Help! Pregnant drummer - safe or not?

[Rebecca]

Hello, fellow drummers!

I'm new to this forum - I've only just found out about it and it rocks!

I'm in a bit of a pickle so I thought I'd see whether anyone else has been/is in the same situation I'm in. I'm a very noisy, loud, arms-legs-and-hair-flying-everywhere punk rock drummer and I've just found out that I'm pregnant. Whilst this is very good news, I'm worried that I might harm the poor little chap/chappette if I continue to (a) drum generally and/or (b) continue to drum in the bonkers style I'm known for. My doctor doesn't think the physical side of it should harm me or the child (within reason), but he's not sure about the vibrations of sitting so close to such a loud instrument.

Has anyone else been in this situation or does anyone know somebody who has? Any advice/experiences would be much appreciated!

Rebecca

[Maggis]

Your dilema has given me a good laugh can't really offer any help though apart from maybe get an electronic kit and play with headphones or work on on your paradidles through the pregnancy

[EngineerGrl]

Rebecca,

I have not experienced your situation personally but have a few suggestions:

Babies in the womb can hear! What do you want your baby exposed to while in the womb? Keep that in mind.

I would suggest that you keep practicing but not so loud. Perhaps a practice drum set would be in order -- you can beat the crap out of them with very little noise. Electronic drums are an option albeit an expensive one.

Muffle your drums -- put folded towels or something similar over the heads, even the cymbels. Tighten the wing nuts on the cymbels so they can't ring as much. Use thinner sticks -- I'm assuming that you are using fat sticks. Try anything that will lesson the sound while allowing you to keep playing.

Hope this helps you find a solution ...

[Maggis]

You can stick gaffa tape underneith your cymbals too... Or you could learn the bass instead so the baby comes out with a sense of rhythm ;D

[drummerboy1991]

yeah just keep playing and your babys iq will be higher the docs say let IT listen to music so let it then it will have beats in ITs blood [just dont play as loud]