Painting whilst pregnant

[JoeyLin]

I'm sure this is is fairly reasonable question , given that there is a lot to prep around the house when baby (our first baby) is coming.

How do people feel about painting and other building work in the home whilst pregnant?

However, my DH doesn't even like me using certain cleaning products.. Bleach has been banned in our house and he even questions air fresheners (he always has tbh).

We only moved to our house, so have a lot to get done. I am the better painter out of us. He said he can do bits whilst I'm ever away at my parents. I trust him with small parts, and he is getting better.

We also want to get builders to knock a wall out (dust), and a garage conversion (which will again need painting).

I'm 11 weeks - so we have until August.

I'd be fine with all of that, except air fresheners in any stage of life! I did loads of painting when pregnant, up to 32 weeks and she was born at 34 weeks. Building work wouldn't bother me either, I'd just clear out when they were doing it and it was dusty.

As pp, I did all our painting.
I also, single handed, shifted our wardrobe, chest of drawers, bed etc so I could paint.
DH went mad!

Most modern paints are water based and low voc, can't really see it being an issue. Just be out on the days when they knock through! You could wear a mask, but I'm not sure that would have worked for me as I got further along....I'm with him on air fresheners 🤢

With DC1 I was up on the kitchen counters painting at 36 weeks pregnant- stupid idea due to risk of falling rather than the paint.
Since then I'v started renovating properties and have had overlap whilst pregnant. I'v been really hands on, stripping wall paper, painting, helping remove walls, cleaning up the dust and mess etc. As others have said paint is very safe now and realistically dust is only going to affect people with asthma or similar.
The only things I wouldn't do would be to strip very old paint that could contain lead and I don't stay in the room when plumbing work is being done as it often smells bad when pipes are being capped off etc.

It's natural to worry but I don't think anything you've described is dangerous. The only thing I'll say is painting rooms whilst heavily pregnant can really make your whole body ache so I'd try to do it around 20 weeks if you can.