Renovations while pregnant
Hello, we just started demolition/renovations on our recently purchased home and perfect timing, I just found out I’m pregnant! How have any of you handled this situation? How much did you take on yourself and how much did you have to back off from? How did you protect yourself from lead dust, etc? I’m worried…
Hello, we just started demolition/renovations on our recently purchased home and perfect timing, I just found out I’m pregnant! How have any of you handled this situation? How much did you take on yourself and how much did you have to back off from? How did you protect yourself from lead dust, etc? I’m worried because we bought this house with the budget that would only allow us to do most of the work ourselves. I appreciate any advice from my friends at brownstoner!
Happened to me, altho I was really hoping and trying.
I moved out of state (okay, to CT) while demo was done and floors were sanded and stained. That’s when a lot of the dust and fumes happen and it’s also something that you can do with relatively short order with cheap labor. We did the demo and floors in entire house in 8 days (husband took vacation days to get it done with hired help).
Also, we decided some things on our wish list didn’t need to get done afterall. We were planning on stripping a lot of woodwork and instead we just painted it — and in the end, I prefer it.
Otherwise, I was there during electric work, plumbing work, kitchen rehab, bathrooms put in.
Also, no matter how careful you are, test the baby early and often for lead.
(and I don’t think the respirator is ideal — it can actually get in thru the skin too)
well there is negative & positive comments on this posting.first of all if your pregnant you should not be dealing with this.
second of all my next comment is to the person who said not to trust lead abatement companies.well you must of been burned badly by bad people.and i will apologize on there
behalf but i am offended by your comment because being a lead abatement supervisor i have always been honest & fair.and always done the right thing.and these are some rules set by the e.p.a.
feel free to ask me any questions considering lead paint .
and also REMEMBER it is illegal to have anyone aside from a certified ,e.p.a. company to do this work.
ur are putting yourself in great dangers.by not doing so .
1.any building built pre 1960 is considered
to have lead.unless otherwise proven by testing.
2.methylene chloride is iilegal and is reported to promote cancer big time NO GOOD.
3.DRY SCRAPING is also illegal because of the dust.
4.the key is to always minimize the dust and keep it contained.
if anyboody has any questions for me just post up on forum i normally check daily.
Hi, OP here, and first, thanks to everyone who’s been in my situation and has offered their understanding and patient advice. Much much appreciated. To the judgy ones, while we did use birth control, obviously, it was not failsafe. We are both thrilled, but not with the risks/timing. I am meeting with my doctor tomorrow and will go over all these issues, but posted here because I knew that many of you brownstoners live in older homes such as ours (late 1800s) and also have mentioned raising families (yes, this is our first!). We already have been using respirators and other safety protection and attempting to limit dust into our living area, and of course, now will be more careful than ever. I spoke with my doctor and will be seeing my GP to do the blood tests for lead levels. Thanks again, keep the advice coming!
First of all, congratulations! Is this your first? I think you’ve heard enough about lead paint, etc, so here’s my practical advice. My husband and I have been renovating for the past 2 months, and I’m due in 6 weeks. My husband has been doing most of the heavy duty stuff, while I’m in charge of cabinet assembly, filling holes & other household stuff. I’m not sure how far along you are, but take it easy during 1st trimester. You will be tired & sleepy from morning sickness, plus everything smells 10 times stronger. Try doing everything sitting down if you can, and avoid unstable or slippery surface where you could fall. Keep good air circulation in the room where you’re working and drink plenty of water. Stop and rest whenver you get tired. Mop the floor more often to keep the dust level down. If you can, try to finish as much as you can during 2nd trimester. Once you’re in 3rd, it gets really hard. You’ll be having back pain from just being pregnant. You wouldn’t want to do anything extra to worsen it. And I second that you should prioritize your work. List up things that you will NOT be able to do once your baby comes, such as painting & drilling, sanding. Finish those first. You can still lay tiles or install small fixers even when a baby is around. Again, listen to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard. It will get frustrating from time to time, but try to enjoy it. Good luck!!
given that most of us are living on or next to a toxic waste dump…does it matter?
Agree with 12:45 – You already know what your doctor is going to tell you. So why take any chance at all, even if the odds are 1 in 1000 that it will affect the baby, how are you going to feel if something goes wrong. Is it really so necessary that you cant wait 9 months or pay extra to have a labor help your husband instead of you?
I agree. after living through a gut reno, it seems that the harmful dust comes from demo really. Demo everything now- pay some day laborers, get rid of everything you are going to get rid of, clean EVERYTHING REALLY WELL, and then you can just put in the new stuff. That too will be dusty, but if you carve out a living space for you two that is clean, it should be ok. I know of another couple who did the same, and their baby is healthy and lovely! Good luck and congratulations!
This also happened to us, twice. You can’t just plan everything…anyway, the first time, I’d already done the nasty paint stripping stuff. The second time (as we speak), I’m just taking it really slowly and avoiding harsh chemicals as much as possible. A lot more labor intensive (i.e., scraping varnish off the floor vs. methyl chloride). So be it.
Good advice to check with your dr. But I know what he/she will tell you, and I think you do too.
Maybe you can handle all the paperwork, phone calls etc. as another poster suggested. In some ways that might even make things go faster.
While you should be careful and try to minimize your exposure to the dust (which is near impossible if you’re going to be living there), any advice from a doctor will be not to do the renovation or live there at the time. Imagine the liability the doctor would open themselves to if they said “no biggie, don’t worry about it”, or “just wear a mask and you’ll be fine”. God forbid something happens!