Has anyone else's doctor not permitted spray tanning? I went to the tanning salon on Monday and signed a 6 mo committment to a higher level membership to allow unlimited spray tans. I went in this morning and they ask me to get a permission note from my doctor. No problem right? So I go to the dr.'s office and ask for a note. The nurse practitioner was very nice about it, but she said they couldn't give pregnant ladies permission for even spray tans. The fumes are too harsh. She said the booths you walk into do not allow for good enough ventilation. So I'm in a panic because i just signed that contract committing me to 6 mos. Luckily it all worked out because she gave me a letter that allowed me to put my contract on hold and if anything happens I cancel anytime with no fee.
But honestly, I had no idea!!! I know it's been 4 years, but back then everyone I knew that was pregnant was spray tanning. I haven't known anyone that was pregnant recently so I guess that's why I wasn't aware. Is this news to anyone else?
Re: Did anyone else know this?
I did not know that but I don't spray or bed tan. I know having a tan is kinda important to some girls but I will never understand it. not being snarky.
Photo/Family Blog
Also not trying to be snarky, but it would seem like common sense to me that the fumes would be questionable.
I love to have a tan, but the thought of it hasn't crossed my mind since my BFP.
Yep. I had definitely heard that.
Any time you're exposing yourself to chemicals that can be inhaled or ingested, you risk those chemicals getting into your blood stream and affecting the baby. Tanning chemicals aren't really good for full-grown adults to breathe in, let alone fetuses.
Mama's Clone - 07/18/12
Well Nat I would say that if I had such a pretty smile and skin as you have I might feel the same way.
Some of us aren't so blessed. But I don't agree that every pregnant woman would consider it common sense that all things we inhale are going to harm our babies. As I said I know several women (that happen to be well-educated, intelligent women) that spray tanned while they were pregnant.
And on that note, does that mean we can't use nail polish or nail polish remover, pump gas into the tanks of our cars or anything like that where we would be inhaling harmful fumes? I'm glad other women have such amazing common sense, but I'm still okay with myself on this one.
What!!! You can't spray tan during pregnancy!!!!!!
GIFSoup
I think it is logical or common sense to avoid put any unnecessary chemicals on or in your body during pregnancy. I think a lot of people would find tanning in November unnecessary, but if you want to dye your hair every 2 months I think that is fine.
lol
OMGeeeeee that is the cutest picture of Gavin ever has his hair always been that blond.
OP, FWIW, when I was pregnant the last go-around there were a TON of people talking about getting spray tans on the tri boards. I think it's a "varies by Dr." kind of thing. Especially if your salon is really well ventilated. I guess it doesn't matter so much for you now since your Dr. won't give you a note, but I think some of the other ladies are being overly snarky about this one.
What does your Dr. have to say about the tanning lotions? That will help to get a little bit of color. My skin looks like crap when I'm super pale too.
Thanks!! Actually no, his hair started out brown but has gotten lighter over the past couple of months. FIL has blonde blonde hair so I think that's where it's coming from.
As was mentioned to you previously, it's not so much the fumes so much as it is the ventilation issue. If the tanning booth were well ventilated I'd be less likely to say it was an issue. As long as you don't paint your nails or pump your gas in a closed, confined space it's fine.
Also, there's really no need to get snippy. The ladies in this thread have been REALLY nice to you compared to some other responses I've seen on tanning questions.
I regular bed tanned for only 10 minutes at a time with my first. I was also 19 then and just really wanted to keep my tan. I never continued it in my other pregnancy. I won't do it this time, only because it isn't important to me anymore. My doctor said it is completely okay because the rays do not go further than the skin. Also, the only worry with bed tanning while pregnant is overheating. I was told as long as the fan is on and you don't stay in for more than 10 minutes it was fine.
I worked at a tanning salon and I took the classes to become certified. I studied every level and they agree, that it doesn't go further than the skin and can't harm the baby.
I hate when people use this argument. The day your baby is born, would you give him a salad? No? Then you probably shouldn't eat those now.
I had no idea either, don't feel bad!
I didn't know that, but since I'm even staying away from nail salons in first tri (honestly, I couldn't deal with the fumes from a m/s standpoint, forget anything else), I wouldn't spray tan due to the fumes anyway. And I wouldn't tan because of the overheating issues, either.
Do I think any of these things *really* are likely to impact a pregnancy? No. But having had a loss, trust me, if anything goes wrong with a pregnancy -- you want to know you did everything 'right'. I can't picture any of the things that we give up being worth the potential of guilt on the back end.
July 3rd, 2012 ~ Hang in there sweetheart, we can't wait to meet you!