Painting While Pregnant???

My doctor told me as long as it is well ventilated and does not have lead in it it is fine to paint. I just had a 8lb healthy boy the 15th of Oct and I painted in May.

I'm a big fan of 'everything in moderation'. When I was pregnant, I helped out by painting the edges, and my husband did the rolling. The fumes I was exposed to were limited since I did the trim first (and I used latex paint), and then when my husband came into roll, I left the house. I've got two beautiful kids.

My OB said that you can paint as long as windows are open and you wear a vent mask for your protection. I was 6 months pregnant and we moved into our condo two years ago, and everything was fine. I wouldn't do a lot since you are close to your due date.

my ob said fine as long as it is latex and you open the window
i did and had no complications
my husband sucks at cutting in and trim work so that has always been my job

As long as you use latex based paint and don't have to scrape off any old paint, you should be fine. Just make sure the room is well ventilated, and wear a mask, just to be safe. I did this too when I was about 6 m along with my son and it turned out fine!

I just went through this exact thing. Throughout my entire pregnancy I painted our entire home. (first talking to my pediatrition and my obgyn) and both said to use water base paint ... it doesnt have as strong of smell and just make sure you ventelate the house. They both said if you feel dizzy or nausiated take a break relax no big deal. I did it throughout my whole pregnancy had no problems with dizzy or nausea.
We also painted the outside of our home as well. I did extensive painting and my doctors knew... just make sure when you feel bad (if you get to feeling bad) stop and relax.

I painted some closets during my 1st trimester, and just made sure the windows were open and I wore a mask. My OB said it was ok if I was in a well ventilated area -- found this out after being in the closets. I had my husband and contractor do the painting after that, because I didn't want to risk our child. I especially stayed out of the house when our painter used oil based paint, which has a very strong odor. My 6 week old son is healthy, regardless of the initial closet painting I did.

firstly, the time window for most sensitivity during pregnancy is during the early cell divisions, so by the second trimester the risks go down. Secondly, you can paint provided the paints are water based and stay well away from solvents etc.

I wouldn't go overboard as you do want to conserve some energy for birthing etc. But helping a bit should be fine. I moved as well when I was 8 months pregnant and did a little painting with friends taking my doc's advice to only use water based paints.

I would wait with painting altogether. I had painters at my house on the day I was lightly spotting. I was told to come in and I found out I was having early contrations. I stayed in the hospital and 3 days later delivered my twins at 30 weeks. It could just be a coinicidence (sp?), but I would not take the chance if I was to get pregnant again.

J.

I am glad to see more cautious moms here. We painted and I went into labor while we were painting (at 29 weeks). Nobody will ever know if it was the painting, but I have heard other stories of water breaking and laboring soon after a mom was exposed to paint.

I would let someone else do it and stay somewhere else while its happening!

Good Luck,
B.

Actually Home Depot and Menards and places like that actually have non fume non-toxic totally safe kid (and pregnant women) paint. You don't have as many choices in color - you have to stay on the lighter side of the palettes - but its definitely worth it. WE did this when I was pregnant moving into our house - and definitely helped move things along.

It really isn't a good idea to paint when pregnant...especially now when it is getting too cold to leave all of the windows in the house open 24/7. It would be best to have someone else help and try to stay away. I was in the same position and it is hard not too help, but for the health of your baby, it is good to stay away...even if you are painting with latex paint.

H.

I painted trimwork while 8 mos. pregnant (oil base - bad, I know) but I kept the room ventilated and wore a respirator so I was not breathing in any fumes. I also wore latex gloves so I did not have to use paint thinner to remove any paint off my hands. I have a healthy 18 month old so as long as you're careful, paint away. I did hear though that doing alot of overhead painting is not good - not sure the reasons but was told this by a chiropractor.

Painting is not a good idea while pregnant, but if you really want to help you can buy low VOC paint and keep the windows and doors open to keep the air circulating freely.

I also moved when I was pregnant and did help a little bit with painting. I did make sure to buy the low VOC paint.

Hope this helps!

The key is getting the lowest VOC possible. I don't remember all of them off the top of my head, but I believe Sherman Williams had the lowest if you can afford it. I went with Olympic from either Home Depot or Lowes (don't remember which). It was the lowest VOC with out going to an actual paint store and around $20 a gallon. Then I just opened the window to be safe. You can also put a window fan in and have it blowing out to help. By the way, I was seven months pregnant, helped remodel a bath room, and painted a nursery. My daughter was born three days early of her due date with no problems. Good luck.

Everything I've read and heard says DO NOT paint while you are pregnant. I think some paint cans actually have a warning on the label about painting while pregnant. I think if I were you, I'd let someone else do it. I wouldn't even paint after the baby is born. There's so much toxic stuff in paint and the fumes. I wouldn't want my little newborn breathing all that junk in. If you have a small project you can do outside, that may be better. At least you would have a ton of ventilation. I say let you hubby do all the painting.

