Worried about formaldehyde on bed sheet

[sarah00001]

Hi, several months ago I bought a new bed sheet from Tesco. I took it out the wrapper and put it straight in the airing cupboard, which is where I also keep my toilet rolls. Last week I read and article which said that bed clothes are often coated in chemicals which include formaldehyde, to preserve them and prevent creasing. I looked at the bed sheet today and it said 'wash before use' and i presume this is because of the chemicals.

I am worried sick now as I read that formaldhyde is a volatile compound and am thinking that the chemicals will have got onto the toilet rolls and entered my blood stream when I used them and could therefore cause my baby to have birth defects. I feel sick with worry. Is there anyone who can offer some advice or reassurance?

Thank you, Sarah

Wow! That is a lot of thinking going on there! If you thought everything through like that, nearly everything would be dangerous.

Relax, it'll be fine

Your baby will be fine , do you normally have anxiety?

Here's a list of foods that contain naturally occurring formaldehyde.

www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/files/formaldehyde.pdf

You're probably going to have had more formaldehyde from eating an apple than wiping your bum with toilet paper that was stored in a cupboard containing a bed sheet. Your baby will be fine.

You're allowed to be around Formaldehyde - chemists in my Uni use it around 3 times a week and it was risk assessed as safe for pregnant women. Don't worry you won't come into contact with much.

Have you been struggling with anxiety generally in this pregnancy OP? That's a big leap to make in your mind. We encounter chemicals every single day, but very very rarely will these be in quantities large enough to harm your baby. Please try not to worry.

I hope your okay OP, I've panicked about things like this too!
All will be fine and you will look back and laugh at all the things you once panicked about !

I use formal saline (dilute formaldehyde) all the time, risk assessed safe for pregnant women.