Over 9% of women work on home improvement and DIY projects while pregnant [1]. Some of this is “nesting” and preparation for the baby. Even while it’s a popular hobby —and sometimes, just a necessity — home repairs and improvements can involve fumes and harsh chemicals that may pose a risk to mother and baby. Let’s cover some main points about home improvement projects.
How can DIY be dangerous?
Around 10 years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) differentiated indoor environments as a separate category for evaluating pollution and air quality. For decades, our focus has been on outdoor air quality, but it turns out that our indoor air is a much greater health concern. The materials in our homes, from construction to decoration, contain substances that can affect our health in different ways. Many of these substances can be dangerous for expectant mothers and their babies [2].
What materials and chemicals should I avoid while pregnant?
The truth is, all of them. All solvents, dyes, laminate flooring, wallpaper, polymer glue, and plywood contain substances that can be dangerous for the baby. For example, benzene and toluene can be released from paints and varnish, while laminate boards and plywood can release formaldehyde, trichlorethylene, and volatile compounds. Worse, these pollutants can remain in the air in your home for several months after your project is complete. Therefore, it’s a risk for expectant mothers both to participate in the renovations and to live in a newly renovated room [1].
How do these chemicals affect my baby?
Each of these chemicals is unpredictable, and the effects are not well understood. Different substances pose different risks. For example, benzene exposure can lead to DNA damage and, consequently, congenital diseases [3]. Exposure to chlorine solvents is especially dangerous in the first trimester, as it leads to neural tube defects [4]. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and microscopic particulate matter suspended in the air (for example, after grouting and sanding) are considered common culprits of preterm labor [2].
The most common adverse effects of home renovation and DIY-related chemical exposure are abnormal development of the genitals in boys and congenital heart defects in both sexes [1].
Is chemical exposure the only danger?
Mostly, yes, but other potential harms are currently not well understood. Studies on the effect of construction noise on pregnant women suggest that their babies grow less and lag in development. Scientists suggest that prolonged exposure to the noise leads to a decrease in uteroplacental blood flow [3].
What if we need to do some work on the house before baby arrives?
Hire professionals to do the work, and allow your spouse or another trusted relative to supervise the project. It’s best for the mother-to-be to stay somewhere else while the work is being completed, and to come home a couple of months after it’s finished.
