|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
September 29, 2011, 12:48 AM | #1 |
Junior member
Join Date: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1
|
Is it ok for my pregnant girlfriend to still shoot?
So at 1:20 AM 9/27/2011 I found out my girlfriend is 6 to 7 weeks pregnant so I'm going to be a father... I'm pretty excited and so is she, but my girlfriend asked me a question that I'm really not sure about the answer to;
Is it OK for pregnant women to still use this kind of and if so, how late into the pregnancy? (yes, she's that awesome to wonder if she's still going to be able to shoot the Glock lol) I figured that there are enough guys and females on here that at least a few people should have some experience with this subject. She (and I) would appreciate any advice and / or wisdom that anyone can give. Thank you in advance and as always, Have fun and stay safe! Last edited by Mike Irwin; October 1, 2011 at 08:32 AM. Reason: Remove spam link |
September 29, 2011, 12:51 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
|
You should do a search for pregnant shooting hunting etc, as there has been at least one fairly recent thread that went into some detail about this topic.
Most of us will say no, she should not shoot while pregnant. Primary reasons are: 1) Potential lead exposure is bad for the fetus. 2) Definite loud sound exposure is bad for the fetus. (Amneotic fluid is not a good sound suppressor.) Most ob/gyn's that responded seemed to feel it would be a bad idea. Some people will disagree. I noted that none in the previous thread who thought it was ok were doctors. Check for yourself. Good luck, M Edit: Good luck with the baby, not just the search. And congratulations. Edit 2: I ran the search function for "pregnant shoot" and found the recent thread I was talking about: http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...pregnant+shoot Last edited by MLeake; September 29, 2011 at 12:56 AM. |
September 29, 2011, 01:04 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 28, 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,231
|
She really needs to consult with her Doctor on this. Grats on the baby. This is probably one of those things left to a professional and not an Internet Forum. I know that there are some noise regulations for work areas for pregnant women. Not to mention exposure to lead. Like I said these hazards should be addressed to a medical doctor. You probably don't want to clean any firearms around her either.
__________________
Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member Last edited by Eghad; September 29, 2011 at 01:13 AM. |
September 29, 2011, 01:16 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 24, 2011
Posts: 148
|
Congrats on the new addition!!
My wife and I just went through the same situation. She loves to shoot and range time is one of the hobbies we share together. I'm not 100% sure weather or not its ok to do, we had alot of mixed responses to the same question your asking. So she sat it out...last weekend was her first time back at the range. It didn't take her long to get back to her usuall groups at the 25yrd line. |
September 29, 2011, 01:16 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 29, 2010
Location: The ATL (OTP)
Posts: 3,944
|
Yes, ask the Doctor, but lead is a major issue for children.
__________________
A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman |
September 29, 2011, 01:44 AM | #6 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 3, 2010
Posts: 1,231
|
We had this discussion previously on TFL. There are more issues than lead exposure. Take a look at this prior thread and tell your girlfriend to not worry about guns till after the baby is happy and healthy and doing well after the boy/girl is born. I would definitely NOT let my wife shoot while pregnant and as a doctor I would not approve shooting for any pregnant patients.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450587 |
September 29, 2011, 06:28 AM | #7 |
Staff
Join Date: September 25, 2008
Location: CONUS
Posts: 18,434
|
Previous such discussions have all concluded the answer is "No." And many of those discussions have included doctors.
|
September 29, 2011, 07:12 AM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 31, 2011
Location: Southeast, USA
Posts: 350
|
Quote:
__________________
Good character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. |
|
September 29, 2011, 11:20 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 5, 2008
Location: Mid Tennessee
Posts: 357
|
There are Dr's who have gone to both sides of this. Personally, I don't think the pressure waves on the amniotic fluid can help a fetus at all. Lead and heavy metal factors aside, I think I'd stay far away from a range during pregnancy.
__________________
It's good to be the king. |
September 29, 2011, 11:24 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
Part of the problem is that there is not any good data, and no way to obtain the data.
It would be unethical to subject pregnant women to something that even MIGHT harm their fetus. |
September 29, 2011, 11:43 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 24, 2009
Location: Lost Prairie Montana
Posts: 391
|
There's a ton of data. Follow Alaska 444's link or google it.
