Shooting While Pregnant

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

anthonywork6727

Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
10
Is there a general rule for shooting while pregnant? At a certain point, does it become harmful for a baby's ears?

I have a pregnant friend who wanted to go shooting and she is only a few months away from her due date.
 
I have a pregnant friend who wanted to go shooting and she is only a few months away from her due date.
Click to expand...
Pregnancy lasts just a few more months. The opportunity to shoot won't go away in that time.

Life is full of risks for the little ones. Some of those risks you can't do anything to alleviate. Some, you can. This is one you can.
 
My wife is pregnant and I asked the same question on a different forum. I also did a ton of research and its just not worth the many hazards that are found at the range.
 
My wife is due in August. She's been completely banned from shooting or handling (she didn't CCW before she got pregnant). I've cut back on my range time, and I strip down all my range clothes before coming in the house, and shower or wash thoroughly before going anywhere near her.

There are two issues - one is noise, the other (more dangerous) is lead.
 
That's what my wife did. In the grand scheme of things it's not that long.
Click to expand...

My advice in this case is ironic...between pregnancy and infant care my wife hasn't been on the firing line in over 10 years! :eek:

But ...usually, for most folks ... it's a temporary condition. :)
 
Not worth the prenatal lead exposure or the hearing damage.

I do the "stay at home" dad thing, and I change clothes and shower after a range trip before I pick the baby up (now 2, and the last of them, thank goodness) I'd keep her clear of the residues until the baby has moved on from breastfeeding too.
 
Just a guess but the baby is probably insulated well enough that his hearing will not be harmed but it will be loud enough to interfere with his sleep which is critical to his growth and development. You would not play loud music or use a hammer while a new baby was sleeping.
 
Just a guess but the baby is probably insulated well enough that his hearing will not be harmed
Click to expand...

And an incorrect guess. The fetus' ears will develop and begin functioning sometime around 18-20 weeks, and can be damaged by loud noises.
 
And an incorrect guess. The fetus' ears will develop and begin functioning sometime around 18-20 weeks, and can be damaged by loud noises.
Click to expand...

That is when his wife gets a silencer for her favorite gun :0
 
Shooting in self defense? Definitely worth the risk.
Shooting for entertainment? I'd take 10 months off, but then again I really don't have to worry about being pregnant with that "Y" chromosome and all...
 
That is when his wife gets a silencer for her favorite gun :0
Click to expand...

Considering the wait time on a Form 4, you'd probably better have one on order at all times, just in case! :)
 
I don't even have the words to respond to some of these posts...REALLY? Strip, wash and change clothes after the range before you come NEAR her?? Probably need to move at least a county away from the nearest range, too. Can't stay far enough away from that second-hand contamination...
 
"I don't even have the words to respond to some of these posts...REALLY? Strip, wash and change clothes after the range before you come NEAR her?? Probably need to move at least a county away from the nearest range, too. Can't stay far enough away from that second-hand contamination..."


Sounds like you could read up a bit on lead poisoning in children.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning

"It interferes with the development of the nervous system and is therefore particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behavior disorders"
 
Thought of a quick and crude experiment to test noise levels for fetuses.

Get a washtub full of water, stick your head underwater while your buddy fires off a few quick rounds nearby.

Any volunteers?
 
I don't even have the words to respond to some of these posts...REALLY? Strip, wash and change clothes after the range before you come NEAR her?? Probably need to move at least a county away from the nearest range, too. Can't stay far enough away from that second-hand contamination...
Click to expand...

you know something, at first i thought that was a bit extreme myself......but in actuality, it really isnt.

your average healthy male can moderately handle ~30 Micrograms/dL of lead in their blood

for children and pregnant women.....that number is less than 10 Micrograms/dL......

now lead wreaks its havok in the CNS......do you really want to risk nervous system problems in your child because you didnt take precaution.....
 
Saw one of these post when my wife was pregnant, ran the question past her, well and I can't convince you (everyones an expert online), but she's a nurse practitioner(master degree etc), and wasn't concerned a bit.

Really washing/ changing clothes? Do you use products that could cause cancer in California?(seems everyone in that state gets cancer easily, i'm glad I moved out).

Do what floats your boat, but people survived shootingblack powder and probably having their children help melt lead to cast balls.
 
Last edited:
Smarter folks than either of us have clearly demonstrated the hazard lead brings to developing fetuses and infants. I've read the research and as an industrial hygienist I recommend that people err on the side of caution in these circumstances. Depending upon how much you shoot and under what conditions someone shooting on a weekly basis at an indoor range with poor contamination control could bring enough lead home to pose a hazard if they didn't take precautions to prevent contamination of the home and occupants. If you have a good range and you're not at it frequently there's little to worry about as long as you take some reasonable precautions. There's a good article at corneredcat.com addressing the real issue of lead exposure for shooters that spend a lot of time on the range.
 
My wife shot with some friends and I when she was pregnant. Outdoors when she was about 10 weeks. I handled all the loading and unloading, but she fired 3" magnum 12 gauge rounds, 9mm, and .357. Everything worked out O.K., our great grandparents did far worse and we are all still here.
 
Quote:
And an incorrect guess. The fetus' ears will develop and begin functioning sometime around 18-20 weeks, and can be damaged by loud noises.
Click to expand...

I don't think that the amount of noise the fetus receives would be that loud as long as you are not shooting something unusual like a Barret .50 BMG. It is pretty well insulated in the woumb, probably a lot better than any regular ear protection shooters use but the repetitive noise will disturb his sleep just like someone using a hammer or dribbling a basketball would. Not a good idea.
 
I do the same thing... change and wash before dealing with my wife and small children... it's worth the effort for us... rather prevent any issues than have any possible regrets... soon enough, I'll be able to take my children to the range and well all have fun... God, I can't wait for that day!!!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
  • Locked
Women shooting while pregnant?
2 3
Replies
70
Views
3K
Sam1911
S
I
  • Locked
Shooting while pregnant?
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
MrAcheson
M
dusty14u
  • Locked
Pregnant women and Shooting?
Replies
20
Views
962
Hawaiian
H
Double Naught Spy
  • Locked
Pregnant Woman Stops Armed Home Intruders with AR15
2 3
Replies
59
Views
3K
4v50 Gary
4v50 Gary
G
  • Locked
Pregnancy and guns
2 3
Replies
59
Views
5K
GRB
G
Back
Top