painting while pregnant, is it safe?

[chellechelle26]

I am itching to sand down and get the glossing done in the bedrooms, really desperately want to get it done.. but am anxious about breathing in the fumes etc. is it harmful to baby?

I got the painting urge when pg with DC1! Ended up doing the gloss work with the windows wide open and then getting stuck behind a wardrobe as I'd misjudged the gap vs size of the bump

Depends on your level of paranoia about such things. I have pretty much always done painting in the latter stages of pregnancy, seems to be all I did on maternity leave pre-baby. All DS absolutely fine.

will try not do get myself wedged in between anything really want to get things freshened up before baby arrives and I'm finding looking at the discoloured skirting boards really REALLY irritating! i suppose i am paranoid to some extent but windows would be wide open and I've got a mask for the sanding bit and could invest in a painting mask too..

I think it's one of those ones they recommend to approach with the precautionary principle but there's no real evidence that it's harmful. Think of all the women who move / redecorate / 'nest' when PG

If you want to be careful:

• Use Low Volatile Compound paints
• Wear a mask
• Plenty of fresh air and airflow
• careful with ladders / heavy things.

I wouldn't worry excessively though.

Every "respectable" source I've read seems to focus on being "careful" annoying vague guilt inducing phrase which I take to be "don't paint the whole bloody street" and the stuff Tonde said.

The "dangerous" elements (in general life not just pregnancy) are dust from sanding (sorted by mask) and VOCs. VOCs are by definition smelly so the less you can smell them, the less there is. Low odour/ low VOC paint will be fine.

Tondelayo's answer is good! A mask and an open window are good for setting your mind at rest.

Ella my dh wants to paint (thinks its one of those 'dad' things he aught to do) haha! He got quite disappointed when I insisted on helping!

Sadly spd pain puts out any painting here, am sitting chatting to dh as he glosses the spare room. I did help with nursery as pain wasn't so bad then...

I think some of the recommendations were to do with lead based paint, which I think you can't buy anymore, but I
Might be wrong!