Easy House Painting Tips - Newsletter March, 2010

Welcome to some great House Painting Tips!

Table of Contents
------------------

Painting While Pregnant - How Safe Is It?

Painting While Pregnant - How Safe Is It?

If you are pregnant and want to paint a room or project, it's important to take a look at your general health. If you are a medium to high risk pregnancy it would be best to avoid any substance that may add undue stress to your body. In any condition, it is best to double check with your doctor to ensure you are healthy enough to withstand the extra strain on your body from paint chemical smells and the physical labor of painting.

Most brands of paint offer a low or no VOC option. VOC's, volatile organic compounds, are the dangerous toxins released into the air as you paint. If you are pregnant, it's best to spend the extra few dollars for a no VOC paint. Talk with your local paint supplier about your options for environmentally safe paints during pregnancy.

Sanding old paint poses two health risks to a pregnant woman: 1) Sanding releases toxic particles that are more easily lodged into the nose and throat; and 2) Lead is a huge risk when removing original paint from before the 1970's. Try to find some one to prepare your surfaces for you while you are out for the day.

When you are ready to paint your project or room, protect you and your unborn child by using appropriate masking and clothing. A respirator mask specific for painting is important to reduce your exposure to airborne toxins. Be sure to spend the extra bucks on a good quality respirator mask, talk to your paint professional for a recommendation.

Cover your arms and other exposed body parts while painting. Your skin absorbs more than you would think, and being pregnant will make you extra-susceptible to these stress-inducing chemicals.

When you are painting during your pregnancy be sure to run as many fans as available. Open up your windows and let the fresh air in. It's also advisable to take frequent breaks outside. Fresh air will help clean out your lungs and reduce the toxic chemical absorption by you and your baby.