Constantly washing hands as worried about germs & now worrying about antibacterial soaps!

[Teaandcupcakes]

I have had a bit of a problem with washing my hands too much and overuse of antibacterial hand gels for the last couple of years (I can't remember when it started but I drive myself nuts with it sometimes as I can't eat anything when I'm out or at work without using hand gel first!). Anyway, since being pregnant and becoming aware of toxoplasmosis and listeria, it's got even worse and I am getting through so much soap it's silly! I'm aware of what I'm doing and I know it's unnecessary but I still feel I have to wash my hands more than I know I need to (e.g. while making sandwiches, I can wash my hands about 3 times - crazy I know). I will definitely try to sort this "problem" out once the baby is born, as I can't see myself being able to stop it beforehand. However, what is worrying me more now (and it had me in tears tonight when I made the mistake of looking it up on the internet) is the danger of using antibacterial soaps, i.e. the risks associated with the ingredient Triclosan. I am well into the pregnancy and this is the last thing I needed to hear about! I know i can't change what I've done and from tomorrow I will try to find more natural soaps to use for the remainder of the pregnancy. But I feel the need for the first time since being pregnant to post on Mumsnet for reassurance, as I am feeling really down about this and would hate to think I've done anything to put my baby's health at risk. There must be a huge amount of other pregnant ladies who are using these antibacterial soaps all the time (and like me probably using them too much for fear of toxoplasmosis!!) who are not worried about them? I keep telling myself that people who work in hospitals have to use them all day long, so it must be fine if they use them... And they wouldn't have hand gel dispensers in maternity wards if you should avoid these substances, right?! I know I'm probably being a bit over the top but even one person reassuring me will make me feel a little better and stop me worrying so much!

Calm down, and stop worrying. Antibacterial isn't going to be harmful unless you eat it most likely!
Washing your hands in just water has been shown to be effective, and IMO the antibac products are partly marketing preying on fear. I'm sure your baby will be fine, I use antibac when I'm out and about, you use so little that I can't see it seeping through skin as being a huge issue. Maybe try natural baby wipes in future?

I don't know anything about triclosan to be honest, but please don't google. That way lies madness. Life isn't risk free and trying to make it so will only make you tie yourself in knots. I have to try very hard not to spray everything (inc husband and guests) with bleach spray - not a problem I remotely had before pregnancy - and I had a panic attack at the state of the 'cleaned' cat litter tray this morning. Fortunately dh had gone to work and I'd calmed down a bit by home time. Still cried as I tried to explain my upset about it though.
If you're washing your hands and rinsing afterwards then it should be fine. I'm an HCP and wash my hands a billion times a day at work but I don't think there's any sign that HCPs' children turn out with problems.
Washing hands is good. Rinsing well is better. Google is bad. So is extra stress for you and your baby.
Hormones are evil things that make our background traits worse, but it might be well worth a chat with your gp now, not after pregnancy, to see if you can get some input to try to help you now. There is no reason to wait.

I used them all the way through pregnancy - as well as doing a lot of the other things we're now apparently supposed to avoid (painting/decorating, putting up new furniture etc). DD is a healthy & happy 15 months. We also had a cat so was very aware of toxoplasmosis risks.

The chances of any harm being done to your baby are beyond miniscule so please try not to stress yourself out about it. Change to natural products if it will make you feel better. However, I strongly feel you should look into ways to help your anxiety and the feelings you have around hand washing etc sooner rather than later. Things go a bit mental with a new baby and your hormones (and often anxiety levels!) will go through the
roof for a while. Starting something like cognitive behavioural therapy now can hopefully help you to manage some of that as you are obviously very concerned about certain things.

Please talk to your GP. I suffered from OCD when pregnant and postnatally, and in hindsight I always had OCD tendencies, but they got much worse during pregnancy and afterwards. But, it wasn't confined to cleanliness etc, I had horrible intrusive thoughts postnatally, and was almost hospitalised and am still dealing with the fallout almost eight years later. Please, please tal to your GP, or midwife or ask to see your HV.

And, to get things in perspective...I had a house cat when pregnant with DS1 and was having to change the litter tray. I have also had cats all my life, most of them random strays who just set up home with us. Daisycat was a stray from a well established, local, semi feral colony. Anyhoo, I got increasingly worried about toxo and had us both tested, at considerable expense. Surprisingly, we were both negative. If I, with my feral upbringing with almost feral cats and a feral cat as a houseguest hadn't been exposed to toxo, then catching it must be pretty difficult indeed!

Thank you very much for the reassurance - that's just what I needed to hear before I go to bed! And I think I will get some baby wipes - that's a good idea. Also, I know that anxiety and worry isn't good and I need to get to grips with what could probably be mild OCD (I just can't understand where it came from). I did mention to the GP at my last check up that I seem to be worrying about things a lot, but she didn't seem to think it was a problem and said everyone worries in pregnancy! I will definitely mention it again on my next visit and will explain about the handwashing, etc.

One of my cravings have been antibacterial hand gel! I have been thru tons of the stuff, I have to keep putting it on and then smelling it! I love the stuff! I'm sure it's fine, well I'm hoping it is!!!!

This sounds like pregnancy anxiety and/or OCD. I know, I have it.

Please do inform your midwife, it is pretty normal and they can give you an appointment (or more if needed) to help you. Otherwise you'll have an awful 9 months of it.

Do not google - the NHS guidelines are, if anything, criticised for erring on the cautious side so are perfectly safe to follow without extra guidance. Go with these. Anyone (with an agenda or just plain odd) can put a very convincing pseudo-science website together these days.
Google is a massive trigger for me, also I get into a cycle where I am tempted to use it and it convinces me I am being rational when I'm not. My psych nurse told me NOT to go there!! And I'm assuming this is the same for many in my boat.

Washing your hands and using hand gel is good (being very upset/worried about it not so good - one or two lapses are highly unlikely to make you ill).

anxiety and worry isn't good

Don't get in a cycle of 'emotions can damage the baby' fear. It's another one that's awful! No they can't... not according to most trusted sources. The stress that causes damage (reported in the news) was things like people in dangerous housing in 'tornado valley' in the middle of weeks of killer storms (and other factors weren't tracked). Not hand wash worries! :)