Third hand smoke dangerous in early pregnancy?

[Lemonmarigold]

Ok so I’m possibly over reacting here but just looking for some reassurance. Just recently discovered I’m pregnant, I have a co worker who smokes on her lunch breaks and when she comes back in to our classroom I can usually smell the smoke. Is this something I need to worry could cause issues to baby’s development or am I worrying for nothing? I only work with her two days a week and while we do sit near one another there is a little bit of space between us.

Never heard the term third hand smoke. Didn't realise it was a thing. You are worrying for nothing

@MummytoE From what I’ve read it’s the residual nicotine and other chemicals that are left on indoor surfaces, clothing, furniture, hair, and dust after tobacco has been smoked. I know I’m not standing beside her when she’s actually smoking so hopefully that reduces the risk. Totally realise I may be worrying for nothing and hopefully I am. I just find the first few weeks such an anxious time.

Sorry, I answered in a rather abrupt way previously. Just because I haven't heard the term doesn't mean it's not a real worry for you . Pregnancy is hard,with so many things to think about and feel anxious over. Might it be possible to speak to your colleague to come up with ways to mitigate the smell when she returns... Leaving her jacket outside the room for example? Washing her hands on her return maybe ? X

@MummytoE I’m still very early on so not quite ready to tell anyone just yet. Luckily we finish soon for the summer. Yes definitely have been finding the last few weeks a very anxious time. Trying not to over think and worry unnecessarily but it’s easier said than done sometimes.

If it makes you feel better I once called my midwife because I had a sore heel and once called my health visitor because my 6 month old had hiccups . 😂

Yes, unfortunately, third hand smoke can be dangerous in pregnancy. We're learning a lot more about the harmful effects as new research emerges. They've studied animal cases and found similar issues to second hand and actual smoking in pregnancy. I don't know how much exposure you'd need to be considered dangerous, but it sounds like your exposure is very little if only 2 days a week and good distance between you. Also very positive that you're breaking up for the summer soon.
I equally don't know how to avoid it completely. I don't know how feasible it would be to ask colleague to change clothes, guessing unlikely😅 Is it possible to create more distance between you and open all windows when you notice the smell?

@Lavenderandlemons we both have a student that we work 1:1 with and unfortunately it isn’t an option for me to move seats. If we’re put together in the same classroom again next school year I’ll be far enough on to feel comfortable telling the principle I’m pregnant and asking to work with a different class. I think for now I’ll just have to hope that the few days we have left together before summer won’t cause any harm to baby. I think what my main underlying fear is that the smoke exposure could increase my risk of miscarriage in these early weeks.

" Lavenderandlemons · Today 21:37

Yes, unfortunately, third hand smoke can be dangerous in pregnancy. We're learning a lot more about the harmful effects as new research emerges. They've studied animal cases and found similar issues to second hand and actual smoking in pregnancy."

Ridiculous scaremongering. Of course her baby isn't going to be harmed by its mother 'smelling smoke' on a coworker's clothes!

Many of us grew up in the 60s and 70s in smoking households. Where people were actually smoking in the house, nothing third-hand about it. We seem pretty fit and bright on the whole. 🙄

@ApplesinmyPocket thanks, I was starting to spiral again! I’m sure it’ll be fine, just find myself worrying about everything these days!

"We're learning a lot more about the harmful effects"
Who's we?

" as new research emerges. "
What research?

"They've studied animal cases"
Who are they?
What species of animals, what cases?

If you are going to royally put the shits up OP and thus cause cortisol release in a pregnant woman, you'd better cite your sources.

@powershowerforanhour thank you, I needed to hear that.

It most definitely is an issue, but for children who come into direct and prolonged contact with the clothing/ hair/ breath of a heavy smoker (especially a caregiver who is cuddling/ carrying them a lot) rather than someone sitting a few feet away from a pregnant woman.

It's unpleasant but won't harm your foetus - just don't ask her to babysit 😝

Really, you mustn’t put yourself out about the health of your developing baby because you can smell smoke off of someone.

If you remember the 70s/80s/90s at all…there was no concept of third hand smoke (still not sure that’s a thing tbh) and babies being born were generally fine. I am, in fact, marvellous 😁 despite being born into a house of <whispers> actual smokers.

@AmyDuPlantier haha thank you, I don’t normally stress this much but something about these early weeks make me so anxious. Feeling a lot more reassured now.

@TabbyCatInAPoolofSunshine thank you! I’m feeling so much better about it now. I had myself so worried that breathing in the smoke from her clothes would increase my risk of miscarriage. Counting down the weeks to my first ultrasound which will hopefully stop me worrying so much.

Gosh. I'm a Midwife and work in clinical research. I've recently worked on a huge study that overlaps into smoking in pregnancy so this is quite topical for me at the moment. I didn't make this up. People can do their own research into it if they wish, and equally can ignore it if they wish. I'm just letting OP know there's studies out there looking at exactly this as that is the question she asked.
@powershowerforanhour If someone wants to look at the evidence that's up to them, I'm merely giving some basic info about what is out there. I answered her question in quite a balanced way and stated that her risk seemed low. If anyone is raising OP's cortisol levels it's her colleague. I answered the question asked.
@ApplesinmyPocket I don't know why you'd assume I'm trying to scaremonger? It's genuine.
@Lemonmarigold I am so sorry if anything I said upset you. I wanted to answer the question you asked. I also think my response was quite balanced as I said your risk seems quite low given the infrequent contact. I am a first time Mum and have found MN invaluable for advice and I do like to offer my insights where I can, I didn't anticipate it would get people's backs up.

And no it wouldn't increase your risk of miscarriage so please don't worry about that. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

My mother was told by her GP to keep smoking 20 cigarettes a day throughout both her pregnancies because it would relax her - 1970s. We were both almost 9 pounds at birth. I wouldn’t worry about third-hand smoke.

"If someone wants to look at the evidence that's up to them, I'm merely giving some basic info about what is out there. "
Oh, ok, so you can't cite the papers, or even name the lead researchers or research institutions.

By "they've studied animal cases", do you mean the increased risk of oral cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, in cats that live with indoor smokers and constantly groom themselves, thus having direct mucosal contact with third hand smoke -as well as inhaled contact with secondhand smoke- over a very prolonged period of time ? (they come in with fur stinking like an ashtray, I've seen a grey and white cat whose fur was actually tinged yellow; its owner had white hair that had turned yellow, with a brown streak at the front where the smoke drifted up. Cat died at a very advanced age of hyperthyroidism; I reckon it and its owners lungs ought to have been donated to medical science for making it that far- some anti neoplastic cell mediated magic in those pipes for sure).

I'm very comfortable in my knowledge, thank you. I am not obliged to provide you with a lit review. Can I genuinely ask why you have chosen to be unkind to someone who is not being unkind? Surely you can see there's no malice in anything I've posted? It's so deflating.

I don't think you were malicious at all, or unkind . The second half of your response to OP was quite nice. The first half sounded "sciencey" but I wanted to know if that was real science or "I heard ivermectin treats covid" science (had somebody ask me that today, still) or "I read some guy published a study in the Lancet that vaccines caused autism" science. I usually hate "cite your sources" people but equally, if you answer OPs question which was "Do I need to worry?" with a response that starts with the word "Yes" , then qualify it with vagueness a couple of paragraphs later....then I will be "unkind".