20 weeks pregnant and painting..?

Question

I am on the verge of an anxiety attack because I'm scared. I have been painting for about 3 hours with a water based paint. We are trying to sell our house so we needed to get some painting done and I feel worthless if I don't help. I've taken a few breaks and gone outside for about 5 minutes for fresh air and we have all the windows open in our house plus a fan going. The paint doesn't smell strong at all I'm just worried. I do kind of have a headache but I've had one since way before we started painting so I dont think it is from that. Can someone ease my mind a little? Thanks! I'm 20 weeks pregnant if that matters.

Answer 1

hi lol i moved house when i was 35 weeks pregnant with my last son and was painting  for two weeks and i was fine u have been doing all the right things eg taking breaks,windows open if i was you cut up a couple of onions and put them in a bowel of water it soaks in all the fumes and it really does work good luck with the next 20 weeks xx

Answer 2

I painted my bedroom when I was also around 20 weeks and we're both doing fine. It's good that you have air circulating and take breaks..I think you should be just fine.  

Answer 3

You should be fine, it's water-based and you allowed yourself to ventilate in the fresh air. Best wished.

"Painting During Pregnancy"

There's something about having a baby that makes many expectant moms want to redecorate, paint rooms, knock down walls, scrape old wallpaper, and refinish floors. Maybe it has something to do with the nesting instinct, or maybe it's the realization that after the baby arrives there will be no more time for this kind of activity. In any case, if you get the urge to start remodeling, think about the chemicals you'll be working with first, and use them safely.

Go ahead—paint the nursery any color you want, as long as you use a waterbased paint and keep the windows open. But stay away from oil- and lead-based paints, as well as paints manufactured before 1990. Until it was banned in 1990 by the Federal Drug Administration, mercury was often added to latex paints as a preservative. Some of these paints are still around, so it's best not to use old paints left in your parent's garage. Ask a knowledgeable salesperson if the paint you want to buy contains any mercury. The fetus is extremely sensitive to the fumes of mercury-laced paint. In extreme cases of mercury poisoning, effects on the newborn include mental retardation, tremors, seizures, and kidney and liver diseases.

Check the label on cans of spray paint. If you see "M-butyl ketone" or "MBK" don't use it. If inhaled, this chemical can cause neurological (having to do with the nerves) damage to your baby.

You should also avoid breathing in the fumes from polyurethane paints and coatings that give such a nice shine to woodwork and hardwood floors. Definitely don't apply these materials in spray form, and keep all windows open for at least 24 hours after the job is done. If you're putting a topcoat on moveable pieces, such as furniture, it's best to do the job outside in the open air.

When it's time to clean paintbrushes, stay away from turpentine and liquid paint removers. The fumes are strong and toxic. Because you're using only water-based paints while you're pregnant anyway, cleanup is easy with water. But if you need turpentine for a project, let a professional or your partner do the job.

Feel like getting really dirty and scraping off some old paint, taking down ugly wallpaper, or even tearing down walls? You'd better check for lead paint on those walls first. Almost all houses built before 1950 have lead paint on the walls. If you start stirring it up now, you might expose yourself—and your baby—to high levels of lead dust and risk lead poisoning. Although this exposure might give you absolutely no problem, it is very bad for your baby. High levels of lead exposure throughout pregnancy have led to infant death, premature birth, low birth weights, deformities, and lower intellect. Even low levels of lead exposure during pregnancy are associated with lower IQ scores, poor memory, and poor academic achievement in school. Find out how old the paint is before you scrape.

Answer 4

a headache usually represents several things, number one you need fluid, water is the best, it can mean that you are dehydrated, if the water doesn't resolve the issue, you should contact your doctor if the headache persists, could be high blood pressure too.  they will check your blood count and can tell alot by that.

Answer 5

you'll be fine! it sounds like you are doing good with having good air circulation. i painted quite a few times during my pregnancy. the worst part is just having to STAND for so long while painting!!

Answer 6

If I'm thinking correctly, water based paint is safe to use. I've painted early in this pregnancy, and I painted during my first pregnancy as well. If you are starting to get headaches, just rest for a while.