Women shooting while pregnant?
- Thread starter ejpk
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JustinJ
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My wife's OB didn't think the sound would be an issue but it was obviously speculation short of any studies. The chances that the fetus would suffer any hearing damage is pretty much nil but loud, repeated sounds could certainly be stressful. Lead exposure is of course the other concern. I would hold off just to be on the safe side.
BSA1
member
Nothing like a bunch of guys with no medical training and any medical studies telling a pregnant woman not to get firearms training and not to worry about being a victim of a violent crime.
Theohazard
Member
Most primers still have lead in them; that's one of the primary sources of lead exposure when shooting. And she can't control what the other shooters use, so it really doesn't make much difference what she uses.hartcreek said:
Wow. I'm simply amazed at some of your reasoning here. Like Sam1911 said, it's risk vs. reward: There is definitely a risk of lead and noise exposure to the baby, but it's unclear even to the experts how big a risk that is. But the reward is extremely low: Her chances of needing a gun in the next four months are very, very small. And we're not even talking about her carrying a gun, were simply talking about her taking a basic pistol course. So here there is probably a risk, and there's also very little reward.hartcreek said:
But driving is a completely different thing. It's a huge burden to stop riding in cars for 9 months. And with cars, the risk is much less about exhaust and much more about accidents. And there's definitely a risk of having an accident and harming the baby. But there's a tremendous reward of actually having basic transportation for 9 months. So with cars there's a risk but there's also a huge reward.
Playing the radio loud probably isn't good, but do you honestly believe that it would be worse than the noise of sustained gunfire?hartcreek said:
Maybe if you asked a doctor he would report you for endangering woman and child and guns might be taken away. I know it sounds crazy but so did a lot of things 20 years ago that are in place now but doctors are now being used to gather mental condition of patients that own guns
JustinJ
Member
Riiiight. Let's take pragmatic suggestions and twist them into extreme positions completely different from what was actually said. Talk about an either/or logical fallacy. Suggesting a woman wait until after her pregnancy to take a course somehow equates to instructing her not get firearms training ever? One would think this information is obvious, but women aren't born pregnant and pregnancy is not a lifelong condition so the nine month window of gestation actually leaves quite a bit of alternate times to shoot and train.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Are you simply trying to get a rise out of people? I can't imagine you really believe a word you're saying, so I'm beginning to take a dim view of what sounds like lowbrow chain-yanking.
coloradokevin
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In fairness, the self defense argument isn't really totally relevant to this discussion… carrying a firearm for the possibility of ending up in a defensive shooting is quite different than recreational shooting (in the sense that you'll have a VERY strong possibility of never needing to fire that gun).
Sure, practice is important. But, any experienced shooter can go a few months without shooting and still perform with a reasonable degree of competency when they need to.
As such, I think the argument in this thread is more based on whether or not a woman should spend time at the range during a pregnancy (where exposure to gunfire is a certainty, unlike defensive carry, where such exposure is unlikely).
Regardless, the most compelling argument people seem to be making against shooting is that the sound of gunfire could be harmful to a fetus. Once again, I'm no medical expert, so I can't say for sure on that subject. What I can say for sure is that a suppressor on a firearm would eliminate that risk almost entirely, and is certainly an option for a woman who wanted to shoot during pregnancy. But, that would require shooting at a range where no one else was shooting unsuppressed at the same time.
Sure, practice is important. But, any experienced shooter can go a few months without shooting and still perform with a reasonable degree of competency when they need to.
As such, I think the argument in this thread is more based on whether or not a woman should spend time at the range during a pregnancy (where exposure to gunfire is a certainty, unlike defensive carry, where such exposure is unlikely).
Regardless, the most compelling argument people seem to be making against shooting is that the sound of gunfire could be harmful to a fetus. Once again, I'm no medical expert, so I can't say for sure on that subject. What I can say for sure is that a suppressor on a firearm would eliminate that risk almost entirely, and is certainly an option for a woman who wanted to shoot during pregnancy. But, that would require shooting at a range where no one else was shooting unsuppressed at the same time.
JustinJ
Member
Per the link below, an expert on impulse noises in utero, recommends against shooting while pregnant. Cited is a study of sheep which showed definite fetal hearing damage when exposed to high level impulse noise. Obviously it is unknown how well the study translates to human fetuses but there is obviously good reason to suspect the noise of firearms harmful.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=103012
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=103012
DHJenkins
Member
Get a laserlyte system. She'll be able to practice that all-too-important first shot (esp for DA/SA) anytime she wants from the comfort of home.
She'll be a far better shot using that over a single 2-hour range visit.
Plus, no lead.
She'll be a far better shot using that over a single 2-hour range visit.
Plus, no lead.
CaliCoastie
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everyone has their opionions, best i have heard is to consoult with a doctor you trust. My wife and i? we went shooting, havent had anything out of the ordanary happen since, the kids were born, the world still turns. Wife is a acute care and family practice nurse practisioner. she wasent concerned, i wasent.
could something happen? i suspose, but i like to hunt and fish solo also, away from people climbing mountians, fishing cold water in kayaks by myself. life goes on regardless.
best of luck with your choices, she didnt shoot alot but definalty did some. make your choices, try not to ridicule someone elses. you can find studys almost any direction these days on the internet so something to keep in mind.
could something happen? i suspose, but i like to hunt and fish solo also, away from people climbing mountians, fishing cold water in kayaks by myself. life goes on regardless.
best of luck with your choices, she didnt shoot alot but definalty did some. make your choices, try not to ridicule someone elses. you can find studys almost any direction these days on the internet so something to keep in mind.
