Tanning while pregnant?

Question

Is there anything at all that i can put on my stomach, maybe 4 or 5 towels or something...that can make it safe for me to lay in a tanning bed for about 5 or 6 sessions? I'm as white as a ghost, but of course don't want to harm the baby

Answer 1

They aren't suppose to let you in the tanning bed as long as your pregnant. So its actually a law in our state that you cant tan while pregnant. I think its better to be white as a ghost then to put your baby in harms way.  

Answer 2

oh my god are you seriously that selfish? go outside in a bathing suit, get a natural tan. dont lay in a tanning bed, thats pathetic. Im pretty much tanorexic, i love to tan but i havent really felt its important to be tan while humongously pregnant. And most tanning salons wont let you tan while pregnant...for a reason. Ask your dr about it, shell probably give you a dirty look for even asking something so common sense. Id suggest getting a pregnancy book, it sounds like you need it. ugh.

Answer 3

Nope. Tanning isn't safe during pregnancy regardless of what you put on your stomach. If you don't like the Mystic tans (I don't because they turn you orange) then go get a manual spray tan. There are wedding shops and tanning places that do it. What I mean by manual, is someone spray tanning you. There is no alcohol in the spray so it won't make you orange =)

Answer 4

Umm all you can do is spray tan... and even then be cautious... When I worked at a tanning salon, once we knew you were pregnant we had to have written notice from your doctor releasing you to tan. I wouldnt risk it... you would hate to give birth and something be wrong (or even have a miscarriage) and know that you could have prevented it but its too late... or atleast thats how I feel. There are somethings that you just have to give up... I love sushi... but I cant have it... I think its natures way of preparing us for the sacrifices we are going to be making once the baby gets here! Good luck and use your head... nobody cares if your tan!  

Answer 5

I asked my doctor whether this was safe or not.  She said she would rather have me tan while I was pregnant than use the self-tanners.  Reason?  Tanning only affects the first couple layers of your skin, whereas the self-tanners are absorbed by your skin (that's how you get the color).  She said there is not enough research done to find out what is in those self-tanners.

Also, people will tell you that you will get too overheated and harm the baby.  My doctor said that by the time you get too overheated for the baby, you are going to be sick yourself.  She also suggested not to go more than 5 minutes every other day.  

Answer 6

Use bronzer! Don't harm your baby!! Why risk it? And seriously, pale can be so beautiful. In the old days you were considered the most beautiful if you were the most pale. Just be your natural self, especially if it could save possible damage to the baby.

Answer 7

Tanning beds are NEVER safe.  The concentrated UV rays are proven to have the ability to mutate human DNA. They break the correct chemical bonds in the DNA and cause chemical bonds to occur that would not occur naturally. These bad chemical bonds can cause genetic mutations. Most mutations are harmless, but many are not and can cause skin cancer, ovarian cancer, or other health problems.  Use a spray tan or just learn to appreciate your whiteness :-)

And yes, I'm glow-in-the-dark white with a smattering of freckles.  I've learned to appreciate it (not much choice - hahaha!)  

Answer 8

Tanning beds are big no nos right now. I was super dark before I found out and am getting white now too. They say you can spray tan but thats it. You don't want your body temp to go over 102 that is very harmful for the baby, and is that worth it for a tan? Not in my book...

This is what I found on babycenter.com



Is it safe to use self-tanning lotions or tanning beds during pregnancy?

Expert Answers

Sandra Johnson, dermatologist

If you're not feeling attractive during pregnancy, the look of sun-kissed skin may do wonders for your self-esteem. The good news is that the ingredients in self-tanners are harmless, so it's fine to use them during pregnancy. These lotions and sprays are basically dyes that stay on the surface of your skin and won't harm your developing baby. Best of all, self-tanners have improved dramatically over the past few years, so you don't have to worry about looking like an extra from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Tanning beds are a different story. There's no conclusive evidence that they're harmful to a developing fetus, but there's plenty of proof that they're dangerous to you.

Tanning beds pose the same dangers as the sun: They emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes skin cancer. Don't believe anyone who tells you that because tanning booths emit only UVA rays, they're not hazardous to your health. One study suggests that visiting a tanning booth ten times in a year can double your chances of developing melanoma — one of the most deadly types of cancer. Melanoma is the only type of cancer that spreads to the placenta, which could be disastrous for both you and your baby.

Lying in a tanning bed can also raise your body temperature to a level that may be hazardous to your baby, particularly during your first trimester. Having an elevated body temperature during pregnancy — that is, above 102 degrees F, which can happen in a tanning bed, hot tub, or sauna — has been associated with spinal malformations in developing babies.

And then there's the concern that lying on your back too long could restrict blood flow to your heart and thus to your baby as well. (If this happens, you'll feel lightheaded.)

Finally, yet one more downside to tanning: Pregnant women with sensitive skin who expose themselves to UV rays — whether from tanning beds or the sun — may be more prone to chloasma, those dark splotches that can appear on the face and occasionally the arms during pregnancy.

Answer 9

you cannot tan.even spray tan cause the fumes are bad for the baby.and sun radiation is bad too.you would be taking a risk with a spray tan

Answer 10

you can do spray tan and that is it.  

Answer 11

well tanning in a bed isnt good for you while pregnant, it can raise your core temp which isnt good for baby or mommy