Shooting While Pregnant

[Dnaltrop]

As someone being monitored for his OWN excessive lead levels (My round count exponentially exceeds my Post count) , and children spanning 2-10 years now...

No it's not "extreme" to change your clothes after a 3 hour session at an indoor range. Less of a concern at an Outdoor one.

Babies suck on clothing, they drool, they lick, they teethe, and they bury their faces into your clothes and fall asleep in a sweaty mass on your chest.

Why?

Because they love you. they don't care if you taste "sweet". Minute amounts of Lead can cause long term developmental issues when ingested.

My wife had no trouble avoiding the range until she was done breastfeeding. She went nuts on the Sushi too that same day.

 

[Serenity]

When I was pregnant I asked my doctor about going to an airshow and he gave me the go-ahead. I know women who have been given the thumbs up for concerts, as well.

The lead issue, though, brings to mind this quote (I'm borrowing it from Lee Lapin):

It's not the odds, it's the stakes.

 

[nyrifleman]

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!

But ...usually, for most folks ... it's a temporary condition.

My wife is pregnant now and doesn't shoot, but I don't think there's any way she's staying away from the range once the child is here. In fact, she's been suggesting we have a "mom-goes-shooting day" where I stay at home with the child and she goes to the range. I've no objection: it's incredibly precious having a wife who approves of and shares my hobby.

When I was pregnant I asked my doctor about going to an airshow and he gave me the go-ahead. I know women who have been given the thumbs up for concerts, as well.

I know a lot more shooters who are deaf than concert-goers or people who go to airshows. The regular exposure without ear protection adds up... and there's no way to put ear protection on a baby

 

[JohnnyK]

yes there is a way to put ear protection on a baby.... I am also a drummer and my 2 year old daughter loves to beat the crap out of drums also... she wears jr ear muffs to protect her hearing... they make earmuffs for every size including infants!!! check out amazon or google jr earmuffs...

 

[fallout mike]

People should do whatever they want to feel safe, but this is very low risk. Driving while pregnant is more dangerous. Unborn babies are 4x more likely to die in a car crash than babies in car seats. Mercury levels in newborns is many many times worse a problem than this. Do you move away from power plants? Did you get rid of your cats when your wife got pregnant? Did you put stress on your wife while she was pregnant? All of these are known to be more problematic than shooting guns. I've been shooting guns all my life and have never had lead poisoning. And I'm not saying don't be safe. My wife and I took extreme caution with our pregnancies. I'm just playing devils advocate.

 

[nyrifleman]

yes there is a way to put ear protection on a baby.... I am also a drummer and my 2 year old daughter loves to beat the crap out of drums also... she wears jr ear muffs to protect her hearing... they make earmuffs for every size including infants!!! check out amazon or google jr earmuffs...

Sorry, I meant an unborn baby.

My wife and I did briefly discuss wrapping a big roll of fiberglass insulation around her so that she could still shoot. But we figured it wouldn't be very comfortable