A person who is a nature lover, needs to be sure that it is totally safe to do gardening during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a beautiful phase of a woman’s life and it comes with great responsibility and it is important to indulge in activities which are beneficial both for the mother as well as the baby. .This is a time to relax, unwind and keep calm lowering the stress levels.Gardening is one of the activities that allows fresh air and keeps one calm keeping in mind few precautions.
With a million options for plants available , it is extremely important to know which ones are totally safe and can benefit the mother as well as the baby. In the present time people have started prioritizing organic plants over others. Plants as such are not unsafe however, there are a few that are toxic and not advisable for gardening during pregnancy. In this article we will study the different aspects of gardening which comprises the risk and benefits, and the types of plants and precautions one has to take.
In This Article
- Is Gardening Safe During Pregnancy?
- What Is Toxoplasmosis?
- Benefits of Gardening During Pregnancy
- Risks of Gardening While Pregnant
- Tips For Safe Gardening During Pregnancy
- FAQ’s
Is Gardening Safe During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, it helps to relax and pursue a hobby to keep the mind calm and gardening is the best exercise that takes care of both the needs. It not only allows you to get fresh air, but also ensures that you get a little exercise while your spirits get lifted up with the beauty around. But you must be careful not to go overboard in your enthusiasm. Remember to avoid strenuous activities like pruning, raking and weeding.
To those who have always found time to garden no matter how hectic your schedule is need not put away your gardening tools during those 9 months. However, you must be cautious and avoid coming in contact with harmful chemicals or any other infection that may spread due to exposure to contaminated soil. Gardening has its benefits, you just need to stay safe and enjoy it. The biggest risk that comes from gardening is toxoplasmosis and exposure to chemicals.
What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that happens due to Toxoplasma Gondii. It is mainly due to soil contamination while one practices gardening. Sometimes, your baby may not develop symptoms in the early years, but could develop problems as he grows. The parasite that causes the infection may contaminate the soil through cat feces. You may unknowingly touch your face or mouth after touching the contaminated soil and before you know, you may have injected the infection. Even if you don’t have cats of your own, other cats from the neighborhood may wander in your garden and contaminate the soil (1).
Benefits of Gardening During Pregnancy
Gardening during pregnancy has its own set of benefits. These are good for the health of both the mother as well as the baby. Some of the benefits are:
- Gardening keeps one occupied, lowering the chances of experiencing any type of discomforts during pregnancy.
- Weight gain is in control when one starts exercising as gardening is also one form of light exercise.
- One who practices gardening during pregnancy is less likely to have any restless nights across all phases of pregnancy (2).
Risks of Gardening While Pregnant
Some ladies like gardening and it is a good way to pass their time. Gardening is not bad yet it has its own risks as well. Given below are some of the risks that one can encounter while gardening during pregnancy. They are:
- Usage of chemicals like insecticides and pesticides is not good for the pregnant lady. as it affects the growth and development of the baby, especially the nervous system (3).
- The soil for gardening can have parasites which can be hazardous if proper precautions are not taken care of.
- One very common risk is contracting infection when touching the soil which is contaminated by cat feces and it can result in blindness or mental disability.
- Pregnancy increases fatigue and gardening for a large duration result in overexertion.
- This infection can result in miscarriage and stillbirth as well.
Tips For Safe Gardening During Pregnancy
If your doctor has given you a green signal for gardening while you are pregnancy, then here are some tips to follow to stay safe while gardening during pregnancy.
- It is best to avoid gardening during the afternoon.’
- It is good to use sunscreen while gardening and keep yourself protected from the heat.
- Wearing loose clothes and wearing a hat is comfortable for gardening during pregnancy.
- Never over exert oneself in one day.
- Distribute the work between some days to prevent a backache.
- Never do gardening by hand rather use gardening tools.
- It is common to catch tennis elbow or carpal tunnel so best not to put much pressure on wrists (4).
- Do not sit for longer duration, keep standing in between or take a walk to prevent exhaustion.
- Take support when pulling weeds either by sitting on a bench , stool etc.
- Never bend for too long, try and kneel instead. This saves the neck and spine from any pressure. Using a knee pad also helps.
- Keep yourself hydrated during the day by drinking enough fluids.
Things To Keep In Mind While Gardening During Pregnancy
Gardening is safe during pregnancy and it is not necessary to stop it. Though, only thing to remember is that certain changes have to be made. This is important for the safety of the mother as well as the baby. It is also important to keep a few things in mind while gardening during pregnancy.
- It is important to stay inside while chemicals are sprayed in the garden area as they have harmful chemicals and are not good for the mother (5).
- IPM also called integrated pest management is a better option than than the chemical ones for controlling diseases as well as insects.
- Always wear long sleeves or gloves when in the garden to avoid any form of exposure to chemicals or contaminated soil.
- Never touch your eyes or face with the gloves used for gardening or with the long sleeves.
- Do not lift any heavy objects to help someone in the garden.
If these tips are kept in mind and followed, there is no need to inactivate your green thumb until the arrival of your baby. Gardening is certainly not an activity that you should stay away from when you are pregnant. So go out make the use of good weather and enjoy your time nurturing your garden. Did you indulge in gardening when you were pregnant? How did it benefit you? Do Share your experiences in the comments section below.
FAQ’s
1. What Plants Must Be Avoided During Pregnancy?
Toxic plants that have a negative impact on the mother or the baby like Pothos, Lilies philodendrons and dieffenbachia are not safe for gardening during pregnancy as these plants lead to skin issues,or upsetting the stomach.
2. Which Kind Of Activities Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?
Few activities like liftinbg heavy weights and adventure rides etc are stressful or strenuous during pregnancy. These can be harmful for the health of the mother and can even impact the overall development of the baby.
3. What A Pregnant Woman Should Not Do During Pregnancy?
Activities that impact the health of the mother must be avoided during pregnany like passive smoking, consuming alcohol, standing or sitting for longer duration etc.
References –
- Toxoplasmosis
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582993] - Effects of nutrition education and home gardening interventions on feto-maternal outcomes among pregnant women in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A cluster randomized controlled trial
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10588865/] - Neurotoxicity of Insecticides
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28552054/] - Pregnancy-related Hand and Wrist Problems
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8221449/] - Pregnancy pesticide exposure and child development in low- and middle-income countries: A prospective analysis of a birth cohort in rural Bangladesh and meta-analysis
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10256216/]
