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Ladies- I was 16 years old when I found out that I had skin cancer. It was a terrifying experience, and I have made every effort to protect myself from the sun since then. I have had 2 more relapses despite this since the damage has already been done to my skin. I was lucky because I just happened to be visiting a dermatologist at the time the first cancer surfaced. Please put aside your vanity and think of the life growing inside of you- it is your job to protect and provide for it, and you can't do that if you are not here.

Thank you, Warning. To Momx3, it's fun to laugh at the ignorant people like yourself on this board. I'll bet that the majority of us could tan or drink or smoke and our babies would be fine but there are risks to doing all of these things. Good for you if you've had no problems but shame on you if you don't think that you are increasing your risk for skin cancer dramatically by tanning. I guess for some it's more important to 'risk' their own health and that of their babies for a little vanity.

Laura, Excuse me, your ignorance is the one showing. When did I joke or laugh or not tell the truth for that matter? I'm quite serious. Having cats is a bigger risk. The doctor, every doctor, will tell you to avoid litter pans. There is research for crying out loud proving it's a risk to the unborn. There is nothing hinting, let alone proving, tanning is to baby. How on earth can you defend a proven danger, yet lash out at one not?! Funny, if it weren't so serious.

I stand behind Momx3. Laura, you not only called her ignorant, but also everyone that has spoken their mind about what they know on this topic. As Momx3 said there has never been anything that has come out and said that tanning is going to hurt your baby. So to compare drinking and smoking is unfair. So shame on you! We are all aware of the increasing risk of getting skin cancer if we go tanning, but we all have that risk when we walk out into the sun. Don't talk about my vanity and how it is risking my babies health until you know your facts.

I have heard a few different reason of why tanning bed are bad for the baby. number one when in the tanning bed in the begining months of pregnancy it can cause problems with the neural tube which in fact can cause spinal bifida. 2 if a pregnant woman lies directly on her back it causes decreased blood flow to the baby. 3 the heat from the bed can raise your body temp and increasing the chance of brain damage. 4 if your were to develop melanoma cancer it can be transfered through the placenta. If you think your baby can sense light and sound why would the baby not feel the heat from the tanning beds. Every pregnant woman wants to feel pretty but not at the cost of your baby's health

herebia, You're correct you have to be careful not to overheat--from anything, especially the first trimester. Unless you didn't use a fan and tanned for an excessive amount of time, you won't heat to that point in a booth. In fact, I've heard you'd be in pain before getting to that point--from a reputable source. Anyhow, unless you own your own bed at home, you won't be allowed to abuse it. Your #1 and #3 are one in the same. Ok, as far as lying on your back. That is for later in pregnancy. You will know well in advance if it starts to happen, you will feel faint and ready to pa__s out. It'll cause you problems, before baby. Been there, done that durning a late sono.Yes, a sono. You can stand or lay on your side anyhow. #4 I've never heard from any source (including doctors), but regardless the same is said for being outdoors. Cancer does not happen overnight. It takes years typically. I'm a cancer survior. The air you breath can cause cancer, the food you eat...you can't live in a cancer risk free world. It doesn't exist. Nothing you mentioned is tied to tanning, it's all general. The thing you must remember is none of us are avoiding all (every single one) risks, so don't (not meaning you) act like someone else is horrible while you're perfect. Especially when studies prove what you're doing is more dangerous than that person. And no, I don't tan. I'm as pale as they come.

Just wanted to add, my doctors (I have two) approve of tanning. So, I could.

http://www.babyzone.com/features/expertsqa/?QAID=14482&ExpertID=1

Never mind, it won't come up on the right page.

here is what i got off of babycenter dot com. Question: Is it safe to use self-tanning lotions or tanning beds during pregnancy? Answer: If you're not feeling attractive during your pregnancy, the look of sun-kissed skin that a self-tanner provides can 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 during the last 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 is 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 develop melanoma — one of the most deadly types of cancer. Melanoma is the only type of cancer that spreads to the placenta, and that could be disastrous for both you and your baby. If the threat of developing skin cancer doesn't frighten you, consider the possibility that lying in a tanning booth can 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 a__sociated with spinal malformations in developing babies. And then there's the concern that lying on your back too long might restrict blood to your heart and thus to your baby as well. You'll know when this happens because you'll feel lightheaded. Finally, yet one more downside to tanning: Pregnant women with sensitive skin who expose themselves to ultraviolet rays (whether from tanning beds or the sun), may be more prone to chloasma, those dark skin splotches that can appear on the face and occasionally the arms during pregnancy.

