Diving when Pregnant?

[ScubaSue]

Here is some info from the DDRC website, I have seen a rather large report floating about, but haven't had a chance to read it, but here is the basic stuff.

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by ardhill

There has you know

OK, they didn't set it us as such, but monitored mothers who had chosen to dive whilst pregnant.

They also did some planned research on non-human mothers.
.

Sorry... I should have said no conclusive research ahs been done.

Personally, i wouldn't do it. either in a pool or anywhere else if i was even trying, let alone knew I was. I will take a risk with my own life, that is my choice. What right have i got to risk someone elses, someone who doesn't even get a say in the matter.

[frosty the snowman]

Originally Posted by Jules

Why risk it? You have your whole life to dive and only 9 months to build a baby.

Surely you mean 3 minutes (including begging)?

Oh, and since there is plenty of advice here and elsewhere about not diving with a small injury, who in their right mind would dive with a gravid uterus. Not me. But then I don't actually have a uterus.

[Gene_Hobbs]

My last post (with one addition):

Kent MB (ed). Effects of Diving on Pregnancy. 19th Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop. UHMS Publication Number 36(EDP)1-31-80. Bethesda: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society; 1978; 13 pages. RRR ID: 4250

Recommendations:
1. There is no contraindication to diving for the normal, healthy non-pregnant female. The same general health criteria should apply to both male and female divers.
2. The fetus may be at greater risk than the diving mother. The potential risk primarily consists of decompression sickness, but hyperoxia, hypoxia, hypercapnia and asphyxia may also be involved.
3. There is insufficient experimental evidence at this time to establish diving depth and time profiles that are definitely not hazardous to the human fetus. Although a large number of women have dived while pregnant, results of epidemiological studies on the fetal effects of these dives on the fetuses have not yet been thoroughly analyzed.
4. The number of unanswered questions about the effects of diving on the human fetus should encourage physicians to inform their patients of the potential risks and to advise them to act in the most conservative manner.
5. Pregnant women who choose to dive against medical advice should be informed that the potential risk to the fetus apparently increases as the no-decompression limits are approached, as the oxygen tension of the inspired gas increases, and perhaps also as a function of other factors that remain unidentified.
6. Until further studies are made, we recommend that women who are pregnant not dive.

PLACENTAL HEMODYNAMICS IN DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.
Stock et. al. 1981 UHMS Abstract.
RRR ID: 4767
Note: Sheep

Fife W (ed). Women in Diving. 35th Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Workshop. UHMS Publication Number 71(WS-WD)3-15-87. Bethesda: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society; 1987; 162 pages. RRR ID: 4251
---Chapter on 'Pregnancy and Diving' by Lanphier

I have a copy of the 1979 Bolton MS Thesis from the University of Florida but have not had time to add it.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Gene_Hobbs

PLACENTAL HEMODYNAMICS IN DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.

So basically they haven't a clue and no evidence but we all have this nasty feeling that the poor little thing is more vulnerable so don't try it.

I have a pretty gung-ho attitude to risks to myself and adults able to decide for themselves but even I'm a bit edgy on taking risks with small children. I can afford to loose a few bits, I've had good use out of my body, but stem cells and developing tissues that have to last a life time are valuable.

[Jezza]

There is another side to this as well, apart from the actual diving.

I used to work for Condor Ferries (they operate the Fast Cats from the Uk to the C.I.) as soon as any of the crew were pregnant they were removed from duty immediatly.

The info we had was that the high frequency vibrations from the boats were particularly damaging to the fetus during the first trimester.

I'm sure there would be similar effects on all boats.

[XeN]

Originally Posted by Jules

Why risk it? You have your whole life to dive and only 9 months to build a baby.

Does anyone need anymore words than these?

Green incoming!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

Surely you mean 3 minutes (including begging)?

Oh, and since there is plenty of advice here and elsewhere about not diving with a small injury, who in their right mind would dive with a gravid uterus. Not me. But then I don't actually have a uterus.

So only 2 mins & 30 seconds of begging then? You lucky basatrd. I find that I get better results if I start my begging a couple of days before.

I have to agree with the other sentiments though.

And all unborn babies have a brand new, fully functioning PFO. Also, just thinking about the hypoxia issue, I seem to remember that there were a whole lot of babies born in the 50s who became blind due to the administration of high levels oxygen in babies who had breathing difficulties. I'm no expert on this but I believe the optic nerve is very sensitive to high levels of O2 in newborns.

(Don't forget Frosty - "Oxygen is a poison")