K.,

I was pregnant with our second son and wanted the nursery painted. My husband insisted he should do it (how nice I know), but to be honest...he's not the most careful painter I know, lol. Anyway, we had a bet going that my OB/GYN would say "absolutely not" to painting. Usually, he's very cautious and strict in a lot of ways (he said no to a 3D ultrasound). I was surprised when he said it wasn't a problem as long as: 1) it was interior latex paint, 2) no high ladders, 3) well ventilated

So, I painted the nursery and all was fine (so far).

Do what your doctor says and what you and your DH are comfortable with.

Congrats on the new baby to be!

T.

No NO NO!!! Stay away! Sorry to be so adamant but I was in our house when I was 7 months pregnant... locked upstairs in my room while the downstairs was being painted and I went into labor!!! They had to use drugs to stop labor. You don't need to help, enjoy being pregnant and stay safe :)

Painting is not allowed while pregant. Sorry. You probably shouldn't stay in the house with the fresh paint either.

For that you'll probably have to talk to your doctor. I believe it's ok as long as there's not lead paint in the house. I couldn't do ANYTHING with my house, cause there was lead paint on the walls. talk about losing my mind.

My doctor said stay well ventilated and use only latex paints. I did that and was fine.

I am confused by all the misconseptions of painting while pregnant. I thought that everyone knew that laytex paint is safe to be around and use while pregnant. I researched this myself to be 100% sure and also asked my obstetrician just to be triple sure, because I knew already that it was the lead based paint that pregnant women are told to stay away from. I painted during both of my pregnancies (I am a real estate investor) and I loved every minute of it because it was great exercise! Paint away girlie, both of my kids are way above average academically and have no health issues. Both were delivered normally too. I would not say do it if I weren't 100% sure that you're safe to do it. It's like the "getting your hair colored" issue while you're pregnant. People forget that these old rules are from old products. The paint is from it used to be "lead based paint" the hair color/highlight used to be back when they used toxic chemicals in the solutions. Times have changed and so have the rules.

I also painted while pregnant with both my boys and they were both born healthy overall, and big, and are still doing fine with no medical problems. But, in the future, I plan to paint with a no-VOC type of paint. I found some called "Freshaire" at Home Depot! There aren't as many colors to choose from, but it's worth it for my family's overall health and not having to breathe those stinky vapors.

If I were in this situation, being 8 months pregnant, I'd be stressed out about the move and the upcoming birth of the child. Yes, I know, this is LAZY but if I were in this situation I would hire painters and have them do it. You have 4 more weeks left in your pregnancy. Enjoy this time with your husband and your child before they have to share you with your new bundle of joy and relax!

I was painting while i was pregnate my dr said it was fine as long as I just had it ventalated.....

Hi K.,
I had the same concerns when we were getting my daughter's baby room ready for her arrival. You will need to get the paint with low VOC. Ask the people where you are purchasing the paint. I would also recommend alot of ventilation in the room where you are painting as well.
Happy Painting!
J.

Hi K.,
I painted while I was pregnant. As long as it's latex paint you should be fine. I see a lot of people here are against it & I'm not a doctor so ask your doctor. I don't know if you watch "Trading Spaces" on TLC but whenever they had a pregnant woman on the show & they were painting, they stressed that it was latex & it was O.K. for her to paint. Stay away from any spray paints or anything other than latex & ask your doctor.
L. C

Not worth the major risk. Not only does it lead to preterm labor (I know a couple of ppl this happened to) but it is pure poison for you and for the fetus especially. DO NOT DO IT.

We painted while I was eight months pregnant and my OB said NOT to be in the house. The kids and I stayed at my brothers for the weekend while my entire family painted every room. I only stayed away for two nights/ three days and my hubby kept every window open to air out the house and this was last February. The fumes are not good for the fetus.

I painted almost our entire house while 5 months pregnant (of course nothing that involved climbing on a ladder)! I just made sure to ventilate the area, and I wore a mask as a precaution. But, I am happy to report I have a perfectly normal 2 year old... so apparently it was okay... :)

My advice is pretty much the same, don't paint and don't be in the house while it's being painted and even a few days after. If you can avoid painting the nursery, I would. Paint fumes are not good for anyone, but they are much worse for infants and toddlers, their rate of respiration is 3 times that of an adult, so they are getting 3 times the toxins into their little lungs. I also want to mention this just in case, DO NOT put down new carpeting. That new carpet smell is really toxins leaching out of the new carpet. I've heard some really bad stories about newborns and new carpeting! It's almost November here in the Chicagoland area and not as easy to keep your new home well ventilated while doing painting and other remodeling work. I would wait until you can leave the windows wide open all day and night.

J. Penfield
www.livetotalwellness.com/J.
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