views on sunbed use during pregnancy!!

[umbongo]

Your skin is much more sensitive to the sun, high factor protection is needed. Chloasma often occurs in pregnancy and because I'm unlucky already get this anyway (its darkening patches of skin, usually on face, made worse by the sun).
I'm praying it doesn't get really bad for new as I'm very self conscious about it every summer.
As for sunbeds, my opinion is that you're stupid to do something that increases your risk of cancer just for a tan, and that's my opinion so sorry if anyone is offended by that!
At the end of the day you have to make personal decisions as to what risks you'll take but being pregnant is a blessing and I personally couldn't do anything to endanger my baby. Everyone has to judge what is an acceptable risk to them, but you're responsible for another life so I would definitely judge people who treat their bodies badly while pregnant as it's just unacceptable. And I mean excessive drinking, smoking, drugs etc not the odd McFlurry!
Xx

 

[cosmicgirl]

Sunbeds are to be avoided in pregnancy as they cause an increase in body temperature which can be dangerous (and very uncomfortable) to the baby. This is why saunas and hot baths are to be avoided. The rise in temperature also causes a change in blood pressure. This can also harm baby and mother.
There is also the subject of skin sensitivity and the cancer risk. But if mothers are chiding to use sunbeds then they are taking that risk themselves, I'm more concerned with risks to the growing baby.
I'm sure the new laws regarding sun beds state that pregnant ladies aren't allowed to use them? Maybe someone could clarify.
Just get a spray tan girls, it's safer and your skin won't end up looking like an old leather boot by the time you're 35! x

 

[Zazu]

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/956.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=131

It says there is a possible link between using sunbeds and folic acid deficiency, that could definately harm the baby. I know it's not proven but not worth the risk in my opinion x

 

[Rachel80]

I love a tan & I hate being fat and white but I am making do with spray & fake tans at the moment. As soon as babe is born I'm getting my semi perm brows done, my extensions done, I'm jumping back on the sunbed, treadmill & cracking open the champers! Lol x

 

[redbear]

I love a tan & I hate being fat and white but I am making do with spray & fake tans at the moment. As soon as babe is born I'm getting my semi perm brows done, my extensions done, I'm jumping back on the sunbed, treadmill & cracking open the champers! Lol x

You will deserve it!! Its not the easiest to give up things but if i wasnt willing to do it i wouldnt have had a baby. xx

 

[cosmicgirl]

I love a tan & I hate being fat and white but I am making do with spray & fake tans at the moment. As soon as babe is born I'm getting my semi perm brows done, my extensions done, I'm jumping back on the sunbed, treadmill & cracking open the champers! Lol x

You go girl! Mums make many sacrifices, baby comes first but yeah, once baby is here get it all done! x

 

[Nikki1985]

What a load of rubbish, I've just come back from a week in Greece at 28 degrees and my skin wasnt any more sensitive than any other time (and I'm reasonably pale, certainly not olivey). I wore factor 15. Its a wonder civilisation in hot climates has managed to exist for all these years if the sun heats your body temperature up to make it too hot for the baby. Deary me, I've heard it all now! lol

PS. Most spray tans clearly state on them 'not suitable for pregnant women' - your skin is the biggest organ in your body, and shoving a load of chemical in your pores is definately worse than five minutes under a set of light bulbs!

I'll tell you what doctors HAVE proven is harmful - stressing and fussing and flapping over every possible thing that 'might' be a risk to your baby. The worst thing for your baby is stress or worry. 'Why take the risk' you ask? Well I would take the risk because a) I am an intelligent person who has calculated the risk and decided it is a fairly safe risk to take, which will make me happy, which will make the baby happy because mummy is calm and happy. Constantly thinking 'oooh Id best not, why take the risk' - is not a healthy way to live. Chill out, enjoy your pregnancy, civilisation has managed to evolve for thousands of years before midwives came along with textbooks advising against everything and anything that has been subject to ANY possible medical research because if they didnt and something happened you would sue them for not telling you. It all comes down to the Britidsh litigigation system.

If you went on a sunbed and something did happen to that 1 in a 10 million women, and you found your midwife knew there was a risk and hadnt warned you, you would have grounds for medical negligence. So it's better towarn you about everything and cover their own backside, just in case. In the meantime you spend 9 months fretting over a prawn sandwich or the fact the weathers managed to yank itself above 15 degrees

 

[cosmicgirl]

Who are you trying to convince?
If you're happy with your decision to use sunbeds when pregnant then up to you but we are all entitled to give our opinion. The thread states - what do you think?
I personally didn't use fake tab when pregnant and sunbeds are not for me. I won't risk skin damage for anything.

 

[cosmicgirl]

And they aren't just normal light bulbs so I don't know why you keep saying that!

 

[cosmicgirl]

Although there are no known dangers of using tanning lotions, they can sometimes cause an allergic reaction. For this reason, it's advisable not to use fake tan during pregnancy, as changes in hormone levels can make the skin more sensitive than normal. If you do use fake tan, always test the product on a small area of skin first to see if you have a reaction.