No its like cooking the baby in a micowave

Do some research, completely two different things. That is totally false, ask ANY doctor.

Here is another article from ivillage and I will find you some information from a relaible source. When I posted orginally about what I knew it was just that did it mean it was right momx3 no. I was just giving my information that i was aware of and did not need to get attacked by you. You are right things can hurt you everyday from just going outside. There is not alot of studies on this subject so one can not rule out if it poses risk or not it is just the chance you take and if in fact you take that chance their is a possiblity something might go wrong. Everyone is going to have there opinions right or wrong and nobody is for sure right on the subject so get that part right. by the way how about you show me your facts. Q:I am newly pregnant and enjoy using a tanning bed so I can keep a healthy color all winter long. Is it safe to continue using tanning beds throughout my pregnancy? A:Many dermatologists tell us that there is no such thing as a "safe, good or healthy tan." Numerous studies have demonstrated that exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR even at levels attained in an average tanning salon treatment) is hazardous. Repeated exposure to UVR leads to tanning with harmful c_mulative effects. Darkening of the skin represents a defense mechanism against recurrent damage from UVR. Although the ability to tan can be protective, tanned skin ages prematurely and has an increased risk of developing skin cancer. According to a National Inst_tute of Health (NIH) doc_ment Solar Radiation and Exposure to Sunlamps and Sunbeds: "Most tanning bulbs sold in the United States for use in sunbeds emit 'substantial doses of both UVB and UVA'(Swerdlow and Weinstock, 1998, citing 'personal communication from industry sources.' Many of the home and salon devices in the 1980s emitted both UVA and UVB radiation, but current devices emit predominantly UVA (FTC,1997; Sikes,1998)." Some authorities are studying a potential connection between neural tube defects and ultraviolet radiation. They site evidence that shows that the radiation breaks down folate and puts preconceptional and early pregnant women at higher risk for giving birth to a baby with spinal bifida or other types of neural tube defects. One such article, published in 1999 by Jablonski in Medical Hypothesis, concluded that "intense or prolonged periconceptual exposure of women to UV light for recreational or therapeutic reasons should be avoided." The British Medical Journal in 1997 (Volume 314(7089) published an article by Wright et al. which stated "there can be no doubt that sunbeds are widely used and that they carry a risk of inducing skin cancer. Clearly the higher the ultraviolet light output the greater the risk." There have been no controlled studies of the direct effects of tanning or tanning beds on pregnant women or their unborn child. In view of the evidence of damage from ultraviolet radiation to the skin of the mother, however, it makes sense to me to avoid this type of activity for the duration of pregnancy.

Attacked?! Debating is not attacking. Put downs and the like, yes. Just because someone comments or disagrees does not mean you were attacked. I stand by what I said, but thanks anyhow. Just make sure you're (meaning whomever is guilty, not any particular person) not standing in front of your microwave, chowing down on hotdogs, drinking a cola, petting your cat, taking a bubble bath and cleaning with chemicals (those all have proven risks, some minor and some major) at the same time your hounding/judging someone about doing something many doctors ok and say is harmless to baby.

Btw, they came to the idea (it's not proven) overheating was bad (saunas and such) in the first trimester when organs are forming because of ILL women with FEVERS (not shouting, just stressing), not from women overheating. Keep forgetting to add that.

I own a 16 bulb tanning bed and stopped using it since I found out I was pregnant... which I am now 14 weeks along and just out of my 1st trimester. Im seriously thinking of starting back in it again for 15 or 20 minutes at a time...(Its a 30 minute bed so 15 minutes isnt much) I dont see the difference in using my bed or tanning outside on a hot day. As long as a person uses common sense and doesnt over do it by over heating then its "safe", according to 2 different doctors Ive talked to anyway.