Paint and Pregnancy

Otis pregnancy shares their info sheet on this subject.  As spring comes along, many people take to the paint aisle at their local hardware store to start their spring projects.  One of our most common questions is whether or not it is safe to paint when pregnant.  Read here.  To summarize the question of "Will it hurt my baby to paint a room while pregnant?" they say:

Household painting will likely result in a low level of exposure and is likely to be a low risk. A single study found no association with household paint fumes and premature birth or low birth weight in women reporting some exposure to paint in their homes. However, women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy may still wish to take the following precautions:

• Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area with open windows.

• Wear protective clothing (gloves and long sleeves) to cover your skin. 

• Do not eat or drink while painting. Consider wearing a respirator mask that filters vapors from paints and thinners (available at hardware stores). 

• Consider having someone else to do the painting for you.

 During pregnancy you do have a legitimate excuse to get out of the job if you want to.