Painting and decorating

[Meandacat]

Sorry - 2nd question of the day...

How safe/unsafe is it to decorate during pregnancy? I'm 22 weeks and desperately trying to finish off various jobs round the house while I'm still able. I've still got one room to finish off painting and then the nursery to paint, plus some furniture to sand down and re-paint/varnish too. It's takig me ages as I only have the odd evening and weekend to get to it. I'm using standard emulsion and gloss. Oh, not to mention loads of filler! I admit I'm not always leaving the windows open as I work because, frankly, it's blummin' cold out!

I was crouched under the beams in our loft room last weekend varnishing - am 35 weeks!

Last pregnancy DP had me glossing the doors in the house 3 weeks before I was due - git!

But you MUST open the windows, doesn't matter if it's cold just put an extra layer on.

Personally I'd rather not do it at all, hate DIY but needs must!

"Last pregnancy DP had me glossing the doors in the house 3 weeks before I was due - git!"

I hope I don't end up there!! LOL at the "git!". Yep, I'm just better at these things than DH so I just plug away at them myself and he lets me Anything involving a power tool, I make him do, but everything else falls to me.

OK, I'll grit my teeth and open the windows. Bang goes my idea of leisurely painting a drawer front at a time in front of the TV / fireplace.

Had parents and sister up for the last few days doing my DIY :-) Can recommend it!

Good god get a man in if yours won't do it, honestly you should be resting as much as possible and do not set a presedent otherwise he still expect you to be swanding with a babe hanging off your boob.

I think do what you feel able to for as long as you feel able to. Just listen to your body. I know that the little bits of gardneing I have done or moving bits around trhe house have resulted in a bit of a sore back- which I never get- but generally you are not an invalid.

Just listen to your body.

Can't afford to get a man in, MillyMollyMoo. and would grudge it for a lick of paint anyway, tbh. I still feel totally fine physically and like the excuse to keep a little active - I sit on my rear-end all day in an office - so it's not that. I was more worried about fumes / toxicity.

I re painted my kitchen last week gloss and everything just couldn't stand the clutter lol
Think it was a bit of nesting as i'm 35 weeks.
I didn't rush just plodded round

I did it in my first pregnancy we moved into new home when I was 5 months and I did pretty much everything - including assembling and putting up furniture, shelving, shower rails, lampshades, painting all rooms etc and fixing conservatory floor (which had risen cos whoever fitted didnt leave a gap round edge for expansion - had to chip away the laminte with a chisel - v. noisy job to do at 8 months pg!!)

As long as you ventilate and don't push yourself (or climb high ladders!!! but I admit I used a small step ladder) you will be fine

Mean im 31 weeks and for the last 4 days have been painting and cleaning.

Do take it small bit at a time as I ended up getting faint yesterday (trip to mat unit)through not having enough ventilation while painting.

Its hard not to want to do it all at once but it will wait and you have plenty of time left.

Good luck and hope it all looks as good as you want it to!

I don't think toxicity is a problem with paint these days, you just have to be careful with the fumes as they may make you dizzy, and generally not overdo it. Stop for breaks often and have a sit down. We moved flat about 3 months ago (I'm 25 weeks pg now) and have been steadily redecorating the whole place, room by room. Got men in to remove the asbestos boiler flue though

Pregnant women should not be exposed to high VOC paint fumes - this includes gloss and varnish. Emulsion and water-based paints for woodwork are fine but do ventilate the room well.