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Pregnancy

decorating and housework while pregnant - what's safe?

15 replies

excitedandscared · 19/02/2009 14:59

Hi,
We're decorating and I really want to help but as I'm only ten weeks pregnant I don't want to take any risks with my baby's health.
I've got my DP to do the spraying with the mould killer because that had a scary number of warnings on the bottle.
What about painting? Is that safe do you think?
And now I think of it, the oven needs cleaning too...
Am I just being paranoid and should just get on with it/

OP posts:

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Nekabu · 19/02/2009 15:23

I've been painting emulsion and using quick dry wood paints as they aren't as fumey as oil based gloss. With the oven cleaner I'd check on the instructions. If it's OK and you do do it, wear gloves and open a window - don't go sticking your head in the oven and taking deep breaths of the fumes!

flowerybeanbag · 19/02/2009 15:24

Imo anything you don't really fancy doing is 'not safe for the baby'...

Mung · 19/02/2009 15:26

Good advice flowerybeanbag

You could clean the oven with wire wool and some elbow grease to avoid the fumes...I hate those oven cleaners and wouldn't use them pregnant or not.

I'm sure painting is fine, loads of people decorate baby rooms when pregnant.

laweaselmys · 19/02/2009 16:28

Painting will be fine, you can always leave the window open while you are doing it if you want.

PlumBumMum · 19/02/2009 16:32

I seem to only decorate when I'm pg, I think as long as don't take any unnecessary risks, or overstretch yourself, your body has a fab way of letting you know its limits anyway

I remember decorating a small room and just finding everything a bit too much, couldn't understand why, following week found out I was pg

tigerbump · 19/02/2009 16:34

we have a lot of painting to do as trying to finish our renovation, i was told by the Doctor to get regular breaks, keep windows open while painting and to avoid being in the rooms once painted.

get hubby to clean the oven now, as our oven cleaner is pretty strong and to be honest I cannot stomach the smell

BabyBaby123 · 19/02/2009 16:43

i have been painting throughout my pg - but didn't start until after 12 weeks as didn't want to take any chances. I have been using emulsion but avoided gloss and white spirits

Carameli · 19/02/2009 17:32

I am 30wks now and havcve been painting to get our huge renovation finished before end of April when dc3 is due. Have just kept to emulsions and got dh to do window boards etc with gloss. Has been fine, just taking lots of breaks when get tired. I asked my gp about it all when it was early days and she said it was all fine and that my body would let me know how much I could cope with.

agree with others I would leave the oven to someone else as I would think that the fumes could be stronger.

May67 · 19/02/2009 17:50

My mum stripped paint from their entire house with industrial strength paint stripper while pregnant with me. I didn't sleep for years though. I turned out ok. (Starts twitching and falls off chair.)

Seriously though, would avoid anything you don't really have to do, or look for natural cleaners/paints.

excitedandscared · 19/02/2009 18:38

Thanks for the advice!
Have got stuck into the painting, freezing with all the windows and doors open!
I think you may be right though, flowerybeanbag! The boring and stinky jobs can be left for someone else!!

OP posts:

NorthernLurker · 19/02/2009 19:53

As long as you're not inhaling the cleaning stuff (which isn't a good idea pregnant or not!) I think you'll be fine. If using ladders though remember that your balance will be altering and take it very steady. I decorated our big bedroom 3 weeks before dd3 was born with no ill effects but I did find that I needed to take the getting up and down a bit slower than normal.

nolongerchunkybutstillapudding · 19/02/2009 20:08

i wouldn't clean the oven...

but then i'd do anything to get out of that anyway!

RiaParkinson · 19/02/2009 20:09

i am ALWAYS doing up houses and spend most of my time pregnant

its all fine...

nickytwotimes · 19/02/2009 20:14

We are trying for a baby atm so I can get out of helping with the house moving...

RiaParkinson · 19/02/2009 20:17

i remember when pg with my first i lived in a first floor flat and we bought a fridge freezer and we were geting it out of the car...and a bloke came running up the street and told me not to be so silly and took over

i do all sorts when pg

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