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Household Hazards During Pregnancy

How to Protect Your Unborn Baby

By P. Christine Smith

Michelle Hronek of Copperas Cove, Texas is the mother of four, with another baby on the way. Since her active-duty Army husband is sometimes not at home to change the cat litter box, Michelle had to find the safest way to complete the chore herself. "I checked with my doctor," Michelle says. "The advice was to use rubber gloves and change the cat box outside, so that there is good air flow to avoid breathing in the fumes."

The biggest at-home risk to pregnant women is falling, according to Dr. Moore. "Women should be careful about their footing, especially at night and in the winter," he said. The increased weight in the front of the body can easily make a pregnant woman off-balance, therefore care should be taken to avoid falling from high places, such as off a stepladder, and tripping over items in the dark, or slipping on an icy sidewalk. A good policy is to let someone else retrieve items stored high in cabinets, keep the home environment well-lit and avoid walking in any area that can present the possibility of tripping or slipping.

It is often said that having a child is a life-altering event. Clearly children bring about small changes in our lives before they are even born! With a bit of professional advice and some common sense, an expectant mom can easily make a few small changes in her household routine that go a long way in protecting the health and welfare of her unborn child.

Want to see more?

• Pregnancy Precautions: Determining the Safety of Your Daily Grind
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome During Pregnancy
• Debunking Common Pregnancy Myths