29 replies to this topic

[Walter]

How about this flavor Walter?

I wouldn't risk it.

[drdiver]

The regulations are identical (or were the last time I checked).

They aren't identical.

Water standards

Edited by drdiver, 12 April 2005 - 07:58 AM.

[Sophia]

How about this flavor Walter?

I wouldn't risk it.

Wenchie just can't stand the idea of not getting wet for 9+ months.

[WreckWench]

Sophia you are right! But the truth is that I want to know why I'm taking certain precautions and that they are valid. When all else fails you opt for...'don't take any needless risks' however I could justify a lot of things under that heading that might not be practical, reasonable nor warrented.

I just want to know what is available and if the best answer is...'we don't know and therefore avoid it' then so be it, however in the lack of real information, I'm still curious.

For example using your analogy of eating organic veggies etc AFTER you know you are pregnant...it is actually imperative that you eat that sensible diet now prior to becoming pregnant to prepare the body for a healthy child and of course because most women do not realize that they are pregnant for a period of critical time in the early stages of pregnancy. But most women do not in fact prepare for pregnancy this way and many are not aware for a number of weeks that they are pregnant and yet they usually give birth to healthy and happy babies. So the point is that we should do a number of things that will ensure a healthy child...and of course if we know better than we need to do better...but my question focuses on what do we know and what are the consequences of say diving during the first trimester assuming you do not know you are pregnant for some portion of that time?

[Walter]

Thanks Dennis.

the EPA requires that tap water be monitored for asbestos, while the FDA imposes no such requirement on bottled-water manufacturers

some standards for bottled water are stricter than for tap, such as those for fluoride and lead. But some are not. Bottled-water companies aren't required to disinfect or test for parasites such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia--a requirement for city tap water.

RO is still the way to go.

[intotheblue]

WW wrote:  I just want to know what is available and if the best answer is...'we don't know and therefore avoid it' then so be it, however in the lack of real information, I'm still curious.

Hey WW... since so little is known about the detrimental effects of diving on the pregnancy and development of the unborn child, and since you have the need for elevated partial pressures of nitrogen and oxygen... why don't you lead a study group for the benefit of development of proper information on the subject... and then we may KNOW if there are really detrimental effects... Maybe it will actually "BENEFIT" the unborn child... once enough science is known over a longer period of time (yeah, right). Reminds me of the movie SLEEPER... smoking was actually found to be good for you... (sure). BTW, those elevated partial pressures will affect the unborn child too... you can help us know in what way!

Seriously, one of the links said there has not been enough diving by pregnant women to develope historical evidence... ever since it became recommended to avoid diving when trying to become pregnant or during pregnancy. Until some of you women will step forward and risk yourselves and your unborn children... we'll probably never know.

As far as other risks are concerned... some are easy to avoid and should logically be avoided... others are not so easy to avoid. I don't know what the incidence of miscarriages is between the women who smoked during pregnancies vs. those who didn't, but I suspect that all other things being the same, non smoking produced healthier babies. Drinking...? Breathing air? Speeding? Eating junk food? Well, some are easier than others to "decide" to avoid and a reasonable argument can be made to avoid them. Breathing air for instance is hard to avoid, although we can avoid breathing air in unhealthy places, to some extent.

Now I like diving more than almost anyone... but if I were pregnant... I'd be an instant millionaire!!!


ITB

[dustbowl diver]

I find all of this very interesting-particularly the discussion on water!!


OK- I'm not pregnant (whew-just a tad overweight even though the health guidlines say that for my height and age I should be around 175 pounds-hell I haven't weighed that since I was in the 7th grade!!). When my ex was pregnant, I thought it was my duty to gain weight with her!! So, since I do not know anyone who is currently pregnant or thinking about it!

Or do I??????????????????????????????????????????????????

DBD

[WreckWench]

Or do I??????????????????????????????????????????????????

Well you know one person thinking about it...or at least thinking about the impact of diving on it...and I'm sure other women are curious as well.

I wonder if the loving husband/father in the equation would be willing to give up diving for 9+ months to support the baby? Or more realistically the wife???? Just curious where the male of the species weighs in at on not diving during the woman's pregnancy especially when they are the ones not diving!

[Walter]

I wonder if the loving husband/father in the equation would be willing to give up diving for 9+ months to support the baby? Or more realistically the wife????

That's a situation that must be dealt with on an individual basis. If the mother has no issue with him continuing to dive, it's a moot point. If I were the guy in question and she needed me to stop diving while she does for emotional support, I wouldn't hesitate to stop diving until she could again begin diving. I did not dive from July 28, 1996 until February 28, 1998 because of commitments to my family. Family has to come first. OTOH, my children are now adults, I'm not looking to have more at this stage of my life, so it's a moot point for me.

