Nearly all pregnant women come into contact with chemicals that may harm their baby. It’s normally so small that you do not have to fear it, but when you are pregnant, it’s always good to avoid such toxic products. Take a look at some of the toxic products to avoid during pregnancy.
What Are ‘Toxic’ Products?
We’re surrounded by chemicals and toxins (poisons). This includes chemicals in the garden, furniture flame retardants, lead, mercury, and some cleaning items.
Most of your chemicals will not affect your baby during your daily life. However, if you may have long been exposed to vast amounts of chemicals, your child could be at greater risk of congenital or potential health conditions.
You will penetrate your bloodstream and transfer to your baby through the placenta if you breathe or swallow any chemicals. Your infant can also be exposed to toxins when they are born via breastmilk or when they place their fingers in their mouths.
These tips will help you limit the exposure while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Toxic Products To Avoid During Pregnancy
It is known that certain pesticides (bug killers) and herbicides (weed killers) harm babies who are developing and newborns. Pesticides used at home and for specialist pest therapy are generally safe. So it’s good to avoid them when you are pregnant as far as possible. Ask someone else to do the treatment for you like a licensed pest control specialist. Some of the toxic products to avoid during pregnancy are:
1. Paint
Most of the paint fumes are safe while you are pregnant, but there is a slightly higher risk of using solvent-based paints or stripping old paint as they may contain traces of lead. Choose a water-based color and a paintbrush or roller instead of spraying (which contains solvents). Be sure space is well ventilated whether you’re painting, or someone else’s doing it for you.
Image Source – Pixabay
2. Nail polish
Formaldehyde – a chemical used in nail polish, some cosmetics, and hair-relieving products – may induce skin irritation in some people, although there is no indication that it causes birth defects. Your clots are now and then safe to paint because of the extremely minimal amount of formaldehyde in nail polish and the gradual decomposition. Although it is safer to reduce formaldehyde use, as is the case for all chemicals.
Image Source – Pixabay
3. Mosquito repellent
All mosquito repellents have been tested and are safe to use in Australia. However a limited amount of DEET or picaridin chemicals will enter the skin and it is better to take care of them during the first 3 months of pregnancy Pick a repulsive with a low to moderate concentration of the chemical – between 5% and 20% – and suggest other options to avoid mosquitoes, such as fly screens and long sleeves.
4. Mercury
Being exposed to extremely high levels of mercury will affect your health and increase the risk of brain damage and hearing and vision issues in a developing child. Any of the fish possess mercury, like a shark (flake), broadbill, marlin, and swordfish. To be safe, these fish species should be only eaten once a quince by pregnant women. Check with your dentist about choices that do not contain mercury if you need a dental filling.
5. Arsenic
For pregnant women arsenic is problematic. Arsenic can cause many complications for the infant when it comes in contact with the body during pregnancy.
The main effects of arsenic contact during pregnancy are miscarriage and stillbirth. It may also have detrimental impacts on the mother’s health and indirectly on the baby’s health. Arsenic can cause problems such as high blood pressure and anemia during pregnancy, even though it is just in small quantities. It can also lead to cancer and diabetes in pregnant women if found in higher concentrations.
6. Cleaning products
Although most cleaning products are safe, some household chemical products in early childhood have been reported to induce wheezing. To be on the safe side, wear masks to avoid breathing in the smoke of products such as oven and tile cleaners.
7. Mothballs (naphthalene)
Mothballs contain the chemical naphthalene, which has been known to give people headaches, nausea, dizziness and vomiting. It can also lead to serious health problems in small children because they are more likely to put mothballs in their mouths. Don’t use mothballs around children under 3 years and make sure they’re stored safely.
8. Organic Solvents
Many toxins, which are typically present in substances such as paint thinners, varnish removers and degreasers, are protected by organic solvents. Alcohols, toluene, benzene, xylene, and ether are used.
Exposure to any of these solvents, such as spina bifida, clubfoot, hearing disorders and the like will lead to serious issues in the infant. Exposure to glycol during pregnancy, for example, can lead to the baby’s miscarriage. Another disease that may affect the infant, such as foetal alcohol syndrome, is foetal solvent syndrome. Because of incomplete brain development, infants afflicted by this have low birth weights and smaller heads.
There are no clear answers as to what toxic products to avoid during pregnancy. The most frequent and dangerous have nevertheless been identified. You should speak to the doctor about these chemicals, to see whether you have to take any extra precautions.
How to reduce your exposure to chemicals
- Store all substances safely – out of reach of children and with protective caps on properly.
- Always read the directions on the package and obey them.
- Find options, if you can – for example, use low-level chemicals or baking soda and vinegar for washing.
- Wash your hands on a daily basis.
- When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, try not renovating.
- If you have a job that includes chemicals (such as some sort of cleaning), ask someone else to do it.
- Keep your house well-ventilated.
Don’t worry if you are exposed to a toxic chemical when you are pregnant. It’s just long-term exposure to vast concentrations of chemicals that could actually affect your infant. It is quite doubtful that a one-off exposure would do any injury.
Also Read: Effects Of Infections During Pregnancy
