During your pregnancy you're bound to have many questions about how your lifestyle, or certain substances you're exposed to either at home or work, could affect you. Get the answers to your pregnancy safety questions and learn some pregnancy safety tips that will keep mom and baby health and happy. There's no proof that the chemicals in hair dyes cause birth defects, miscarriages, or any other complications — nor are there reliable studies that prove these substances are safe. Because we don't yet know enough about these chemicals, some doctors say that pregnant women should avoid hair dyes (or at least minimize their contact with them), especially during the first trimester. Highlighting or streaking your hair, both processes that involve less scalp contact, may be safer. Vegetable-based products, such as henna, are also considered safe. If you decide to color your hair yourself, wear plastic or latex gloves to minimize absorption of the chemicals through your skin, and don't leave the product on your scalp any longer than necessary.
It's probably safer to let someone else paint the nursery for you. All paints contain chemicals, and few have undergone safety studies focusing on exposure during pregnancy. If you do decide to help paint the nursery, be sure there is good ventilation (keep the windows open), wear gloves and protective clothing, and don't eat or drink in the room you're painting. Some studies suggest that women who work with solvents called glycol ethers, present in some paints, have an increased risk of miscarriage. Other solvents are also suspected of causing miscarriage and possibly birth defects. Oil-based paints and paint thinners contain more solvents than do their water-based counterparts — but all paints contain numerous ingredients of unknown safety. So far there is little evidence that exposure to these chemicals at common levels significantly increases the risk to your fetus. All insecticides are poisons, however, and some studies have suggested that high levels of exposure to them might increase the chance of birth defects.
If you must have your home or yard property treated: Some studies suggest that the babies of nonsmoking women who are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke are at an increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, subtle deficits in learning and behavior, and, possibly, certain childhood cancers. A 1998 study suggests that a father's smoking may also cause genetic changes in a baby that have been linked to childhood leukemia. Because the chemicals present in passive smoke are at least potentially harmful to your baby, try to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women and women attempting to conceive avoid hot tubs and saunas. A number of studies have suggested that a body temperature of 102 degrees or higher during the first four weeks after conception increases the risk of neural tube defects, problems with closure of the baby's spinal cord or skull. Besides steering clear of hot tubs and saunas, avoid exercising strenuously on hot days.
And contact your health-care provider if you develop a fever over 100 degrees.Local anesthesia isn't thought to have any negative effect on the fetus. If possible, postpone x-rays or surgeries requiring general anesthesia until after your baby is born. If an x-ray is necessary, be sure that the dentist knows you're pregnant so he can shield your abdomen to minimize the radiation that reaches the fetus. Aspartame — commercially called NutraSweet and found in many diet sodas, sugar-free foods, and the sugar substitute Equal — appears to be safe for most pregnant women. However, women with an inherited inborn error of body chemistry called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid foods and drinks containing aspartame. In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new sweetener called sucralose for use in a wide variety of foods and drinks. This sweetener, which is made from sugar, is safe for everyone, including pregnant women, according to the FDA. Still, since the long-term effects of sucralose are not yet known, it's best to opt for natural sweeteners when possible.
During the 1980s, there were anecdotal reports of clusters of birth defects and miscarriages among computer users. But since then, a number of studies have provided reassurance that computer monitors (also called video display terminals or VDTs) are safe to use during pregnancy. In 1991, a large study by the government's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reported that women who work at VDTs all day have no more risk of miscarriage than women with similar jobs who don't use VDTs. Beginning in 1979, a few studies reported that children who are exposed to high levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) #151 produced by power lines and electrical appliances — may be at an increased risk of childhood leukemia. While other studies refute this, further research into health risks possibly associated with exposure to EMFs continues. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported in 1998 that mothers of children with the most common form of leukemia were slightly more likely than the mothers of unaffected children to have used electric blankets, mattress pads, or heating pads during pregnancy.
While studies of EMFs continue, you might want to avoid using electric blankets while pregnant. The NCI researchers didn't find any increased risk of childhood leukemia associated with the use of other common household appliances during pregnancy, including television sets (they also looked at the number of hours watched and how close the women usually sat to the TV), water beds, hair dryers, electric clocks, microwave ovens, sound systems with headphones, and electric stoves.The 5 most frequent safety questions we are asked about heated blankets and heated mattress pads: Can anyone use electric bedding? Is it OK to use an electric blanket during pregnancy? Can I use an electric blanket if I have a pacemaker? Why can’t diabetics use electric blankets? What’s the worry about EMF’s (Electromagnetic Frequency Waves)? Who Should NOT Use Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads? Just as with any electrical appliance, things do occasionally go wrong with electric bedding.
