Is it safe for a woman to paint while pregnant? This is a question that was asked repeatedly by pregnant women on the message boards I visited during my two pregnancies. Many women wonder if they will be harming their baby if they paint while pregnant.
When it came time to paint the nursery before our first child was born, I was anxious to do it myself. I was also ultra-cautious about potential dangers to my unborn baby, so I did some research online. What I found was that the answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. You have to take all of the facts and use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to paint while pregnant.
Why is it potentially dangerous to paint while pregnant?
Paint generally consists of a variety of chemicals. You should consider this when deciding if you should paint while pregnant.
In particular, there has been increasing concern over VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in paint. VOCs are emitted as gases from certain solids and liquids, according to the EPA. While the EPA says not much is known about the health effects of the VOC levels usually found in homes, it is known that in some cases VOCs can cause problems ranging from eye irritation to central nervous system damage and cancer.
VOC levels can be higher inside a home than they are outside, and they are commonly found in paint, cleaning products, aerosol sprays, and even dry-cleaned clothing.
Do the experts say it’s dangerous to paint while pregnant?
Most of the information that I found online as I tried to decide whether to paint while pregnant suggested women use their own judgment, and take extra precautions if they decide to go ahead with the project. Although, to completely avoid the potential risks – however small they may be from painting one room – it may give you peace of mind to let someone else do the job.
What if I’ve already painted while pregnant?
Don’t stress about it. It’s very unlikely that any harm was done. According to BabyCenter, researchers have found an increased risk of gastroschisis, a birth defect involving the intestines, in babies of women who regularly painted (or used other solvents) on the job. These women were regularly, repeatedly exposed to the chemicals at work, which is a lot worse than the amount of exposure you get from painting your baby’s nursery.
If you have already been exposed to paint while pregnant, you should not be overly concerned about it.
If I am going to paint while pregnant, what precautions should I take?
If you decide to go ahead with painting your baby’s room while you are pregnant, do all that you can to minimize your exposure. Make sure the area being painted is well-ventilated, consider wearing a mask, try to avoid getting paint on your skin (you might wear gloves and long sleeves), and don’t eat or drink in the area being painted.
There are quite a few low VOC and no VOC paints on the market now. These may be a safer alternative if you wish to paint while pregnant, and may also be a better choice when considering the air quality in your home.
In my case, I ended up letting my husband do the painting. As much as I wanted to do the job and get started on the nursery, I felt better not taking the chance.
Sources:
Organic Gases (Volatile Organic Compounds – VOCs). EPA.
Painting While Pregnant. Dr. Spock Website.
Is it safe to paint during pregnancy? BabyCenter.
