Sunscreen in pregnancy

[giddywithglee]

I've just had a moment of panic as I liberally applied my sunscreen that perhaps I shouldn't be using it - are there special suncreams I should be buying? that don't include certain chemicals that can be absorbed through my skin and poison junior (I didn't used to be this paranoid, honest!)?

suncream is fine, and recommended in fact, esp if you are wearing a bikini, as the skin is stretched, so is more sensitive and over a greater surface area than normal.

How far along are you? Generally speaking, in the UK very few people worry about sunscreen (nor other cosmetics). Other places, it is more of an issue.
Most sunscreens do have hormonally active substances in them. Usually they are of the "anti-androgen" type which might have an effect on your baby, particularly if it is a boy.
I did some research on this before I went on holiday and it seems that the risk of harming your baby through sunscreens is lower than the risks to your baby by you getting sunburn.
However, if you can avoid it, why not avoid it?

What you can always use instead is baby sunscreen. These tend to be on a mineral basis with no chemical/hormonally active component. They also work instantly and don't have to be applied 30 minutes in advance, as they work on the surface of the skin rather than by reacting with your skin inside. What's safe for babies is surely safe for pregnant women too, right?

But, I wouldn't worry about having poisoned your baby. Definitely not by applying it once.

MMMM. meita, I agree with your comments about chemicals in suncreams (and make-up)but many, many baby suncreams and other baby creams/bath products are full of eostrogenic chemicals (Methel and Ethel Parabens), which I find shocking (you'd assume "baby" products would avoid these.

I'd suggest reading the label and avoiding anything with a chemical name ending in "Paraben". Some products now say "Paraben free" on the front of the bottle. Anything Organic should be Paraben free.

In some countries women are now being told to avoid makeup and creams during pregnancy, unless these are Paraben-free (almost all make up is full of nasty chemicals, unless the label says otherwise, or it's organic).

Yes, good points. But ultimately if you have to be in the sun, there are many many reasons for you to wear sunscreen, for your benefit and for the baby's. I.e. never go into the sunshine without it

we use an organic one from the health food shop (yaoh maybe), it smells nice and has served both DD and I really well so far, have used it in July in Minorca and I am very fair and not burnt once.

Liz Earle does a nice mineral sunscreen

Just avoid the suncreams with insect repellant in them.