Worried about firework exposure

[YourSnappyPombear]

Feel a bit silly having to ask this. So I’m currently 20 weeks pregnant and I was just wondering about the effects of fireworks on the fetus inside. I was walking around outside for about half an hour when the firework had started to go off around the area I live in. I’m worried that the exposure to the fireworks, with the loud sounds and bad smells, may have affected my unborn baby. They appear to be moving as normal but I’m really paranoid. Can anyone give me reassurance?

They will be fine.

How do you think that noises and smells could affect your baby really?

Your baby will be absolutely fine, it will have caused no harm.

Maybe time to practice the breathing you might find useful in labour op. No harm ever came or can come to a pregnancy caused by fireworks.. Unless you sit on one.

Where have you found information that it may be harmful?

Baby will be perfectly fine and you need to chill out, are you worrying about other things as well? Maybe speak to your midwife about your anxiety.

I have struggled with anxiety before so I suppose everything is worse now with me being pregnant

Anxiety is tough OP. Maybe speak to your midwife for some support 💗

I have just read up on Google that exposure to the chemicals in fireworks can harm the baby as well as the loud noises, I’ve heard that can affect their hearing.

It's fine OP, it's not a thing I've ever heard of being an issue. (I expect a LOT of smoke very close up wouldn't be great, much like cigarette smoke, but just having them around and about won't be harmful.) And I was extremely anxious when pregnant - so I really relate and I know how it feels, but if this was a problem I would have found out about it!

Feeling extra-anxious (and generally emotional) is pretty normal for pregnancy but do talk to your midwife it it feels out of control, or just start by having a google for advice. There are ways of calming yourself down, breathing exercises etc and although you might not want or be able to take medication for it, there are foods that can help too.

(The same with noise - being right up close could maybe startle the baby, but fireworks as general background noise is not going to be a problem. FWIW I went to a very loud rock concert when very pregnant, but baby had no hearing problems.)

Thanks for the reassurance. Sometimes I just get in my head and think worst case scenarios

Please get some help for your anxiety. You will end up passing on this to your child and ruining their life.

As your child isn't breathing (it's in amniotic fluid) how could it possibly be affected by smells?

Did you put fireworks up your vagina? Because if so then yes it could impact your baby,

The fumes not the smells sorry. I phrased it wrong. I just meant the toxins that are in the bonfire smoke and fireworks

You’ve “heard”, where have you heard all this?

Ah don’t worry it will be fine. I took my older children to firework displays when pregnant x

Unless you're using one as a dildo, baby will be fine.

Get help for your anxiety.

Wear a thicker jumper to muffle the sounds.

😏

Now is a great time to seek support for your anxiety because the NHS prioritises pregnant women for mental health support.

If you suffer from anxiety anyway, the best advice I can give you for pregnancy is to step away from Google.
I'm 19+4, it's fine honestly.

I mean, yeah, if you worked in a firework factory with a sideline as a firework tester in a closed room, the fumes could potentially harm the baby.

But firework fumes in the atmosphere won't do any harm at all.

Sorry that was actually really harsh but seriously please get some help. Your baby can't be hurt by you walking around a hearing some fireworks

Recommend you read Expecting Better by Emily Oster. She takes a data driven view about what to avoid what not to sorry bout with the data to support it.
Remember women have been have babies throughout the history of the world so you need to get your concern into some context o you don't ruin this joyous experience for yourself

Babies are born for and well in war zones, OP.

Have you ever put your ears in the bath water while music is playing/someone is talking to you? That’s basically how the outside world sounds to your baby.

(my dad (musician) walloped a massive gong right next to my mum when she was about 8 months pregnant with me. Apart from doing a somersault in her belly, I was absolutely fine.)

I'm 23 weeks with a pattern of movement already.. went to a huge firework display 2 days ago. Baby is fine (just had a scan today) and he's been moving as usual. Baby will be fine!