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Bini, my midwife told me that the danger with tanning is the heat. We are able to cool ourselves off, but the baby in the womb has no way to do that... it is dangerous for a pregnant woman to get too hot. The uv rays from the tanning bulbs only penetrate the first few layers of skin, unlike a microwave, y'know?? Hope that helps

Yeah, I too heard that it's okay to tan since the UV rays only Penetrate the skin and dont even go NEAR the baby. HOWEVER, dont go the full time or at least get out if you start feeling too warm. Same reason you're not supposed to get in a hot tub or hot bath for too long =)

Going into a tanning bed is dangerous because your body temperature should never go above 102 degrees. But, self-tanners are safe for pregnant women because it only "stains" the outside layers of your skin and goes nowhere near the baby. I have good luck with the tanning product "Fake Bake". It goes on brown..so you can see where you put it, and then that color guide washes right off. It looks very real...but be prepared to need someone to help you apply it to your lower body as you grow larger.

What about tanning in the sun-is it any better or worse?

can we use tanning creams?

Tanning in the sun is fine, just remember the risks of skin cancer as well as all of those lovely pregnancy masks! Tanning creams are fine as well, and tanning beds are fine as long as you don't overheat yourself like the others said. I am an Arizonan recently moved to Colorado and have never been so pale!! It may be vain, but it was one of the first questions I asked my doc. I always feel better(and slimmer) with a little color!

This is one of the questions i had for myself.. im a new mom.. only 22 and i have no idea what to do!! im a cali beach girl, and i admit i do fake and bake now and then in the tanning beds... im only a month pregnant.. do u think i should stop and only bask in the real sun??

i have watched melanoma slowly and painfully kill my father for the past 2 years he now is within weeks of his life because he never wore sunscreen. Dont do it.. please... its so hard to watch your parents slowly die... you dont want your baby going through that... its really sad. :o( but you are the only one who knows your body so its your call.

I was just in to see my Dr. today, and I asked him about sunless tanners (Mystic Tan) because I have an event this weekend. He said he doesn't recommend doing it regularly, but once in a while for something like an occa__sion is okay.

Mine told me that there have not been enough tests for the chemicals you inhale while in that lttle box, but if you can still reach all of your parts you can get some good stuff at the store and do it yourself!!

I too had wondered about the same thing with the tanning beds. I know where I go they have air conditioner vents b__wing in the tanning bed soas not to get overheated. The only thing is..... your skin is more sensitive while pregnant so if I were you girls I would not lay in as much as you normally do or as long. I could usually lay in the sun for 30 min. on each side and it not effect me but when I was pregnant with my girls I would do it for just 15 min. on each sign and actually turn a little red. Your pigment changes during pregnancy so you want to be careful and protect yourself as well as your baby. Jamie

i too am a tanning salon girl and just as May came and I was getting ready to start my summer tan I found out I was pregnant , my DR told me NO tanning beds or booths :c she is pretty easy like she said I could dye my hair at 12 weeks but she was serious about the tanning , I am sure there are plenty of people who do tan and plenty of Dr's that ok it but I cant bring myself to so I am just waiting for the sun which has not been out very much !

tanning beds are fine AS LONG as you don't over heat. i'm 38 wks. and i've gone on and off throughout my whole pg. But what I do is go first thing in the morning when they open and the beds are still cold. however, after the 4th month it is not good to lay flat on your back, so i just do the stand up bed. it's as simple as that....if it gets too hot, get out or if the bed has been running all day and is hot, don't do it. if your schedule allows you to go first thing in the morning, that works out great because even after the 15 minutes, the bed still isn't that hot.

Is there any research indicating a link between infertility and tanning?

my doctor said absolutely no tanning because it can raise your temperature up and cause problems he also said no hot baths do not lay in the sun and do not get overheated at any time so i would suggest that to everyone if your doc says not to do it then dont take that risk. good luck all.

Yikes...I just read that Melanoma is the only type of cancer than can spread to your placenta. I would avoid the tanning beds for now and stick to self-tanning lotions - nowadays they look pretty good, and they are guilt-free!