If she has to shoot whilst pregnant, then I recommend a mask (such as what we wear in the hospital, or what some cyclists wear in traffic) and the use of a suppressed gun.
Obviously she will have to shoot alone or with other shooters who use suppressed guns.
Obviously she will have to shoot alone or with other shooters who use suppressed guns.
alfon99
Member
I don't think there would be any problems with shooting .22 RIFLES. Handguns are much louder.
JustinJ
Member
"...and the use of a suppressed gun."
Hope she had a suppressor already or the kid will be a few months old by the time paperwork comes through.
Hope she had a suppressor already or the kid will be a few months old by the time paperwork comes through.
Jorg Nysgerrig
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You anti-shooting people are starting to sound like the anti-smoking nutjobs. I know plenty of people who started smoking as teenagers and have continued for 40-50 years and don't have cancer or emphysema. Now we've got all these people who aren't even doctors telling kids that smoking is bad.
KarenTOC
Member
I see a business opportunity here: sound baffling maternity underwear.
My wife is currently 6 months pregnant with our first. My wife wants to shoot, but decided against it having done some research, and having spoken with our OBGYN, who by the way, goes shooting with us and is a family friend.
Her reasoning is that there has not been enough research to show what the effects of repeated high-decible sound are on a fetus, and that sound travels differently through water (of which amniotic fluid is mostly comprised). Like tapping on a fish tank. It sounds much louder to the fish than it does to us.
Since she couldn't say it was safe, and there was the obvious question of lead exposure, the decision we all came to was that she would hold off on shooting for the next few months.
As far as self defense goes, have you guys ever met a pregnant woman? Do you have any idea what happens when you provoke one? It's like taking a stick and poking a cape buffalo. Lemme clue you in, if I were a bad guy i'd rather confront an armed guy than an unarmed pregnant woman any day!
My pregnant wife, carrying pepper spray and unrestrained emotions is nothing short of terrifying. If you insight her and get the momma-bear gene on top of that.... whoooo yer' going to have a very bad day indeed.
Her reasoning is that there has not been enough research to show what the effects of repeated high-decible sound are on a fetus, and that sound travels differently through water (of which amniotic fluid is mostly comprised). Like tapping on a fish tank. It sounds much louder to the fish than it does to us.
Since she couldn't say it was safe, and there was the obvious question of lead exposure, the decision we all came to was that she would hold off on shooting for the next few months.
As far as self defense goes, have you guys ever met a pregnant woman? Do you have any idea what happens when you provoke one? It's like taking a stick and poking a cape buffalo. Lemme clue you in, if I were a bad guy i'd rather confront an armed guy than an unarmed pregnant woman any day!
My pregnant wife, carrying pepper spray and unrestrained emotions is nothing short of terrifying. If you insight her and get the momma-bear gene on top of that.... whoooo yer' going to have a very bad day indeed.
coloradokevin
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JustinJ said:"...and the use of a suppressed gun."
Hope she had a suppressor already or the kid will be a few months old by the time paperwork comes through.
Lol, you got me on that one! It should have been fresh on my mind, actually, since I just submitted a Form 4 yesterday.
BSA1
member
SAM1911,
Not at all. Having relatives including mother, mother-in-law and sister work in the health care field, currently working in it myself for the past four years and spending somewhere around 30 years working with some of the most brutal criminals in this country including serial killers such as BTK and absent any medical data stating the risks to the fetus I see no reason for a pregnant woman not to get firearms training provided it is done in moderation. For crying out loud how many low powered rounds are we talking about...50???
As a trained barrister yourself you understand the importance of building your case on facts.
The cold hard fact is women are common targets of crime and a violent attack has been proven many, many, many times over, over and over to cause the death of the unborn child.
But just to satisfy your "low brow chain yanking" concern I will discuss this tomorrow if possible with a Doctor that is a gun buff that I work with.
Not at all. Having relatives including mother, mother-in-law and sister work in the health care field, currently working in it myself for the past four years and spending somewhere around 30 years working with some of the most brutal criminals in this country including serial killers such as BTK and absent any medical data stating the risks to the fetus I see no reason for a pregnant woman not to get firearms training provided it is done in moderation. For crying out loud how many low powered rounds are we talking about...50???
As a trained barrister yourself you understand the importance of building your case on facts.
The cold hard fact is women are common targets of crime and a violent attack has been proven many, many, many times over, over and over to cause the death of the unborn child.
But just to satisfy your "low brow chain yanking" concern I will discuss this tomorrow if possible with a Doctor that is a gun buff that I work with.
Good God.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Normally, I'm reluctant to post after a thread is locked, but I do want to clear up a couple things:
1) I am not a lawyer, and haven't claimed to be one.
2) Post 58 linked to a study that actually did show fetal hearing damage from loud impulse noises.
3) When folks ask a general practitioner (family doctor) a question like this, make sure they are answering based on some form of medical research they've read, and not out of general opinion. Doctors are not automatically knowledgeable about all areas of medicine and of the great variety of medical research. If you ask your family doctor a question like this, and they answer firmly either way -- ask they how they found that answer and what it is based on.
That's all.
1) I am not a lawyer, and haven't claimed to be one.
2) Post 58 linked to a study that actually did show fetal hearing damage from loud impulse noises.
3) When folks ask a general practitioner (family doctor) a question like this, make sure they are answering based on some form of medical research they've read, and not out of general opinion. Doctors are not automatically knowledgeable about all areas of medicine and of the great variety of medical research. If you ask your family doctor a question like this, and they answer firmly either way -- ask they how they found that answer and what it is based on.
That's all.
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