Guns and pregnancy

SusieBW · June 2014

I just got an invitation to a Women's Day at the Range event. In September. My family doesn't own guns and we don't hunt or anything like that, so events like this are the only opportunity I have to shoot, and I have really loved it the few times I've done it. I'm not even sure I'll be available to go on the day of the event, but I wonder if there are any reasons why one should not go shooting at 38 weeks pregnant. I suppose it's probably no louder than the rock concert I went to at 37 weeks with DD. I could totally google this, but I know there are a few here from hunting families who might have some input.

NavyFlyer · June 2014

I'm an avid shooter as a hobby, and talked to my OB about it. I went a few times first tri and early second tri. The most important thing is to only go to an outdoor range (indoor ranges are much louder) and try not to come in contact with the ammo to minimize lead exposure. Wear long sleeves as so your expended rounds don't hit your arms when they fly out. And I definitely don't spend all day at the range watching other people shoot. I go, shoot my rounds, and leave, in order to minimize noise exposure.

With that being said, I would not go at 38 weeks. I may go once more in the next few weeks, but it just doesn't feel right to go when baby is so big, with hearing so developed and such a thin layer of skin protecting him in an environment where I choose to wear double hearing protection or I get uncomfortable.

NavyFlyer · June 2014

Just realized you kept talking about a "hunting" event. I should have specified, I have limited myself to pistol ranges and pistol shooting. Rifle / shotgun was not a good idea, according to my OB. Much louder and the recoil is very jarring against your body.

I wouldn't risk it. You can go shooting after baby gets here even if your family doesn't own guns! Most ranges will rent you whatever weapon you want to shoot on an hourly basis.

Not trying to stomp your fun at all :0), I love shooting and still concealed carry while preggo. Just not worth it in my opinion.

TheOtherJacobsons · June 2014

I did research this a few months ago. I think guns give out something like 140 GHz and prolonged exposure to that level of sound could cause hearing problems for LO. However, since you won't be doing this for a living, a couple of hours will be fine.

bumpuser10309732 · June 2014

I like to shoot and I personally haven't done it since being pregnant. I think just the lead and I feel guilty wearing ear protection and then making LO listen to the gun go off.

Emerald27 · June 2014

Guns are much much louder than a rock concert. You can "comfortably" hang out fairly near the speakers at a concert for a little while, but need special ear plugs for guns.

One ear plug fell out one day when I was target shooting and I about jumped out of my skin.

I would not shoot so late in pregnancy just because of the sound. If you do go, wear long sleeved and shower as soon as you can to avoid led absorption into your skin. That's the only other risk I think you'd face, but that's a pretty minor one.

MrMrsandBaby · June 2014

I don't know anything about shooting, so I have no advice there but call the place putting it on. They may have their own restrictions on pregnancy.

wearenutts · June 2014

I agree with @NavyFlyer I would stick to small handguns (nothing bigger then a .38) IF you decide to do this event. I wouldn't risk shooting rifles or shotguns with the recoil and noise. Shooting is just as much a physical as it is mental.

Emerald27 · June 2014

wearenutts said:
I agree with @NavyFlyer I would stick to small handguns (nothing bigger then a .38) IF you decide to do this event. I wouldn't risk shooting rifles or shotguns with the recoil and noise. Shooting is just as much a physical as it is mental.

Aren't bigger pistols better for recoil than smaller ones? I seem to remember being told that the heavier the pistol, the less recoil it has. :P This is how ignorant I am about guns. Just curious!

jesslinnn · June 2014

I love to go shooting but I don't go when I'm pregnant. Maybe early on but like @NavyFlyer‌ said I wouldn't feel comfortable going so late when baby's hearing is developed. You never know how that could affect LO's little ears.

wearenutts · June 2014

Emerald27 said:

I agree with @NavyFlyer I would stick to small handguns (nothing bigger then a .38) IF you decide to do this event. I wouldn't risk shooting rifles or shotguns with the recoil and noise. Shooting is just as much a physical as it is mental.
Aren't bigger pistols better for recoil than smaller ones? I seem to remember being told that the heavier the pistol, the less recoil it has. :P This is how ignorant I am about guns. Just curious!

Not really. The larger the round the harder the kick. My husbands .45 has a bigger recoil than my .38 and both of those have a bigger kick than say a .22. Now if you factor in gun weight, that is a little different. Say you have 2 guns of the same caliber but they are different makers and one is heavier. The heavier gun may not seem to have as big a recoil as the lighter.

Emerald27 · June 2014

wearenutts said:

Emerald27 said:

wearenutts said:
I agree with @NavyFlyer I would stick to small handguns (nothing bigger then a .38) IF you decide to do this event. I wouldn't risk shooting rifles or shotguns with the recoil and noise. Shooting is just as much a physical as it is mental.
Aren't bigger pistols better for recoil than smaller ones? I seem to remember being told that the heavier the pistol, the less recoil it has. :P This is how ignorant I am about guns. Just curious!

Not really. The larger the round the harder the kick. My husbands .45 has a bigger recoil than my .38 and both of those have a bigger kick than say a .22. Now if you factor in gun weight, that is a little different. Say you have 2 guns of the same caliber but they are different makers and one is heavier. The heavier gun may not seem to have as big a recoil as the lighter.

Makes sense...yeah; when I was thinking size, I totally thought of weight and not calibre.

SusieBW · June 2014

Thanks for the input guys. The lead thing hadn't occurred to me at all. The range day would be for both pistols and rifles and shotguns, but I could probably only shoot handguns if I wanted to. And it is an outdoor range. I'll have to think about it. Like I said, I'm not even sure if I'm free the day of the event, so it may be a moot point anyway. And whoever said the range might have their own restirctions - that's a good point, too.

NavyFlyer · June 2014

wearenutts said:
Not really. The larger the round the harder the kick. My husbands .45 has a bigger recoil than my .38 and both of those have a bigger kick than say a .22. Now if you factor in gun weight, that is a little different. Say you have 2 guns of the same caliber but they are different makers and one is heavier. The heavier gun may not seem to have as big a recoil as the lighter.

The woman speaks the truth! Lots of factors. We have a 9mm glock 17 that my husband lightened the trigger pull on, and that thing is smooth as butter, and kicks less than my little smith and wesson M&P compact 9mm that I carry.

I wouldn't be worried about which pistol would be ok to shoot, none of them are going to jar your body like a rifle or shotgun. I'd feel comfortable shooting a .45

I wouldn't sit around even at an outdoor range and listen to others shoot shotgun or rifle though.

Syllessa · June 2014

I'm late to this, but I wanted to answer anyway.

I'd go, but then FI and I both shoot competitively all summer (I only shoot every other Sunday). I do handguns with my 9mm Firestar, and he competes with rifles. My only concession to lead exposure is having FI pre-load all my clips for me. I wear heavy earplugs while on the firing line, but switch to lighter foam ones when my turn is over. Everyone watching/waiting sits 30ish feet behind the shooters and it's not as loud there. My OB is also one of the rifle competitors.

Honestly, I'm more concerned with staying cool and hydrated out there for 4 hours at a time, and making sure the only bathroom isn't infested with spiders.

Maggie6424 · June 2014

Most ranges where I live won't let you shoot if you're visibly pregnant.

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