__________________
www.swissproductsllc.com An'' ole' Brer' Rabbit, he set in de bushes, he watch an' he wait, lay low an' he don' say nuffin' |
September 29, 2011, 11:50 AM | #12 |
Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
|
Even a small amount of organic lead can be absolutely devastating to a developing child.
Shooting ranges are loaded with organic lead, primarily from the primers. There are lead-free primers on the market, but as others have said, the sound and pressure pulse from shooting might not be good for the child.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. |
September 29, 2011, 12:41 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 7, 2010
Location: Northern, UT
Posts: 1,162
|
Should be fine...If it's silent and lead free. AirSoft and BBs come to mind.
__________________
Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke |
September 29, 2011, 01:09 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW MO
Posts: 34
|
I would put it in the category of caffeine: not necessarily life-threatening, but certainly not healthy. In other words, if she needs to shoot something dangerous during gestation, it's nothing to panic over, but as a hobby it should certainly be avoided.
There are lots of things that get sacrificed during pregnancy, but lucky for her, women tend to be good shots naturally, so she'll be back in practice really quick afterwards. Also: Congrats!!! |
September 29, 2011, 01:15 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 30, 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 5,309
|
Quote:
As others have pointed out even a small amount of lead exposure can lead to serious health issues for a fetus or developing child and that does not even take into account the damage to its developing ears. Would you subject yourself to toxic levels of lead or shoot without any hearing protection?
__________________
-The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle |
|
September 29, 2011, 01:29 PM | #16 |
Junior member
Join Date: April 21, 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,555
|
I would not want to be inside your girlfriend's womb while she's at a range and firing...
Lead is not so good for an adult but just a little lead goes a long long way toward screwing up an embryonic brain. And your child is going to have a rough time overcoming flinch when he or she finally gets a gun in his or her hands... |
September 29, 2011, 01:35 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,497
|
From the link provided by OP, I think he is referring to Airsoft.
In that case, no, it's plastic - that should be fine, provided she is not getting shot with it. As far as actual firearms, I would say that between the noise and the lead, its a bad idea. But best to consult a professional. Congrats, by the way
__________________
"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott Last edited by Stressfire; September 29, 2011 at 01:43 PM. |
September 29, 2011, 01:48 PM | #18 | |
Member
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW MO
Posts: 34
|
Quote:
|
|
September 29, 2011, 01:51 PM | #19 | |
Member
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW MO
Posts: 34
|
Quote:
|
|
September 29, 2011, 01:53 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 16, 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,497
|
Gotta read the fine print, took me a sec to realize too, so I edited.
__________________
"The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank" - Montgomery Scott |
September 29, 2011, 01:54 PM | #21 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 30, 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 5,309
|
Quote:
__________________
-The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle |
|
September 29, 2011, 02:15 PM | #22 |
Member
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW MO
Posts: 34
|
There are women out there who won't wear a seatbelt while pregnant because it might 'squish' the baby. So you can't really write anything off as obvious.
|
September 29, 2011, 03:48 PM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 29, 2004
Posts: 3,351
|
Quote:
Fomr the first hot on Google "Shooting While Pregnant: Dangerous or Not? By Elizabeth Kennedy and Fabrice Czarnecki, M.D. Unfortunately, there are no definitive studies that clearly answerthis question. http://iweb.tntech.edu/cpardue/pregnant.html There are no actual experiments that meet even the lowest standard of medicine. Anyone who even tried to run such a test would never get funding or sponsorship. The chance of concluding from actual fetal damage that shooting while pregnant is a horrible ethics problem. Some questions are just to risky to try and answer empirically. |
|
September 29, 2011, 04:11 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 4, 2010
Posts: 820
|
Is it bad for the baby? Probably
Is it good for it? Definitely not. |
September 29, 2011, 04:18 PM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 13, 2005
Location: Castro Valley, CA
Posts: 132
|
I personally wouldn't risk it. If anything were to retard prenatal development, you, your girlfriend, and your child will have to live with the consequences for the rest of your lives.
There's just too much at stake. I'm not a medical professional, but I'd advise against your girl participating in any shooting activities until she no longer has to pump or breastfeed. I know it's a long wait, but I'm sure you wouldn't want to jeopardize your child's health, right? You might always wanna shower after each range trip before spending time with her. |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|