Shooting and pregnancy

Shooting While Pregnant: Dangerous or Not?

Safe or not? Even the experts aren't 100% sure.

By Elizabeth Kennedy and Fabrice Czarnecki, M.D.

Unfortunately, there are no definitive studies that clearly answer this question.

When this topic first came up this author contacted several respected doctors for their opinion (including the co-author of this article)as to whether a pregnant student should participate in a firearms training course for women. The doctors we contacted seemed to agree that there was no reason why she shouldn't shoot. We knew the range was lead-free and the ammunition was frangible, and with that proviso, the doctors all agreed.

Then someone brought up the question of the noise, and no one seemed to have any answers as to whether that could harm the baby, and thus began a quest to find out the truth about shooting and pregnancy.

This is an important topic for women in law enforcement, and right now, EVEN IF agencies do have a policy in place, that policy isn't based on factual information that comes from studies on shooting while pregnant. Firearms instructors and range officers in most police departments don't have medical degrees, and so armed with whatever knowledge and experience they have, they make their best guess. That is, unless an order comes "down from above" which usually means the lawyers had a hand in it. It' strictly liability protection, but if that is in the best interests of mother and child, that's fine.

Many experts in the field share the same sentiments regarding training courses. Massad Ayoob, a widely regarded expert in the industry says: "I recall one obstetrician writing a few years ago that you shouldn't worry about it. That said, I can usually taste lead after I've been on a 'lead free range.' And I'm not a fetus. My own gut reaction is not to do it."

But when it comes to qualifying to keep your job, it's a different story. Many experts, such as Lyn Bates, believe that it can be done safely. Lyn is a competitive shooter, a firearms and self defense instructor, Contributing Editor for Women and Guns, and Vice President of AWARE (Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment). While she encourages pregnant women generally not to shoot, when it comes to a qualification for an officer, Lyn states:

I see no reason why a police officer should not be able to qualify when pregnant, because this usually involves a limited number of rounds and a short duration on the range. Of course, this is provided that some reasonable accommodations are made. [Some examples are] using an outdoor range, using lead-free ammunition, wearing an appropriate mask with a special HEPA filter rated for lead, having someone else pick up spent brass, shooting alone on a range (instead of simultaneously with many other shooters putting lead into the air), or using a simulation shooting system that does not use live ammo.

Following are some of the facts we found. Hopefully this will arm pregnant officers with the information they need to know when faced with the question of whether or not to shoot and/or qualify.

Lead and Noise

It appears that the two major concerns are lead exposure and noise exposure. In conducting our research, while we found very little factual information available on shooting during pregnancy, we were able to find a good amount of data on exposure to lead and noise during pregnancy.

Lead

There is an extensive body of research that indicates that lead exposure is toxic to adults as well as a developing embryo or fetus. And we also know that lead is transferred from the mother to the fetus. Lead exposure has been associated with: decreased birth weight and head circumference, (even at very low exposure levels), miscarriage, premature delivery and pre-eclampsia (a severe complication of pregnancy) as well as causing behavioral effects in infants and children. One study stated that premature delivery and a decreased growth stature "have all been associated with prenatal lead exposure at "acceptable levels."

Armed with that information, it is easy to minimize lead exposure when using firearms, and knowledge able firearms instructors have taken steps to protect themselves from lead exposure with excellent results. According to Lyn Bates, these are some of the ways that shooters can get high lead levels:

• Shooting on an indoor range, especially one that is inadequately ventilated
• Shooting lead ammunition (and primers)
• Handling/loading lead bullets (including putting rounds with exposed lead tips into magazines)
• Cleaning up a range (especially picking up or sweeping material from the floor or bullet trap area)
• Eating or drinking on a range
• Failing to thoroughly wash hands and mouth after shooting (or washing with hot water instead of cool)
• Failing to change clothes after returning home after shooting (especially on an indoor range)
• Failing to wear gloves when cleaning guns

Ms. Bates believes that lead exposure can be controlled, and she is in good company. Dr. Heiskell agrees. Lawrence E. Heiskell, M.D.,FACEP, FAAFP has ten years experience as a SWAT team physician, and is currently a Reserve Police Officer, as well as a firearms instructor and Medical Director or Heckler and Koch's Tactical Emergency Medicine Program.

Toxicity from other chemicals and heavy metals besides lead, shooting and cleaning a firearm exposes you to other chemicals, including cleaning solvents, and other heavy metals, including barium, antimony, copper and arsenic. It is not clear, whether these chemicals are safe or dangerous for the fetus, during or after a shooting session. Pregnant or not, it's just safer to conduct all firearm cleaning activities outdoors or in very well ventilated areas.

