Shallow diving and pregnancy

[ScubaDadMiami]

While women have been advised not to dive while pregnant, on the other hand, where pregnancy has been discovered after women have engaged in diving, this has not been a problem for the fetus. So, if you find out you are pregnant after returning from a dive trip, don't spend time worrying about it.

 

[Ayisha]

All understood and not much is known and it is an unknown risk.

But it seems to me that if a pregnant mum can fly in a plane pressurised to 8000 feet, there shouldn't be much difference comparatively speaking than diving to 20 feet. Both involve significant pressure changes and based on how often I have to clear my ears in a plane the pressure difference is a whole lot greater than 20 fsw.

Dr Steve, I know that pressure could possibly be an issue, but I thought the greater concern was the nitrogen that the unborn child absorbs while the mother is breathing compressed air? Apparently nitrogen can pass through the placenta into the unborn child's blood stream and it is unknown how quickly it can off-gas it.

 

[DennisW]

Steve,

I think Ayisha hit the real issue on the head. The issue is nitrogen under pressure and how the nitrogen affects development. If you want a more informative answer, call Dan. I am sure they have an answer that has more scientific background. As an engineer, I can completely understand your need for a scientific answer.

By the way, I can only assume that congratulations are in order for you and your wife.

 

[ScubaAngel831]

Thanks but nothing official yet...just trying to plan

If it is nothing official yet, just get all the diving in you can NOW!! I understand the planning and such.:angel2:

 

[DrSteve]

Thanks Dennis, but nothing is official yet...

I think Ayisha hit it as well - how quickly does the N2 escape the placental barrier. That's not something I thought about, but then I am biologically challenged!

 

[jepuskar]

Steve, you're not pregnant are you?

 

[mania]

Thanks Dennis, but nothing is official yet...

I think Ayisha hit it as well - how quickly does the N2 escape the placental barrier. That's not something I thought about, but then I am biologically challenged!

Exactly. Pressure is not the matter in this case (this is why pregmant woman can fly). It's the nitrogen and saturation of the tissues that do take place even when diving only 20ft in both - mother and the child bodies.
Mania

 

[Rick Murchison]

There are two basic concerns in fetal physiology that make the unknown effects of diving risky. Here's the reasoning...
First of all, in the adult human, the tiny asymptomatic bubbles that may form from *any* dive are filtered out by the lungs and the nitrogen is offgassed harmlessly. But in the fetus the lungs aren't functional; the foramen ovale shunts blood around the lungs and so bubbles can easily end up in the systemic arteries, embolizing capilaries in the brain and other tissues. This is not good.
Secondly, what if the diver takes a hit? Yes, hits are possible on even shallow dives. Treatment for such a hit would likely involve very high tissue oxygen tensions - something that can do bad things to a fetus. Again, this is not good.
To me, the potential risks dictate the precaution of avoiding diving while pregnant.
In fact I would be willing to forego diving myself during my wife's pregnancy to "ease the pain" if necessary.
Rick

 

[lostinspace]

when I asked about this a year or two ago I got a lot of **** about how I shouldnt even consider diving when trying to conceive
most men seemed to think I just had to have sex and then would become pregnant - they advised me to give up diving whilst trying

I'd been trying for 6-7 years.... the majority of which I hadnt been diving because I only learnt relatively recently

however - after coming back from a fabulous diving trip in Indonesia, with a long haul flight back home, and then a quick trip to the Middle East for more diving, I came home to find I was 4 weeks pregnant!
I havent dived from that day forwards, and am now at 17 weeks.

to be fair - whoever said it is "only 9 months" I think doesnt realise how hard & long 9 months without diving can be!!!

but in all honesty I would not risk the life or health of my baby or myself.
and at this stage in my pregnancy I feel too big & nauseous to consider going out on a boat - let alone strapping all that additional weight on! oh lawdy!

and it is a little more than 9 months - after all - for the first three months minimum, you're not exactly going to have the time or energy to go diving. so I'm looking at around 18 months if being realistic.

but I want this baby more than I want to go diving.

I have to admit it was very very hard recently when my husband & I took a club trip out for a week's diving holiday (that we had arranged) and I was the only one of 15 who wasnt diving! eek! but ya get over it

and I do support my husband who still goes diving - just a little less regularly, as we were buddies & now he is trying to find a replacement!

 

[mrobinson]

In fact I would be willing to forego diving myself during my wife's pregnancy to "ease the pain" if necessary.
Rick

You're a good man Rick! :07: