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You have been waiting for this moment, and finally, it’s here. The little one has started to grow inside you, and in a few months, you’d be holding them in your arms. You’ve read and heard about the many things you would have to do during this period – the food items you need to stay away from, the exercises you need to do, and many others.
You do your best to follow these recommendations religiously because you want your baby to come out as healthy as possible. However, here’s one thing to take note of that you probably don’t know about; some items in your home that could be harmful to your pregnancy.
That’s right. There are items in your home that are dangerous to you and your baby. These items can increase the risk of miscarriages and cause your baby to have poor cognitive development and fetal problems.
You have to look out for these items and avoid them at all costs, especially during the first trimester because that is when your baby’s vitals begin to develop. Scroll down to find out what these items are.
1. Plastic
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Plastic is popularly known as an environmental pollutant, but it doesn’t only cause damage to the environment. Plastics affect your pregnancy because they contain a certain chemical known as phthalates. According to the CDC, phthalates are used to make plastics harder and more flexible (1).
Although much of the evidence about the effect phthalates have on reproduction has come from studies in animals, in 2016, researchers published two studies that now confirm that phthalates can increase the risk of miscarriage and gestational diabetes (2).
So, during this period of pregnancy, you should limit your exposure to plastic. Avoid eating food that comes with plastic packaging, reduce your use of plastic materials for serving meals, and wash plastics by hand instead of using a dishwasher.
2. Make-up And Fragrance
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You probably never would have guessed it, but everyday products such as lipstick, shampoo, and toner are harmful to your pregnancy. This is because they also contain copious amounts of phthalates in them.
Using these products during pregnancy can affect the birth weight, among other things, a research published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information confirms (3). You should stay away from fragrances and make-ups while pregnant. Instead, you can use homemade cosmetics, as so far, they don’t contain any chemicals.
Also, with a little research, you can use honey, coconut oil, baking soda, vinegar, and salt to make natural beauty products for yourself.
3. Mosquito Repellent
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Mosquitoes are bad companions during and after pregnancy. But mosquito repellents aren’t suitable for use during pregnancy. So, as much as mosquito repellents are effective for fighting nasty bugs, you need to stay away from them during pregnancy.
Repellents are made of a small concentration of DEET and other chemicals. These chemicals can be absorbed into the skin. Cleaning products such as acetone, bleach, and naphthalene balls are also best avoided during the first few months of pregnancy.
According to research published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, if you must use repellents, ensure that you use them according to directions from your physician (4). As for cleaning products, there are products made from natural materials you can use.
4. Wall Paints
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Wall paints, especially old ones, contain lead, which is a toxic and deadly chemical. If you’re exposed to lead during pregnancy, it can easily seep into the placenta and your baby’s bloodstream.
According to the CDC, lead affects your baby’s growth and development (5). It can also cause you to develop hypertension that begins during pregnancy and preeclampsia.
So you need to keep away from lead as much as possible and stay in areas with good ventilation.
5. Indoor Air Pollution
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When we talk about air pollution, we’re often focused on outdoor air pollution. Little do we know that indoor air pollution is as deadly as the one outdoors. Many items in our homes can affect the quality of air that we breathe.
According to Medical News Today, women exposed to indoor air pollution have a higher risk of negative pregnancy outcomes (6). To prevent this, you should install purifiers or humidifiers that would improve the quality of air inside your home.
Getting pregnant is a wonderful experience. But it also comes with a lot of caution, which you must follow for both you and your child’s safety.