Noise

Noise, especially very loud noise and chronic exposure to loud noise, is usually considered as detrimental during the pregnancy. In most European countries, health regulations forbid pregnant women to work in surroundings with a level over 80 dB continuous noise and rapid impulse noise changes of 40 dB, which is much less than the noise of a firearm. In the United States, the Department of Labor limits for impulse (not continuous) noise is 140 dB (Dept.of Labor Bulletin #334, 1971) with additional regulations for ongoing noise. The sound levels of firearms are about 125-140 dB for rimfire rifles, 140-150dB for rimfire pistols, and 150-160 dB for centerfire rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

Intrauterine measurements in some studies showed that the fetus was not significantly protected against loud noises. One study, in human volunteers, found noise only diminished by 10 dB at 4000Hz. As a comparison, foam plugs generally offer a protection of 12 to 20dB, and are considered as the least effective hearing protection. However, studies involving sound can be suspect. Silencer manufacturers, who work very carefully with sound, will tell you that with small positioning changes in the microphones, you can dramatically change the results of the tests.

Silencers/suppressors, although not readily available to the average woman, could be very beneficial to the pregnant officer who shoots a firearm, in that it can reduce the report of each shot by approximately 30 dB. Unlike what we see on television, that's still pretty darn loud though, and you still need to wear good hearing protection. It does not totally reduce the noise of the firearm, and would not stop the sound from reaching the fetus.

Numerous studies demonstrate that exposure to noise during pregnancy has been linked to such disorders as miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation, premature delivery (less than 37 weeks), decreased birth weight, hearing loss in babies and children, altered immune response in the fetus and hypertension during pregnancy (a potentially severe disorder). Interestingly, one study showed that a combined exposure to noise and lead seemed to have an increased toxicity, causing heart lesions, which was not observed for either of those agents in isolation. The question again, is "how relevant are the studies to our very specific question?" The answer again, is "we just don't know." Is it something we want to chance?

One thing we do know is that fetal response to sounds begins at about 16 weeks, and the ear is structurally complete by 24 weeks. (At 25 weeks, a baby will move in rhythm to an orchestra drum!) According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, "the hearing threshold (the intensity at which one perceives sound) is approximately 40 dB at 27-29 weeks, and decreases to a nearly adult level of 13.5 dB by 42 weeks of gestation." It would appear that even though the structures are all in place, the sense is not fully developed until birth. We also don't know at what point the fetus is most susceptible to noise damage of the ear, whether it's during the first trimester, second or third.

Interestingly, "the vestibular system, [the part of the ear] designed to register head and body motion, as well as the pull of gravity, begins developing at eight weeks." It is believed that "receptive hearing begins with the skin and skeletal framework, [and] is then amplified with vestibular and cochlear information as it becomes available. Hearing is clearly a major information channel operating 24 weeks before birth."

Stress

One other aspect that we haven't addressed so far is the mindset of the mother. Does shooting cause high levels of an unpleasant type of stress or is shooting fun and exciting for the mother? Certainly how the mother feels emotionally about shooting will have either a positive or negative effect on the baby as well.

Recommendations

Current scientific knowledge does not bring any evidence that shooting is safe during pregnancy. While current data clearly shows that noise and lead can be significantly toxic during pregnancy, we don't have any data that is specific to shooting and pregnancy. More research is clearly needed in this area. However, at this point, author Fabrice Czarnecki recommends that pregnant women don't shoot, and avoid firing ranges.

It is the carefully considered opinion of the authors that pregnant women should evaluate the risks involved in consultation with her doctor. Obviously, shooting in self-defense if needed would be recommended, but shooting on regular basis during pregnancy would just increase the risks to both mother and child. It is recommended that pregnant women avoid working on or near firing ranges where chronic noise and lead exposure would be an issue. Commercial shooting schools should carefully consider whether to allow pregnant women on their courses, or on the ranges, and with what safety measures in place. Gila Hayes of the Firearms Academy of Seattle does not allow pregnant women on the range, even as visitors.

Most of the experts agree that pregnant women should not clean their guns, to reduce exposure to chemicals. Guns should be cleaned by other people, away from the pregnant woman.

Law enforcement agencies and the military need to consider development of safer alternative solutions to live-fire qualification for pregnant officers, using systems like FATS simulators (or other brands), Beam Hit, and Airmunition. The technology is now in place to offer this. Agencies which allow their pregnant officers to continue to carry their firearm past their qualification can be liable; this protects the officer and the agency. However, in some cases, the physical aspects of qualifying could be inappropriate for pregnant women, reminds Sgt. Greg Conrad of the New York State Courts, especially if this is "including running, kneeling and shooting while prone."This will vary dependent on each state or agency's standards.

