Painting/Paint Fumes While Pregnant

[JRPAGV]

When your baby's nursery was being painted, did you leave the house? DH is about to paint the baby's room, but I'm not sure how important it is to steer clear of that side of the house. He can open the two windows in the room (even though it's kind of rainy outside). Is that enough? It's Sunday evening, so I really have nowhere to go if I leave the house. How long should we ventilate the room until it's okay for me to go in there and be around it? I read the paragraphs in What To Expect... on the subject and it recommends leaving the house or at least leaving the windows open. I'm just curious as to what you ladies did while you were pregnant, though. Thanks in advance!

[lml41981]

I painted three rooms while pregnant. Two while I knew I was pregnant. For one, I wore a respirator mask because there was no way to ventilate well...it was an open room, but still. I actually found it more difficult to breathe with the respirator mask...I felt like I was hyperventilating.

For the other two rooms, I just opened the window and took lots of breaks. Oil based paints really bother me, but latex paints do not bother me at all. I felt fine.

I asked my OB about it at my next appointment and she said she did her own nursery, too.

[Mickey&B]

I painted my nursery while I was pregnant as well. I opened the two windows in the room as well as wore a mask, just because I am neurotic :p . Paints today don't contain lead like they used to and they are for the most part all water based instead of oil, so it's pretty safe to be painting.

[JRPAGV]

We bought Eddie Bauer satin finish paint. It says it's 100% acrylic. Is that good or bad? Forgive me... I'm clueless when it comes to paint/painting. :o

[wildcat]

I've painted 2 rooms, a very small bathroom and hallways while pregnant. My dr. said it's absolutely fine and to open a window if it makes me naesous (never did so I didn't). The only thing I had DH did and stayed clear of was when he used Kilz in the bathroom first.

[1_mommy]

while pg with dd, i was made to leave the room while it was being painted. ( by stepmom and dh)
with this pregnancy. i have actually painted ds room all myself. i just opened the windows and kept a fan going. trying to keep the room as well ventalated as possible. i tried wearing a mask, but it was just to hot and hard to breathe.

not sure about acrylic paint, sorry

[Brink]

Everything I have read says that latex paint is fine, it is the oil based paint you want to avoid. I believe acrylic is the same as latex (water based). Just ask your local hardware store.