Have you ever imagined, while pregnant you need to be extra aware of the products that you were using before very frequently at home. However, there are not all products that are harmful, read on to know exactly what the home products are there which you really need to be aware of to avoid.
Cleaning products
Most bathroom cleaning products have a strong smell and release fumes, which should be avoided while in pregnancy. Oven cleaners also release a lot of fumes because of the strong chemicals they contain. Always avoid cleaning while pregnant because the chemicals like aerosol, Chlorine, formaldehyde, etc. release chemicals into the air, which you are more likely to breathe in. Therefore, it is suggested to pregnant women to avoid cleaning, you can ask someone else in your family to do the cleaning.
Read here: Covid-19: Some Common Pregnancy FAQ
Wall paint
Being around wall paint fumes or painting walls during pregnancy can harm your growing fetus. Though lead-based paints are not used for wall painting these days however, traces of lead-based paints are still in use. Some water-based paints are safer than solvent-based paints, but in my opinion you are safest if you leave the painting area. Always wait to enter the room until the paint fumes are gone while you are an expecting mother.
Nail paint
Nail polish contains chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate(DnBP), which can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Usually nail polish is not that harmful if you are not using it more than the normal amounts. Also, it's good to avoid regular exposure to nail paints in unventilated spaces.
Make sure you are not applying nail paint on cuticles while polishing nails, as chemicals can get absorbed to your body easily through cuticles. Also, it's a habit of we women to blow air through the mouth to dry the nail polish, which needs to be strictly avoided while pregnant. Dry your nail paint by stretching your hands little away from your nose to avoid inhalation of harmful fumes.
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Cosmetics
Makeup products and lots of other cosmetics are full of harmful chemicals therefore it's good to stay away from these for the next nine month or a little longer if you are breastfeeding. Retinol, Parabens, Salicylic acid, formaldehyde and many other strong chemicals are not good to apply everyday on your skin. Herbal products are also not recommended for daily use while you are pregnant. The word herbal and natural sounds harmless but it's good to avoid those too to avoid unnecessary risk.
Plastics
As we all know plastics are harmful to use, and if you're pregnant, it is a strict no for you. Plastics have a toxic chemical Bisphenol A(BPA), which can cause adverse effects on the growing brain of the baby in the womb. Nowadays, many companies have started using alternatives of BPA, and label the bottle as BPA free. However, the alternate chemical called Bisphenol S (BPS) is still not safe for people.
Many working women carry hot food in plastic tiffins and containers which is quite harmful. If you are pregnant, always use a steel container to pack food and steel bottles to drink water.
Read here: What to Pack in Hospital Bag For Delivery?
Mosquito repellent
Mosquito repellent creams or lotion can get absorbed to your skin and harmful chemicals can transfer into the bloodstream, thus reaching the fetus. This is dangerous if exposed regularly, as there is an allergic agent called DEET.
Fumes, spray or coils are also needed to avoid as its strong smell can cause headache, nausea, and vomiting. Though companies like All out, Goodknight claim to be safe for pregnant women but regular exposure may risk you. Therefore, use mosquito nets to protect yourself from mosquito bite, as these liquids and coils are also not that effective to kill the mosquitoes and protect you from annoying mosquito bites.
Naphthalene balls
The strong smell of naphthalene (mothballs/ kapoor goli) can cause nausea, dizziness, headache and vomiting in pregnant ladies. The naphthalene is a toxic chemical and can lead to health problems to the growing baby. Always keep naphthalene balls away from babies and kids because they are more likely to put such things in mouth.
Pest control smoke or spray
Inhaling harmful smoke and spray of pest control can cause serious problems in unborn babies. The pesticides and insecticides should be avoided during the pregnancy period, specially during the first trimester when the baby’s nervous system and brain development is in process. Read here to know what are the precautions you need to take during the first trimester of pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and get exposed to the above listed things then don’t get panic. Remember, only the regular and long time exposure of harmful chemicals could harm your baby. Hope you got this! Enjoy your pregnancy journey. Do subscribe to Moms Review Pad and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more such interesting posts.
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