For the woman who must shoot while pregnant, we recommend:

• Discuss this with your doctor, and show him/her this article
• 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 (3 times) with cold water
• Do not drink/eat within 1 hour after shooting
• Use a silencer when possible
• Wear heavy clothing and or soft body armor covering the abdomen

Ken Cooper of Tactical Handgun Training of NY adds, "I would also recommend that the qualifying instructor separate the pregnant woman from the other officers and qualify them separately "to minimize noise exposure from other shooters. Ken believes that, "Shooting, whether for work, pleasure or sport is inherently dangerous. It is up to the individual officer to investigate all challenges to her safety and the safety of her baby."

As one of our colleagues (a female police sergeant) recently remarked, "pregnancy is a temporary condition. Why risk it?" Dr. Heiskell stated, "As in any job, pregnant female police officers should exercise good common sense and use extra care while on the firing range to minimize risks of injury to the mother and the fetus, and should follow department policies regarding pregnant females."

The authors would like to thank all of those who assisted with the research of this article. The authors welcome your comments and feedback.

About the Authors

Elizabeth Kennedy is a Founding Director of the American Women's Self Defense Association, as well as Vice President of Modern Warrior AE Defensive Tactics in New York, as well as an active member of the American Society for Law Enforcement Training since 1987. Contact Liz at mwarrior@nvbb.net .

Fabrice Czarnecki, M.D., M.A., M.P.H. is an Emergency Physician,and holds a Master's degree in Public Health. Fabrice is the Medical Advisor for the American Society for Law Enforcement Training and the American Women's Self Defense Association. Contact Fabriceat fczarnecki@hotmail.com .

Lead toxicity

Lead is transferred from the mother to the fetus. Lead is known to be toxic to the fetus, and exposure during pregnancy is associated with the following disorders:

• Decreased birth weight and head circumference, even at verylow exposure levels
• Miscarriage, premature delivery and pre-eclampsia (a severecomplication of pregnancy)
• Behavioral effects in infants and children

A study stated that premature delivery and a decreased growth stature "have all been associated with prenatal lead exposure at "acceptable levels."

Toxicity from other products

Besides lead, shooting and cleaning a firearms will expose you to other chemicals, including cleaning solvents, and the following heavy metals: barium, antimony, copper and arsenic. It is not clear whether these chemicals are safe or dangerous for the fetus, during a shooting session. They can be toxic depending on their concentration.

Noise toxicity

Noise is usually considered as detrimental during the pregnancy. In most European countries, health regulations forbid pregnant women to work in surroundings with a level over 80 dB continuous noise and rapid impulse noise changes of 40 dB, which is much less than the noise of a firearm. The sound levels of firearms are about 125-140 dB for rimfire rifles, 140-150dB for rimfire pistols fire, and 150-160 dB for centerfire rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

Intrauterine measurements showed that the fetus was not significantly protected against loud noises. One study, in human volunteers,found a maximal noise attenuation of 10 dB at 4000 Hz. In ewes,the noise attenuation was 20 dB at 4000 Hz, but the noise inside the uterus was actually 2 to 5 dB greater at 250 Hz. As a comparison,foam plugs offer a protection of 12 to 20 dB, and are consideredas the least effective hearing protection.

Exposure to noise, during pregnancy, is linked to the following disorders:

• Miscarriage
• Intrauterine growth retardation and decreased birth weight
• Premature delivery (less than 37 weeks)
• Hearing loss in babies and children
• Altered immune response in the fetus
• Hypertension during pregnancy (a potentially severe disorder)

Interestingly, a combined exposure to noise and lead seems to have an increased toxicity, causing heart lesions, which are not observed for either of those agents in isolation.

Further recommendations

Current scientific knowledge does bring any evidence that shooting is safe during pregnancy. In the contrary, current data shows that noise and lead are significantly toxic during pregnancy.

We recommend that pregnant women do not shoot firearms, unless in self-defense, and stay clear from shooting ranges. Commercial shooting schools should not allow pregnant women on their courses,or on the ranges.

Pregnant women should not clean their guns, to reduce exposure to chemicals. The guns should be cleaned by other people, away from the pregnant woman.

Law enforcement agencies and the military should ban live firearm training during pregnancy, and development of alternative solutions to live-fire qualification for pregnant officers, using systems like FATS simulators (or other brands), BeamHit, and Airmunition.