DH and I are on our babymoon and thought about going to the casinos one night. I won't be crushed if we don't go but DH usually has a good time and I figured I can get lots of Shirley Temples. 
Anyway, a couple friends of mine said that your body filters out the second hand smoke for your baby. I have been looking online and haven't seen anything about that. My OB was on the fence. If we were to go I would, of course, avoid anyone smoking, go outside for fresh air and generally use my common sense. There is one non-smoking casino that we might check out but it sounds really small.
I obviously don't want to risk my little guy for a couple hours in a casino but I am not getting a clear answer so I figured others might know.
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I wouldnt, because I'm really not a casino person. Also, while I'm pregnant, my nose is crazy sensitive, so I know I couldn't handle the smoke. That being said, you're probably okay for a little bit, if you're stepping out for fresh air.
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I personally would not. However, I am not a huge casino person anyway. It would probably be fine as long as you got plenty of fresh air.
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I went to a casino when I was about 14 weeks pregnant. Probably not the best decision on my end, but I had a lot of fun that night! Although honestly, I probably wouldn't go again while pregnant.
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My worry would be the amount of smoke and how much you can realistically avoid it. Where I live, the few times I have gone into a casino it has always reeked of smoke and that was not pregnant. Maybe go check how bad the smoke is and then decide, with a plan b prepared too?
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I went when I was 32 weeks pregnant for Superbowl. I just made sure to take lots of breaks to get some fresh air. It was snowing when we went so it was kind of nice to stand out in the cold for a few minutes, I was so hot when I was pregnant! And we watched the game inside a pizza place within the casino so the air was nice and filtered inside.
If you do go, be prepared for dirty looks! I got so many from all the old ladies. It's not like I was drinking and smoking myself. But I do enjoy playing blackjack!
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Casino, yes.
Smoking, no.
If there is a non-smoking casino option I'd do that. -
If you can tolerate cigarette smoke go for it. Plenty of pregnant women that actually smoke deliver healthy babies.
Personally, I'd steer clear because I cannot stand cigarette smoke and that's how I voted.
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I would check out the non-smoking casino for sure but probably not the smoking ones.
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I'd probably be ok going (unless it was just ridiculously smoky), but probably only for about an hour. I actually love playing craps, but I've found that after an hour or so I'm ready to leave. Is there a spa? Maybe you could get a prenatal massage while your DH gambles?
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Turns out the only non-smoking one had closed down.
Anyone know what my friends were talking about with your body filtering out second and third hand smoke? -
if it were vegas, i would say yes because it's pretty filtered out. any more janky casinos, like in laughlin, i would say no. ha.
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@birdofafeather: Now sure if it makes a difference but we are in Tahoe.
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@simplyfelicity: i'm not familiar with the casinos there, but i would go check it out and if it's too smoky, just head back to the hotel! in vegas, i can barely tell anyone is smoking. in the less nice casinos i've been it, it's pretty obvious that people are smoking and it bothers me.
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@simplyfelicity: eh, I was not happy about it but M's step sister smoked a lot while she was pregnant (so much drama over it) well she delivered a healthy 9+ lb baby who is a delightful one year old. Scoping it out for a few minutes to see what your level of comfort is would be what I would do. I have no heard anything about your body filtering out smoke.
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@simplyfelicity: I've been to Tahoe many times, that's actually where we went when I was pregnant! If I'm remembering correctly Montbleu wasn't too bad smoke-wise. Are you staying in a casino or somewhere else? We stayed in the casino for a night and being able to go up to my room for a break was nice. When we were staying at a cabin I would just go outside when we were at the casinos.
Honestly, I think I might be more laid back because my parents smoked for most of my life.
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I went to Vegas 8 months pregnant with my oldest. I was definitely sensitive to the smells (which I couldn't avoid anywhere, even their airport smells like smoke). If someone sat down next to me who was smoking, I would walk away or ask them to stop, but other than that, I agree with the suggestions to just go in the fresh air whenever possible.
