
If the above mentioned obstetrician means use of lead free ammo by the term CleanFire ammo, forget about its overall effectiveness unless you are shooting on a range where lead ammunition is not used. Your bullets, whether lead or lead free, will kick up whatever particulate lead is on the range and that is most of your concern if shooting jacketed bullets. Avoid non-jacketed lead bullets altogether.
As to indoor versus outdoor ranges, there is a possible mistake in suggesting outdoor over indoor ranges. Some studies (info I received word of mouth from many other range officers and in classes I took, and reports I have seen at work) have shown that exposure to airborne lead sometimes is actually much higher at outdoor ranges dependent upon conditions while shooting as compared to an indoor range with a properly working ventilation system. Different factors can be the wind direction, no wind, humidity, and so forth. In addition, any particulate lead, in the area of the firing line, all the way down the shooting lanes, an indoor range is usually swept or vacuumed up by range personnel daily - if it is a well kept range. At an outdoor range, lead and other contaminants are there on the ground, and in the ground, on the concrete, and in the parking lot, built up over many years of use.
As for the noise levels having an effect on the fetus, my understanding is yes noise can effect a fetus. So too can the concussion from firing large bore rifles and shotguns.
As for washing your hands, face, arms, other exposed areas with cold water being better than using warm or hot water, that possibly is a mistake. If it is 90 degrees out when you shoot, then you wash with cold water, my belief is you could potentially trap more lead, or other contaminants, inside your pores than you have washed away because the cold water will cause your pores to close instead of open, and the contaminants are already in the pores. Check with a doctor on this, especially a dermatologist. I use warm water, but first I use Go-Jo, or something like Boraxo. I find this removes lead better, and can actually see the difference when I have been shooting 22 lead ammo. Use cold water for your clothing if you want, but I prefer again to use warm, it cleans them better and gets the range debris out better from what I can see. I always use the second rinse cycle.
Also remember that lead is not the only contaminant with which you will come in contact while shooting. Others are: gun powder, oils, and cleaning solvents. Even in small residual amounts, cleaning solvents absorbed through your skin, or inhaled, could potentially be a threat to a developing fetus. If you shoot - wear gloves while handling the firearm, and wear a respirator or dust/vapor mask, and wear full body covering clothing, including a hat. Trace amounts of powder residue, oils and solvents are all over the gun, and possibly in the air. Once done shooting, have someone else clean the firearm for you.
As to shooting early in pregnanacy as opposed to later, remember that different effects can be had from different things at various points during the pregnancy. There probably have been few to no comprehensive studies on all the effects of a mother enjoying shooting sports on a fetus during the term of a complete pregnancy, but there are quite possibly studies out there on how certain contaminants or sound effects a fetus at different stages of the pregnanacy.
The best overall advice, for a pregnant woman, may be to avoid shooting while pregnant, just as you should avoid smoking, alcohol while pregnant. I can tell you, that while I wish you the best during your pregnancy, and during motherhood, but also that I am happy I am a man. Having to stop shooting for 9 months could be torture.
Good luck, and bring that baby up to be a fine marksman/markswoman!
All the best,
Glenn B
