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Original poster

Laptops and overfussing!

18 replies

Darnsarfupnorf · 10/02/2011 20:30

Might sound daft but now its been mentioned its planted that seed of doubt!

My dads one of those who hears something in the news and goes OTT on it for a while then forgets about it and while I was staying with them over xmas he was going on and on at my brother for having the laptop on his knee and how itll make him infertile etc (a valid point as its got research behind it but my brother is 18 and isnt really going to care!)
when I then got my laptop out and had it on my knee I got the 'err should you really be doing that' lecture (not because itl make me infertile but because the laptop was quite close to my then 29 week bump) I know he was only mentioning it because he doesnt want a deformed granddaughter but ill save the moan for AIBU!!

so now, having not heard any reasearch/government warnings/midwife warnings etc on the subject and tbh not even thinking about it til he mentioned it Im left wondering if having my laptop/wireless internet near my now 34 week bump do any damage?

he hadnt heard anything, he was going on the assumption that because it has effects on men and its essentialy a kind of radiation then itll harm baby too

any ideas?

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PukeyMummy · 10/02/2011 21:17

My DH also fussed about this when I was pg with DD1.

Apart from the two heads, she's fine. Wink

Catsmamma · 10/02/2011 21:20

hmmm...this is probably not going to help, but I do recall a furoré about wireless phones, round about the whole "Mobiles will fry your brains" time

the powers that be were also dissing cordless normal phones, but it sort of went a bit quiet

Mind you when I was pg my mother told me not to use the microwave! Confused

Original poster
Darnsarfupnorf · 10/02/2011 21:56

haha pukey i can deal with the 2 heads its the webbed fingers that worry me...Grin

nooo cats not the microwave!! :p

ill just assume its all fine then and when shes bron with to many limbs ill just have to be greatful that theres more to love :p

thanks :)

OP posts:
lurcherlover · 10/02/2011 22:35

I spent hours every night with my laptop on my knee while pregnant, onmumsnet doing important work. DS is absolutely fine. I'm pretty sure that laptops produce different kinds of radiation to phones, and they're harmless. I think the risk to men is because laptops get hot, and heat is bad for sperm production, rather than because of any radiation.

Original poster
Darnsarfupnorf · 11/02/2011 01:37

Fab :) no 2 headed babies for meee!!

although i will post when shes born to blame you all for any deformities :p

OP posts:
kikibo · 11/02/2011 14:35

Actually, wireless internet does produce the same kind of radiation as a mobile phone and a cordless phone in the house, but the difference is that those two things, as opposed to genuine mobile phones, produce less intense radiation because the range is smaller. A mobile phone needs to connect over miles, where a cordless one and wireless only needs a range of 50 metres.

That said, it probably does have a small effect on fertility, but I would not think it is very dramatic and I don't think it would cause a miscarriage or similar.

That does not mean of course that you should go and sit in the very room next to the modem or phone the whole time, though. That will probably not be very good.

The effect on the brain that mobile phones have is proven, but if you do not spend literally hours on that phone to people, it shouldn't be a problem. If you wll exceed the time limit of 10 minutes on end, use a plugable ear piece as then the phone will not be held anywhere near your head, and never give it to any child for a long period of time to hold to their ear, as scientists have not bee able to investigate whether what the effect on a child's brain is, due to lack of time (the mobile phone hs only bee in use properly since the 90s).

Don't worry about it, though, it'll be all alright.

tlise · 11/02/2011 15:13

You shouldn't have it on your lap anyway despite it being called a laptop, as there is no space for air to circulate (being as the fan is underneath) so unless you don't want to have to buy a new one regularly, I would suggest putting it on a table ;)

Hubby goes mental if I keep my mobile in a pocket while I am pregnant in case it can hurt the baby. And if I stand in the kitchen while the microwave is on lol.

ckny1 · 11/02/2011 15:44

DH and I were wondering about this in the beginning of my pregnancy b/c I use the laptop while sitting up in bed constantly when at home!!! Now I have it resting on a book on my maternity pillow so it's not touching my body, though it's still close to the bump...

A friend once said she turned off all wireless things (mobiles, laptops, etc.) at night when sleeping so that there are at least 8 hours a day when she was not being irradiated. Hmm

Original poster
Darnsarfupnorf · 11/02/2011 19:50

see this is bugging me, some people are so OTT and nannying about things that i tend to dismiss them but i dont know how much truth is behind them Confused

i tried having it ona table but it hurt after a bit but i like the book/cusion idea :)

more research needed me thinks! thanks guys x

OP posts:
tlise · 11/02/2011 20:58

Sometimes I use those lap trays, that have cushions under them. They work just as well :)

Original poster
Darnsarfupnorf · 11/02/2011 21:34

ooo good ldea, mums got some at hers...might pilfer one :p

OP posts:
isthismadness · 11/02/2011 21:53

So what do you think of kids using iPhones? Not to make calls but to play with apps.
Is there less radiation when you're not making a call??

Roopachoo · 11/02/2011 22:17

Same as tlise. I always use a lap tray too.

Original poster
Darnsarfupnorf · 12/02/2011 01:40

thats a point isthis i hadnt thought about it...
i suppose because youve got the phone and the wireless its twice as bad?? i dont really know how they work though tbh Confused

OP posts:
tlise · 12/02/2011 11:32

You can turn wireless off though as far as I know, but I think its more phone calls wise and then its when its close to their head cos of being near their brain as their skulls aren't as thick..

LDNmummy · 12/02/2011 12:24

Well my DP and I checked this out along with microwave usage during pregnancy. I have never been a fan of standing close to a microwave so I guess I had questions about using these things in pregnancy too. Apparently, depending on the make and safety features of a microwave, you shouldn't even be in the same room as one when its on if you are pregnant! Also, though not enough research has been done, best to avoid laptop near bump, just as a precaution. My DP who is not one of these wierdos (like me) who fears everything, is now fussy over laptop being near bump or me being in kitchen when microwave is on. Very surprising reaction from him!

Thing is, it may not be proven harmful, but IMO, unless its proven safe, better to avoid it.

tlise · 12/02/2011 15:11

You can get microwave testers to see if it is leaking. The newer ones should be fine, if its leaking its not safe for anyone even if you're not in the same room lol.

The trouble is you can't not keep your laptop near your bump unless you have mr fantastic arms..
Found some previous discussions tho when googled..

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/isitsafeto/vduexpert/

www.babyzone.com/askanexpert/are-laptops-safe-during-pregnancy/

forum.baby-gaga.com/about136712.html

www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-questions-answers/radiation-and-pregnancy.html

tlise · 12/02/2011 15:14

Had to share this one though, Loved the last post at the bottom!!!! So its my fault DD is a computer addict! lol

www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=433968

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