Have just inhaled some smoke from a fire (35 weeks) - midwife on her way to deliver carbon monoxide test

[TroubledWater89]

Hi,

I’m 35 weeks and panicking. We currently have a painter in redoing the whole flat and he’s a smoker. Every so often he goes outside for a cigarette. Today, his fag fell into a cardboard box full of brown paper and cardboard trays (the box out paints arrived in in) and set it on fire. I guess it would have smouldered for a bit and then caught fire. It’s eco friendly paint so I’m hoping the packing is equally eco friendly (though I realise setting it alight is a different thing entirely).

Next door neighbour alerted us to the problem and I immediately panicked and pulled the burning box away from the wall of our flat so the building didn’t catch fire. That’s the bit where I inhaled a bit of smoke. I ran in to get water but the painter was already on it.

My partner is away camping on the south coast with DSD. So I called him first very upset to let him know what had transpired and that bc of the smoke I was afraid for the baby. Then I called the midwife to ask if the baby could be harmed by this. She said unlikely but she could come over and give me a carbon monoxide test. Currently waiting for her to arrive. I think she’s doing rounds in the area so might be a while.

if carbon monoxide is detected in my breath, what kind of harm could it do to the baby? Does anyone know? I know babies are born in wars etc. so what happened just now is nothing , but I’m still cornered.

Thank you xx

It sounds like a very small amount of smoke in a well ventilated area, you should be absolutely fine.

@Hercisback thank you

Your midwife will be able to answer your questions when she comes to your house.

If you’ve inhaled smoke/breathed very near a fire you are at risk yourself of airway burns. If your throat gets sore or you find it difficult to breathe you must call an ambulance immediately.

I don’t know what the risks are to baby tbh, I would have thought minimal really if you just took one or two breaths but as the midwife is coming they are obviously taking it seriously, having said that if she was really worried she’d be coming over right now. Try to stay calm and just wait for her. But please call an ambulance if anything happens to your throat.

You're overreacting. Are you annoyed DP is away with DSD?

You will be absolutely fine but your MW should be able to reassure you.

Thanks @Justchooseone abd @CiaoBellisima

Yeah I think my throat is ok. No burning feeling or coughing as a result etc.

Thank you @Hoppinggreen Im fine, I’m just thinking of my little boy and I’m not good with uncertainty and the unknown. It’s been an anxious pregnancy, referred to Talking Therapies early on which helped a lot etc.
x

How is it different from a bbq or laying on open fire? I would say the chance of any damage is miniscule, in fact it wouldn't even occur to me to ring the MW , is this a new thing?

Seriously?! 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️ In the nicest way possible OP, you need to calm down. You're going to do much more harm through panicking.

You inhale more carbon monoxide sitting in a moving car for 5 mins than inhaling a few seconds of smoke!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor i would never go to a BBQ (they’re pointless for a non meat eater like me anyway) in my condition, and I have no idea what “laying on open fire” means. But I wouldn’t go anywhere near a bonfire for the same reason. Exposure to any smoke is not advised, hence I would always go out of my way to avoid it.

And I think the advice has pretty much always been reach out to the midwife if you have concerns about risks potentially affecting your unborn baby.

I really wouldn't worry about this if you literally just pulled the box away from the wall and then the painter put out the fire. Hopefully the midwife will provide you with some reassurance with the CO test but it is unlikely to be an issue if it was burning in a well ventilated area. Carbon monoxide tends to be produced where there is poor ventilation.

@Nursemumma92 thank you

You will be ok. Your body is amazing and your baby well protected

I'm the nicest possible way, you need to calm down. Sounds no different to you being in the garden and next door doing a bbq or walking past someone in the street smoking. Wouldn't have even occurred to me to ring the midwife, and I'm 29 weeks.

Massive over-reaction by your MW but the test won't do any harm. don't worry.

@batmansbike i don’t think that’s true (my hallway was filled with smoke, my face was very close to the flames when I bent down to move the box)…but ok

I hope the midwife is able to reassure you.

If it helps, I spent a day on a fire pit cookery course (3 or 4 big fires going all day) in my very early pregnancy. Currently sitting next to my snoring DD as she clutches my finger in her sleep.

Eh? The MW has said OP will be fine but she can bring a CO test on her rounds as reassurance - hardly an overreaction.

Sorry it was a typo, I meant laying an open fire, plenty of women have open fires in their houses.

You wouldn't go to a barbecue when pregnant because of the smoke?

You are massively overreacting.

CO test isn't needed for that history - but probably offered for reassurance

You are overreacting slightly but I remember overreacting about lots of things in pregnancy so Yanbu to ask.

hopefully the midwife will reassure you properly.

You'll be fine OP.
However your idiot painter needs a kick up the bum.

I'm glad someone else said this.

Good of your MW to drop a test round. I hope your anxiety improves once your baby arrives because, believe me, you won't do yourself any favours reacting so strongly to non issues.

Breathe. Away from the inferno, obviously.