Changing a Light Bulb While Pregnant

okay i had to giggle only a little... why would you put your finger in there pregnant or not?! thats what GUYS are for, LOL!! seriously though, dont everrr do that, you could really fry yourself. as for the baby, if all you felt was a minor buzz, im sure everything is fine. you would probably shock yourself worse with static electricity than what you felt! but please, really, dont go sticking your fingers in there anymore... get your hubs to do it!! if you havent forgotten about this, ask your doctor when you see him/ her next... or call their office anyway, im sure a nurse can answer your question and settle your mind :)

At 5 weeks Preg, I rode roller coasters, My gyn said it may make me sick but if i was going to do it, that was the time. At about 4 months preg. I was shocked trying to repair and outlet. You and your baby growing inside you are alot more durable than you think. i mean really think about all the crackheads that get high everyday and most of them have relativly healthy babies too. So dont worry over the small things that may happen while your pregnant.

I was shocked while plugging in a clothes dryer that hadn't been grounded (about 30wks pregnant). That was a shock that traveled up my arm. My obgyn had me go in and do a stress test "just to be safe." Everything was fine.
The best part was watching the electrician who originally installed the outlet (and who thought I was exagerating about getting shocked) just back and yelp when it happened to him! ;)

Good luck with your pregnancy!

I shocked myself by touching an uncovered light switch when I was pregnant too. I was also worried about what that could do to a baby, but my baby was born completely healthy.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Good luck and congratulations on the pregnancy!

Never stick your finger in a light socket or anything electrical, pregnant or not. You and the baby are fine however, you would definitely know if you were not. Lastly, when in doubt, call your doctor.

HI K.,

I worked with network electronics all through my first pregnancy and I can tell you that baby will be just fine. A mild tingle like the one you're talking about is pretty much harmless. Just be careful, that's all. A larger shock can have all kinds of health consequences even if you're NOT prego.

On a different note, what kind of lightbulbs are you using? If it's compact flourescent bulbs (the high efficiency kind), you need to have the hubs handle them while you're pregnant and nursing. They are FULL of mercury (many, MANY times the amount of mercury found in tuna and other seafoods) and very hazardous to the health if broken. California even recommends a HAZMAT team for clean up and disposal of broken bulbs (at huge expense I might add). I've been through asbestos handling training in the military and I can tell you that the recommended clean up procedures of these bulbs if broken is almost EXACTLY the same as the recommended clean up procedures for asbestos/asbestos dust. It's a shame that the president is pushing something so hazardous just to cater to his energy plan, but there it is....big government hard at work. Please be very careful, mercury is particularly poisonous to fetuses.