From NHS website.
So fake tan is safe if you're ok from patch test!

 

[Nikki1985]

Can you not see the bigger picture? The NHS has no choice but to advise you against everything that could possibly pose a risk, it doesnt mean there is any proof, it just means they don't want to be culpable if something happens to that ONE person and they get sued.

We live in a society where a police officer sues to government because she tripped on a pavement while running after a criminal. My point is, dont read everything the NHS publishes and take it as gospel, they have a legal agenda to consider and will always rather advise not to do something that to do it. Imagine if they said 'yes ladies, sunbeds are safe' and then one idiot went on for 30 minutes and got third degree burns and said 'well the NHS told me it was safe" then the NHS would have a £50,000 law suit to pay out

 

[cosmicgirl]

I am well aware of the legalities of the nhs advice, I work for the nhs.
I chose that particular article because most ladies recognise the advice given and trust it. I could have linked to dozens of peer reviewed articles but didn't because to a lot it wouldn't mean very much. I research medical studies as part of my job, so thanks for the heads up.
Advice is just that, no one can make you follow it, that's up to you.
Sunbeds expose you to a much higher amount of UV light than the sun, dangerously higher.
They raise core body temperature and increase your risk of skin cancer 10 fold. These are facts.
If you chose not to believe them then that's your call.
If you are happy to use them then carry on.
My opinion is that I believe it to be selfish and irresponsible to use a sunbed when pregnant. I have no opinions on folk using them when not pregnant, they are only risking their own health then.
It's a small sacrifice for 9 short months.

That is my opinion, like it or not and that is what this thread asked for - opinions.

 

[Squeakz]

I oersonally wouldnt do it...nit for cancer reasons but for over heating reasons....however I didnt eat hot dogs, soft cheese, drink, smoke, certain meats during pregnancy....i read the risks and decided that ecoli salminell overgeating etc for a baby and the outcomes just wasnt worth it for a baby..... just as I didnt get my haiir coloured ....I played it by the book...x

 

[Squeakz]

Totally totally agree aith cos.....

 

[Noni]

To answer OP- I wouldn't use a sunbed whilst I was pregnant. I don't know the risks etc, but...I'm pale and scared of the sun at the best of times lol...I don't like a tan at all x

 

[Nikki1985]

I dont disagree with you, but we arent here to debate the risk of skin cancer to the mother - we all know the risk of skin cancer to the user pregnant or not, but the fact remains, there is NO evidence to say it harms a baby. Even the NHS itself says 'there is no evidence to suggest a sunbed can harm the baby' - so why is it selfish not to give something up, when there is no evidence whatsoever by anyone in the medical profession that it is harmful to anybody other than yourself?

What I don't like is women being made to feel "selfish" for their choices by some smug sanctimonious do-gooder, same goes for breastfeeding, choice to go back to work/stay at home... etc etc etc

 

[umbongo]

Your skin CAN be more sensitive to the sun and usually is, so if yours was okay you're lucky.
I've become allergic to my usual hair dye as I did a patch test and your body changes its allergic reactions to many things so it's best to be careful. Some people have tried so hard for so long to be pregnant I don't blame them for being ovey cautious. Noone wants to be stressed out or worried that's for sure.

 

[cosmicgirl]

So what you're saying is "no one has proven that there is a true risk (even though there is lots out there about folic acid deficiency and core temp dangers) but no one has said that there aren't risks so I'll do it anyway" ???
That is madness.
I personally wouldn't even want to risk skin cancer as a mother either. I want to be around for my kids for many years to come, not end up with cancer because I wanted a bit of a tan!

Again, that is my opinion

 

[cosmicgirl]

Also, I wouldn't even associate this discussion with the bf/ff threads. Babies NEED to be fed, mothers do not NEED to go on sunbeds!

 

[Nikki1985]

Your skin CAN be more sensitive to the sun and usually is, so if yours was okay you're lucky.
I've become allergic to my usual hair dye as I did a patch test and your body changes its allergic reactions to many things so it's best to be careful. Some people have tried so hard for so long to be pregnant I don't blame them for being ovey cautious. Noone wants to be stressed out or worried that's for sure.

I agree, personal choice I dont have an issue with, I colour my hair, some dont, I had no idea there was any implication not to nor did my hairdresser mention it yesterday, everyone has a choice but hammering down on other people who DO choose the use a sunbed/coour their hair/use fake tan....., saying they are 'selfish' to their baby is mean and wrong. Just my opinion, by all means give your views but dont criticise others who dont share your opinion and call them selfish for it And on that note Id better pack up my laptop and go home from work as Ive been here for 12 hours.... which I supposed also makes me selfish and a bad mother. Oh well.

Oh dear we are now bashing people and implying they are bad mothers for putting themselves at risk when they have children to look after. Well now probably isnt a good time to tell you that the minute this baby is out I cant wait for a fag, to go on sunbeds, and to throw myself out of a plane every weekend in my past time as a skydiver. How utterly selfish of me! Shame we cant all be perfect like you