[BabyDuck]

gosh, never expected to start anything! i haven't read the linked articles yet, and i know nothing about the effects of diving on pregnancy, but i bet they all say 'we don't know so don't do it', kinda like has already been said.

i *do* know the medication pregnancy categories, just to give examples of how much isn't known about even common stuff and pregnency. category 'a' meds have been studied and are considered safe. there are a few, but not many, in this category. 'b' meds might have a few human studies or animal studies and nothing bad has happened so far. this also covers a few meds. 'c' are 'gee, we don't have any proof of anything happening to animals' or 'no studies have been done. at all'. this is by far the biggest category and lots of very common meds used during pregnancy are officially here. it's the 'risks & benefits' category - you get to weigh for yourself. 'd' has known risks, and 'x' cause birth defects or fetal death. the main reason for the large 'we don't know' category is that no drug company is stupid enough to set up a study of pregnant women to see what happens.

so personally, while i would drink water and dye my hair and eat non-organic veggies and use my albuterol inhaler, i wouldn't dive, go heavy on high-mercury fish, eat lead paint chips, or go to cocktail hour. it's all in what you can live without doing and live with having done while pregnant.

[dustbowl diver]

Or do I??????????????????????????????????????????????????

Well you know one person thinking about it...or at least thinking about the impact of diving on it...and I'm sure other women are curious as well.

I wonder if the loving husband/father in the equation would be willing to give up diving for 9+ months to support the baby? Or more realistically the wife???? Just curious where the male of the species weighs in at on not diving during the woman's pregnancy especially when they are the ones not diving!

Since you raised the question, I'll gladly offer my 2 psi.

Prior to my sons arrival, I was playing softball 3 days a week-bad decision!!! Playing golf every other weekend-another poor choice!! While the ex forgave me for these lapses of judgement, she would occaisionally remind me how she could have used the support either emotional or physical during the pregnancy!!

Walter is correct-family consideration have to come first and I remind the 5 individuals that report to me of this when it is required.

For me today-not a hard choice, I went 20 years without getting wet-I can do it again if necessary!!! Point of clarification, I am not in the market for an opportunity to be a dad-hard enough situation with the child I have today via long distance.

Any other thought out there???????


DBD

[WreckWench]

gosh, never expected to start anything! i haven't read the linked articles yet, and i know nothing about the effects of diving on pregnancy, but i bet they all say 'we don't know so don't do it', kinda like has already been said.

i *do* know the medication pregnancy categories, just to give examples of how much isn't known about even common stuff and pregnency. category 'a' meds have been studied and are considered safe. there are a few, but not many, in this category. 'b' meds might have a few human studies or animal studies and nothing bad has happened so far. this also covers a few meds. 'c' are 'gee, we don't have any proof of anything happening to animals' or 'no studies have been done. at all'. this is by far the biggest category and lots of very common meds used during pregnancy are officially here. it's the 'risks & benefits' category - you get to weigh for yourself. 'd' has known risks, and 'x' cause birth defects or fetal death. the main reason for the large 'we don't know' category is that no drug company is stupid enough to set up a study of pregnant women to see what happens.

so personally, while i would drink water and dye my hair and eat non-organic veggies and use my albuterol inhaler, i wouldn't dive, go heavy on high-mercury fish, eat lead paint chips, or go to cocktail hour. it's all in what you can live without doing and live with having done while pregnant.

Thank you babyduck...your perspective is very enlightening. And btw...thanks for being the catalyst for this great topic of discussion! -ww

[kevininpo]

If pregnant, you should eliminate all possible factors which could harm the baby - diving, smoking, caffeine, alcohol.........  It's a small price to pay for a healthy child.

For that matter, why not also avoid tap water, power lines, city living and snack foods? Where does one draw the line at protection from "all possible factors which could harm the baby"? Sure, the factors you list are the most commonsensical and risky, but let's be honest: millions of healthy babies have been born to women who smoked and drank alcohol/caffeine during their pregnancies (I am one, as are many on this board, I suspect).

We as a society have gone overboard in the past 20 years trying to eliminate all possible risk from all possible facets of life in the good ol' USA. Hence the lawsuit culture, lengthy warning lables, child-proof lids that adults can't open, and on and on.... Michael Crichton defined this "state of fear" well in his latest book (titled "State of Fear") by calling it a "near-hysterical preoccupation with safety that’s at best a waste of resources and a crimp on the human spirit, and at worst an invitation to totalitarianism."

I realize this post is off-topic, so feel free to ignore me once I step off my soapbox. But Walter's comments struck a chord, and if you know anything about guitar-playing, when you strike a chord, music comes forth! (Or discordant noise, depending on what you think of my opinions.)

p.s. As a general nod toward the direction of on-topic-ness, I do agree that it's more prudent to avoid diving than even cigarette smoking while pregnant, because apparently so little is known about the risks/potential effects.

bravo

[steelemagnolia6]

There has not been a very intense study on the effects of diving on the fetus. It is my opinion, and only mine, that is is not worth the risk to the child. I am sure that there are a multitude of issuses that could come up. Take the time off enjoy this time and before long you'll have a happy healthy baby and a happy healthy you!!! And just think with all of us around lots of aunts and uncles to jiggle the kiddo!!!

As a mother who gave up everything that anyone could condsider bad even 22 years ago for my daughter to be healthy, and somewhat normal (but who's knows if they are normal until they are about 30 right??). I know that it's worth it...

[Sophia]

There has not been a very intense study on the effects of diving on the fetus. It is my opinion, and only mine, that is is not worth the risk to the child.

I agree with you.

I was shocked to find how they came up with the Oxygen Toxicity tables. Basically they put soldier 'volunteers' in a big tub of water and changed the conditions until they convulsed. I don't know what the long term effects of an underwater convulsion is, but it can't be beneficial.