For example, a control may not work properly, a blanket may become bunched up which might cause an overheated condition or a heater wire might break. Therefore, it is foolish to allow infants or small children to use these products. Likewise for the same reasons, anyone who is helpless, paralyzed, insensitive to heat or incapable of understanding the control’s operation should never be allowed to use these appliances. Some elderly people with one or more of these conditions sometimes insist on having their electric blanket. Be strong and refuse them. Show “tough love” or you may regret it. Is It Safe to Use an Electric Blanket during Pregnancy? Medical websites differ about the use of electric bedding during pregnancy. Some say: “Absolutely no problem”. Some say: “Never use”. Many say: “Ask your doctor”. We always tell people that in the absence of conclusive proof about EMF’s and to avoid possible overheating of the fetus, it’s better to err on the side of caution and forgo the heated bedding for nine months.
Of course, during your pregnancy, you could still use automatic bedding products to pre-warm those icy sheets and then turn it off prior to getting into bed. Can I Use an Electric Blanket with my Artificial Pacemaker? Numerous well-known associations, hospitals and doctors advise that electric blankets have not been shown to damage pacemakers or interfere with their functions (see The American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic statements). Although we personally have never heard of any pacemaker problems due to electric bedding, we always recommend that the individual should check with his or her doctor AND the manufacturer of the pacemaker (e.g. Medtronic, St Jude Medical, etc). Why Can’t Diabetics Use Electric Blankets? You frequently see warnings that people with diabetes should not use electric blankets or pads. The reason for this goes back to the warning about insensitivity to heat. Diabetics often lose some feeling in their legs or arms and could sustain a burn if they cannot feel that a blanket or pad has become too warm.
Of course, if the diabetic wishes only to pre-warm the bedding and then turn off the electric blanket or electric mattress pad when getting into bed, this restriction would not apply. What’s the Science about Electric Blanket EMF’S (60 Hz Electromagnetic Fields)? In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, some scientists and others began to be concerned over the safety of electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) due to AC electricity. Various studies in that timeframe had raised concerns over the possibility that the EMF’s generated by power companies’ overhead transmission lines and some appliances could cause cancer or other problems especially in children. The United States government became involved and studied over 500 peer-reviewed papers written on this potential problem. The US National Research Council spent around 65 million dollars and finally stated that there was no conclusive evidence that residential EMF’s play any role in the development of cancer, in reproductive issues or in learning/behavioral issues.
Nevertheless, Sunbeam, which at that time was the only major United States manufacturer of electric blankets, altered the design of its products to reduce EMF’s. All blankets produced after 1992 have much weaker electrical fields than their predecessors. The argument over EMF’s has never gone away completely although very few scientists or medical experts continue to believe that they can cause problems. If you have any concerns about electromagnetic fields caused by AC electricity, you may feel safer with the SoftHeat Low Voltage heated blankets or mattress pads. Their power supply converts the wall outlet 120 volt AC into either 16 or 18 volt DC. You can learn about their low voltage products in our blanket or pad review sections. If you still have concerns but want to experience the benefits of a warming mattress pad, you may wish to look into the ChiliPad™ which has NO electricity in the pad itself. Instead it circulates water through silicone tubes and will heat or cool that water.
They are expensive but the company says that they rapidly pay for themselves in energy savings both in winter and in summer. Things You MUSTKnow When Buying Electric Bedding. Carries ALL MODELS of the Award WinningSAFEST Heated Blankets andMattress Pads fromSoftHeat Low VoltageUL Says: SoftHeat'sSafe & Warm TMtechnology uses"Non-Hazardous Class2 Low Voltage" 1. Before You Buy – A MUST Review: the Lead Page of the Buyer's Guide offering: Major considerations before your purchase; Links to all of our Reviews and Ratings sections 2. Ready to Buy? If you want to see a list of retailers carrying each of the major brands of Heated MATTRESS PADS this year, click Heated Mattress Pad Retailers OR for Heated BLANKETS, click Stores Selling Electric Blankets. The Electric Blanket Institute’s Consumer Guide and Blog text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike 3.0 United States License. For any reuse or distribution you must make clear to others the license terms of this work.