There are lots of things we worry about when pregnant -- dyeing our hair, polishing our nails, going to a rock concert, having anal sex -- but I never thought about if shooting a gun was safe during pregnancy.
One CafeMom wanted to know and many gave their thoughts....
- You are more clumsy when pregnant, so not a good idea to be handling a gun.
- The noise may be too loud for baby, especially later in pregnancy, and it can startle him.
- It's illegal in some states to be on a shooting range when pregnant.
- There is no problem with it if you are careful.
- No because of the lead in the gun powder.
It seems there aren't any in-depth studies done on this, but in this article written by Elizabeth Kennedy and Fabrice Czarnecki, M.D, Shooting While Pregnant: Dangerous or Not?, several doctors are questioned.
The doctors were contacted with the question of if it was safe for a law enforcement student to attend a firearms training course. They all agreed that there was no reason why a woman couldn't shoot at a lead-free range with frangible bullets -- aka bullets that disintegrate upon impact and do not ricochet.
The author, shooting experts, and doctors also suggested that if you must shoot, to follow these guidelines:
- Discuss with your doctor first.
- Use lead-free ammo (with lead-free primers).
- Shoot outdoors (to reduce exposure to noise and chemicals).
- Shoot the smallest possible number of rounds.
- Wear a respirator.
- Wash hands carefully (three times) with cold water.
- Do not drink/eat within one hour after shooting.
- Use a silencer when possible.
- Wear heavy clothing and or soft body armor covering the abdomen.
One lieutenant interviewed raised the following point: If you wouldn't bring your newborn baby to stand three feet away from someone shooting on a range, why would you take a baby that's in utero?
What do you think of shooting while pregnant? Would you go?
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Comments 11
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I'm trying with all of my might to hold back all of the snarky comments that are popping into my brain right now. They're firing left and right (no pun intended).
I went hunting while I was pregnant. The Dr. discussed everything with me and gave me the ok. I didn't end up shooting anything and I think I only went 3 times but I swear if a decent deer would have crossed my path I would have.
I am an advid hunter but i wouldn't have gone hunting while pregnant. I think it would be just too physically exhausting. I agree the sounds would just be too loud.
I feel like people like to worry over much about everything. I target practice one evening out of every month. Now I was not able to do it in my last 2 months but I was on bedrest and it was all I could do to make it to the bathroom! We have not taken the baby out when we do it yet, more because I don't want the bugs messing with her. If you just use your brain and take precautions I don't see the big deal.
I'm with aurorabunny.
I'll also add that military shooting ranges have to be cleaned frequently and in a special way, and mu husband's clothes washed before he touches anything or anything touches him because of lead.
Probably would be safe if someone were attacking you. Otherwise, I'd avoid it. Kind of like how I've ridden horses for 33 years, but I'm not doing it while pregnant. Despite being an expert, it's too much of a risk.
Never really thought about it that hard. I never shot a gun during the last two pregnancies, but I think during my first i did. Maybe that's why he has selective hearing, lol.
While in the military, I was not allowed on a range while pregnant. So if the military acknowledges that it's not a good idea, then so should civilians. Geeze.
I stopped going to the shooting range once I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want my daughter being born and being afraid of loud noises like my little brother was for years (my stepmom went to a July 4th baseball game 2 days before he was born and my brother HATED July 4th for years because of the loud noises). I ended up going when I was about 7 months, we had DH's grandparents down and they wanted to come with DH so I figured I would just tag along, just hung out in the car waiting, probably 50 feet away, and when DH started shooting his .10 gauge, my daughter went crazy! I had to park farther away before she calmed down!
I'm pregnant again, haven't gone to the range in a while, but still have my .38 ready if I NEED to use it (and unfortunately almost did last night!), but I won't shoot anything or be around a gun range unless there was a real situation that I couldn't avoid. It's just like how I won't get on DH's motorcycle right now:)
I am not interested in shooting pregnant or not:)