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DH actually asked this of one of our OBs when I was pregnant with LO and we went to a Dave Matthews concert. He was more concerned about second hand weed smoke. My OB didn't have any concerns there, and if you're only going for a few hours, I don't know that I would worry all that much about it. I would also just head outside for some fresh air every once in a while whenever you can.
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@simplyfelicity: Um, I think your friends are full of crap. Sorry.
I'm personally not comfortable exposing myself or my baby to secondhand smoke.
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I went to one for a couple of hours when I was pregnant the first time. It wasn't too smoky, so I felt ok about it, but I wouldn't have gone for more than a couple of hours.
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@LAZB: That's kind of the plan, to go for less than a couple of hours. It's actually the off-season in Tahoe so there probably won't be many people anyway. We decided to check it out and to leave if it is really smoky.
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Eh, I'd probably go and just not sit next to someone who is smoking. The casinos are usually so big it's not like you're walking through a cloud of smoke.
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I went to Vegas for work during my first pregnancy around 20-21 weeks. I hung out in the casino and gambled for a few hours on one night.
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Your baby wouldn't be inhaling the smoke so wouldn't be getting the fine particulates in the lungs like anyone breathing it in, but as far as I know chemicals themselves that could hit your bloodstream could also be exposed to the baby.
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Lots of them have non smoking areas. At least here, they do.
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I probably wouldn't freak out over a few hours of second hand smoke exposure.
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Depends on where. I went with DH to Vegas when I was 4 mo pregnant. I had a great time and found that unless someone was smoking right next to me, the ventilation was really good at removing the smoke. Go for it while you can!!
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I was probably overly cautious about avoiding smoke (making a wide path around people smoking outside on the sidewalks). And while I did not go to any casinos while pregnant, I did end up at a bar/ honky took place that had smoking- it's been so long since bars allowed smoking in my state that I forgot other places allow it! I was with friend who wanted to stay so I just stood in the big open window for a few hours but felt pretty unhappy about it anyway.
I wouldn't go to the casino because I don't really like them anyway and I feel like I'd be too anxious to enjoy myself anyway.
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We went when I was like 36 weeks pregnant. We just avoided tables where people were smoking. And if I remember correctly there were non-smoking areas/tables.
It's not like I'm pro-secondhand smoke while pregnant, but I feel that a couple of hours in a large, air conditioned and ventilated casino isn't going to do any harm. I just think it's a real stretch to say that's going to harm your baby. -
i've always found even the large casinos to be pretty smokey. if i really wanted to go to the casino, i would probably figure that one night of secondhand smoke is okay.
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I wouldn't, but only because smoke gives me a huge headache and I can't stand it.
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@danda: This may have been what my friends were referring to. Thanks for the info! It's not something I would do for long or often but this makes sense.
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@SweetiePie: This is pretty much where I stand. Doesn't mean I think second hand smoke is "fine." Similarly, I think there is a big difference between having a couple sips of DH'S beer every month or so vs having a couple each night.
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DH and I regularly do our overnight date nights at the hotel/casino downtown (FIL has tons of comps), and I've been avoiding it. The smoke is just too much. We might schedule one for later this month, but I'll be relaxing in the room/spa/gym/pool side. DH might have a buddy come down so that he has someone to gamble with at night.
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@simplyfelicity: exactly! That's a great comparison. I had a glass of wine on my baby moon in Italy, but I didnt/wouldn't do it regularly.
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I wouldn't. I really dislike the smell of cigarette smoke after being around it so much growing up.
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I voted I would not, but the fact that I would not enjoy it much would factor heavily in the calculus.
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Sure, in the grand scheme of how many days you are pregnant, a few hours in a casino is no biggy as long as it doesn't bother you. But I live on the edge and don't really follow many of those pregnancy "rules." Do what you are comfortable with, but you won't have a chance to do this again for a while
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I mean, I generally just hate the smell of smoke so I tend to avoid casinos. However, if it's something you enjoy I don't think a few hours in a casino is going to have much of an impact on your baby.
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I did, because it was a Vegas trip already planned (meeting other people not just DH and me) and I found out about the pregnancy the week of the trip. I probably wouldn't have otherwise though.
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42 comments