really really worried pls pls help!

[lotte]

Hello ladies

Im just wanting some advice please. We are doing some home decorating and before i bought the paint at b&q i told the lady i was pregnant and she said it was fine to use the paint we bought. Anyway my husband used the paint to paint an old chest and some drawers and to be extra safe he painted it outside yesturday. Anyway he brought it in today and it was literally making my eyes itch and tear up so i asked him about the paint and he said it would smell cos it was oil based paint. So i googled it and apparently it is really dangerous!! Im so mad at that woman and im also really scared and keep crying :,( so scared iv harmed the baby.

Has anyone been through this??

Thank you x

 

[Sarahdisco]

First of all... Calm down! Stressing yourself out about it isn't going to do you any favours.

The risk from gloss paint is there, but it is mainly due to the fact that not much research has been done into the effects on pregnant women and how much is absorbed. Ask oh if he can out the unit in another room and shut the door. Get an onion, cut it in half and put it in the same room. Helps to draw out the smell.

We decorated last weekend after speaking to the midwife. She said that the main risk was in the first 12 weeks and as long as I didn't do the glossing myself we were fine (our house reeked of gloss for days!). She didn't seem concerned about the fumes in the days afterward, more being over the can with the wet paint while the fumes are at their worst!

Give your midwife a call tomorrow if your worried but please don't stress. If OH can move the unit so it's not in the same room as you there will be minimal risk.

Also, never trust b&q they told me Nitromors was safe to use while pregnant!

 

[stardust1976]

I will second the 'don't stress' aspect, but I would definitely move the painted things outside until they are completely dry and fume free, and if possible for a couple of weeks after that as well.

This is because the risk from paint fumes actually comes from when the paint is drying, not while wet.

I understand people thinking the latter, but research has proven that the problem comes from VOC's (volatile organic compounds/chemicals) emitting toxic chemicals as the paint dries. This happens a lot more in oil based paints rather than latex or water paints, primarily because of the solvents used as a medium for the paint.

The chance that you have done anything to your baby is minimal at best, and the risk is highest in the first trimester, and does increase the more you are exposed to the VOC's.

So just to be safe, wear a ventilation mask, googles and gloves while you paint, and keep anything freshly painted outside or in a shed or something not only while it dries but for as long as possible afterwards. Then bring it inside knowing it's now completely safe.

 

[babydevil1989]

i have just glossed our doors - i didnt even think about it being dangerous tbh but i had no adverse symptoms from it.

im sure your fine x