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02-20-2008, 11:17 AM
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Tanning during Pregnancy??
Hello, everyone!!
I have two questions. Please help with advice!
I was just in Mexico with my daughter, husband, and in-laws. I burnt, they didn't. Everyone else (well, except my one-year-old!!) went tanning before the vacay and insist that that's why they got nice and dark, and I got nice and red! However, I have read NUMEROUS Mayo Clinic studies proving that tanning before vacation is about as helpful as using sunscreen with SPF 2! And this was the incredibly consistant findings in every study I'd found. Of course, my in-laws-- being the avid vacationers that they are-- all insist that "OF COURSE tanning works! Just look at them!" I would have probably jumped the bandwagon and gone tanning before Mexico, too, only because I think I look pretty great bronzed, not because it prevents burning (which it doesn't!) However, I'm pregnant (first trimester) and thought it was dangerous, so pre-tanning didn't even cross my mind. I started to look into it when I got back, and I'm finding mixed results. I also read a couple things posted by (who claim to be, but you never know on the internet) doctors, who say that it's not harmful to the baby. Many of the posts said that the real risk was over-heating, similar to sitting in the sun all day, or in a hot tub, and if you were to go tanning, just get out if you feel too hot. On the other hand, if rays hurt me, wouldn't they hurt baby? Or is baby too far inside to be affected? I ask these questions because I look like a leopard. I wore my sunglasses the entire time, and now my husband calls me Goggle-Eyes because of the HUGE, obvious white marks around my eyes! Also, while spraying my daugher with her SPF 50 baby sunscreen, I sprayed parts of my own legs on accident, doubling up on the SPF, and now I look horendous! I am actually considering a tanning bed to even things out! I have to go back to work, and I look RIDICULOUS!
Sooo.. In short...
1. What are other people's opinions about tanning before vacation?
2. What have you heard about tanning while pregnant?
Please Help! And thanks in advance to everyone who takes the time to read and respond to this vein post!
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02-20-2008, 11:27 AM
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When I was PG I had a rule...when in doubt opt out. If you are unsure about it then it would be safer for you not to tan then to find out that it may harm you or the babe.
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Lessly Proud SAHM to Alejandro and Aiden
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02-21-2008, 05:43 AM
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I've never tanned before a vacation... I would just use a lot of sun screen the first day, then less and less until a tan started coming. Besides, I went to Florida and used a high SPF lotion and STILL got the crap burned out of me!! I am not a big vacation-er though either... JMO...
I used to lay out and tan while I was pregnant all the time, I would just fold up a towel to put over my belly, maybe even two. I was told it was bad to use tanning beds though... To much for the little one. HTH!
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02-21-2008, 06:01 AM
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Some studies suggest that a few visits per year to the tanning bed can increase your likelihood of getting skin cancer 10 fold. There is limited evidence to suggest that it's harmful to the developing fetus. . .but it is substantially harmful to you.
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02-21-2008, 01:23 PM
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Twinz, what you said is exactly what I heard. Who needs to be tan, anyway??  Thanks, everyone, for your input!
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02-21-2008, 02:42 PM
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 I sooooo love my white legs.
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02-21-2008, 04:33 PM
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*tanning is horrible for you in general.. but for those of us who risk it and do it anyway (like me)....
tanning is better before going on vacation, as it builds up a better "defense" (definitely not the right word, but only one i can think of) against the UV rays that burn. (UVs are made up of UVA & UVB rays. which is another whole thread). basically, that's why your burn was worse than theirs. they still burnt, but in a different way (a tan is a burn)
as for tanning via tanning bed during pregnancy - there's research that goes both ways. some says it's bad, some says it's good due to the extra vitamin D increase you get from tanning. personally, i tanned only in my backyard/beach (i live by the coast) while i was pregnant. yes, i was that annoying pregnant woman at the beach with my baby bump.
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02-21-2008, 08:22 PM
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I totally love seeing pg women in swim suits. That sounded kind of funny but I think it's great when women are confident in their bodies.
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