Is It Safe To Get The House Painted During Pregnancy?

The season of festivals is here. Most of us get our houses to look great during the Diwali season. As the season sets in, many people renovate their houses and give a new and fresh look to their homes. Getting your house painted or distempered can be quite a daunting task and a huge responsibility.

Can Wall Paints be Harmful in Pregnancy?

Is It Safe To Get The House Painted During Pregnancy? Well, all kinds of paints emit fumes; some paints contain chemicals. Getting exposed to harmful chemicals during pregnancy can adversely affect the health of both mother and child. Paints that contain metals like aluminum and zinc are extremely harmful, especially during pregnancy.

A variety of paints are available in the market. Some of them are listed below; they will help you to understand what is good and what is bad for you during your pregnancy.

1. Oil-Based Paints

These types of paints contain solvents. Excessive and constant exposure to solvents can lead to miscarriage. Prolonged exposure to oil-based paints can affect the baby severely and the baby could be born with defects and disabilities. Even the fumes of oil-based paints can be toxic if you are exposed to them for a long time.

2. Latex/ Acrylic Paints

These paints do not contain solvents and are easily washable. Hence, they are relatively safer to be around during pregnancy. Even if the mother is exposed to the fumes it won’t pose any threat to the mother or the baby.

3. Lead-Based Paints

Lead-based paints can be harmful, especially when you are pregnant. They may cause serious problems for the baby. Hence, most paint companies refrain from using lead in their paint. Nonetheless, it is better to check the paint before buying.

Doctors recommend that you must avoid getting your house painted especially during the first trimester since your baby’s development is rapid during this period. Exposing your baby to chemicals and fumes during the first trimester could be a hindrance to the baby’s growth and development.

What Precautions Can I Exercise to Get My House Painted in Pregnancy?

Limited, cautious, and regulated exposure to paints and paint fumes will not prove risky for you and the baby, but if being with paints is a part of your job, you may need to take a rain check. It has not yet been determined as to how much exposure to paints is safe during pregnancy.

Most experts may advise against this but if you still have to get your house painted there are certain precautions you must take.

1. Do One Room at a Time

The best advice would be to vacate the house when it’s being painted. If that is not possible, try to do one room at a time. If you are pregnant, avoid going to the room that’s being painted. Even after the procedure is done, it is recommended that you don’t step into the room for the next 48 hours. Since the fresh paint could still emit fumes and the smell could make you nauseous.

2. Keep Your Food Away and Covered

If you get your house painted, cover the food and even the utensils that you are going to use so that the chemicals and solvents don’t get in contact with the food to be consumed. Do not eat in the room that is being painted as well.

3. Keep the Room Ventilated

Open all the windows and keep the room that is being painted, well ventilated. So that the fumes and the smell don’t circulate in the room. After the painting is done switch on the fans as well and avoid going to that room for some time.

4. Take Necessary Precautions

Touching the paint is not necessarily harmful, but breathing the fumes can be. So avoid touching the paints and other painting equipment. If you have to go to the room that’s being painted and you are going to be there was a long duration, wear a mask or tie a scarf around the face. Use water-based paints; if possible, they are more conducive than oil-based paint. Avoid spray paints since they can be very toxic.

5. Consult Your Doctor

Before you decide to paint your house you should consult your doctor. The doctor knows your history and condition well and will give you proper advice on whether it’s good for you or not. Also, if during the painting you experience frequent headaches or nausea consult your doctor immediately.

Is it Safe to Get the House Painted During Pregnancy?

Getting your house painted during pregnancy may not exactly be safe. Sanding and scraping the walls to prepare for a coat of paint may release chemicals that, when inhaled, may cause harm to the baby and in worst cases, result in birth defects. Inhaling chemicals present in paints and metals such as lead may not be safe for your pregnancy.

To top it all, painting the house involves rearranging the house which may put undue stress, something that you must avoid at all costs when you are pregnant. So it is best to avoid painting your house until after your delivery. If the painting has to be done anyways, you can move out of the house till the painting activity is complete and give the responsibility of getting the job done to someone else.

The Potential Risk of Exposure to Paints During Pregnancy

A research study conducted on rats showed that prenatal exposure to toluene, one of the components of paints caused memory and learning problems in offspring. This study is significant enough to prove the dangers of paint exposure in humans as well. While this is one example, exposing pregnant women to paints and their chemicals can cause birth defects in babies.

The risks for birth and genetic defects are higher if the pregnant woman is exposed to paints in her first trimester.
Most paints available today may be safer with less presence of harmful chemicals. Still the process of peeling and scraping old paint or wallpaper can bring out hidden dangerous chemicals that can harm the pregnant mother as well as the fetus she is carrying.

Continued and repeated exposures to paint can cause genetic defects in the baby and the pregnant mother must avoid this type of environment at all costs.

How to Ensure Safer Pregnancy During Painting Works?

There may be some situations where a paint job becomes inevitable when you are readying your baby’s nursery, for example. In such compulsory situations, how can you ensure that you keep yourself and your little one safe?

Here are some tips and precautions you can follow:

Ensure that the house is well-ventilated where you are getting the paint job done. Keeps all doors and windows open. This will reduce the chances of minimizing inhaling the paint fumes and dust.
Take frequent walks away from the space where the paint job is happening.
Hire help to move around the furniture so that you don’t have to undergo physical stress.
Take help from close family members to come and stay with you while the painting work is happening. This will help minimize both physical and mental stress on you.
Avoid eating and drinking in the room and area where the paint job is happening. This way, you will not accidentally inhale the fumes.

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life. It is time to take a break and indulge in some quiet time. Avoid the hassles and tensions that come with renovating and painting. All this can wait. In the meantime, you must just unwind and concentrate on yourself and your baby’s health and well-being. We hope you find the article informative. Please do leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Is It Safe To Get The House Painted During Pregnancy?

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