Is it safe to use a tanning bed when pregnant?

FYI - I haven't..


I've heard so many horror stories about it, but when I was tanning, there was no warning on the tanning bed - only that you may get skin discoloration.

Is it safe to use a tanning bed when pregnant?
Most obstetricians will discourage tanning beds (along with hot tubs and saunas) during the first trimester. This is because tanning beds increase your body temperature and overheating in the mother can cause spinal malformations to the fetus.





Also, during pregnancy, a woman's skin tends to be more sensitive posing an increased risk to the mother of burning and, later in life, melanoma.





UV rays are also thought to cause a problem with folic acid...leading to a deficiency.





With all that in mind, that tan just doesn't seem to be worth the risk but only the pregnant woman can make that choice for herself.





As backup to what I have typed:


http://www.tanning-advisor.com/pregnancy...
Reply:I wouldn't that sounds TOO risky.
Reply:No it isn't a good idea to use a tanning bed while pregnant. It can harm the unborn fetus.
Reply:do you wanna cook your baby? I think it would be the same as a microwave.
Reply:I'm not sure but don't. It's probably very harmful because of the rays, Get a good bronzer...they really look good.
Reply:No.
Reply:NO NO NO NO
Reply:I don't think so. I mean you shouldn't dye your hair cause of chemicals so I don't think that would be good either. Use lotions or sprays don't take the risk.
Reply:It's NEVER safe 2 use a tanning bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... :)
Reply:NO, NO, NO. Please just wait until you have the baby. What if it did cause some harm, then how would you feel? It is summer, get out and swim or do something to get you some color. try a Mystic Tan and there also great sunless tanners on the market now. Please. I just had a miscarriage for an unknown reason. Don't cause possible unnecessary harm to your baby. The tan would never, ever be worth it.
Reply:i wouldn't do it, you would be exposing your unborn baby to harmful UV rays, plus it could compicate your pregnancy and could damage your unborn babies organs. DON"T DO IT!!!
Reply:is there such a thing as TOO risky when it comes to the health of your unborn baby? It is either a risk or not and tanning is a risk. Think about it you are shooting rays almost directly on your baby. If it harms you imagine what its doing to him/her. I say there is no risk worth taking during pregnancy if there is a question just dont do it plain and simple
Reply:tanning beds aren't good for you when your not pregnant, they worse if you are
Reply:no it is not safe to use a tanning bed. or sitting out in the sun for a while to tan do neither
Reply:I wouldnt do it is to scary you must want to fry your baby or something. U might hurt her/him u mite even kill her/him. DONT DO IT!!!!!!!
Reply:IT AINT GONA COOK THE BABY DUMBY i tanned while i was prego and my son is fine. i tanned up until 7 mos. then i was too fat and i think the tanning bed owners knew i was prego so i stopped going before they made me stop lol





anyways my sister tanned with her youngest son wh ois now 18 mos. and he is fine.





i duno why they say not to do it but we did and our kids are fine
Reply:My doctor told me no tanning bed what so ever (I didnt want to go in a tanning bed eighter but I had asked about tanning). She said that the ultralights could be harmful to the baby.....she did tell me that there was nothing wrong with tanning in the regular sun as long as I drank plenty of water, keep my stomach covered (which I never should my stomach before pregnancy I sure wasnt going to when I was pregnant), and to use sunblock. She told me that going to the pool was very good for me and the baby just make sure not to over due it in the heat. Anyway....I do think tanning beds should put a warning on there...I would think that they would have too. Anyways thats what I know about the subject..
Reply:LOL! As Rainbo says, it's never safe.





But it is no more dangerous to your baby than you walking in the sun in a bathing suit! For heaven's sake, it's LIGHT!





Can light harm you? Yup, it sure can. Too much UV radiation (light) leads to melanoma, a particularly deadly cancer. But it is no MORE harmful coming from a tanning bed than from the sun. It just takes a lot less time to overdo it in the tanning bed. Unless you have transparent skin and a transparent uterus, though, it won't affect the baby at all.





For your baby's sake, avoid both. He or she will want you around to attend hir wedding.
Reply:MY DOCTOR SAID I COULD TAN 10 MINUTES A WEEK!! i was always tanning like 15 minutes a night and i am naturally dark complected so that might have something to do with it. The ultraviolet rays do not go past your skin*(ONTO THE BABY) the only thing is if it raises your body temperature it could harm your baby . but taking a walk outside in the heat could also raise your body temperature, or being sick or having a fever! it does not BAKE your baby, people are stupid i swear. It does increase your risk of getting the 'pregnancy mask' and the line down your tummy though!! i only tanned a few times since ive been pregnant. It kept me from getting PALE but once summer came i never got in the tanning bed again, sittin outside for ten minutes gave me all the color i needed!


Just because your are pregnant does not mean you have to quit everything and became a pale fat woman lol you can still be beautiful with a nice tan!! i mean come on, everyone griped at me for wanting to keep my nice tan and everyone griped for dying your hair- when the color turned out better than before i got pregnant!!!!! goodness!





and one more thing, my doctor's been deliverin babies for 30 years. i didnt even ask em if i could tan, he seen my little bunny on my stomach (from tannin) and i was like 'yeah i cant tan anymore:( and he was like ya you can but only tan 10 minutes a week.
Reply:When I was pregnant, my doctor said I could use the tanning bed after the first trimester. Which I did and my daughter is 3 and fine.