When it comes to pregnancy, most women do everything they can to protect their unborn child. They stop drinking and smoking, they are careful going up and down stairs, and they take many different vitamins and get plenty of rest. However, many continue to do most of their household chores, especially during the early months. What they don’t realize is that they could be harming their baby just by cleaning their house!

The reason for this is the harsh chemicals found in many household cleaners. While women know that they must avoid coming into contact with chemicals during their pregnancy, because cleaners are something they use every day, they don’t think of them as dangerous. However, there have been several studies done on household cleaners and their effects on unborn children. Several studies have explored a possible link between asthma and cleaners. This study showed that women who commonly used chemical-based cleaning products were twice as likely to have a child who was affected with autism.

Another study looked at children with other breathing difficulties, such as wheezing, and the mother’s exposure to aerosols, air fresheners, and other sprays. The results showed that mothers that were around these cleaning products were more likely to have children who exhibited wheezing while young. In fact, these studies actually showed that in addition to cleaning products, the chemicals used in many perfumes could damage an unborn child and result in breathing problems. While one study may not be conclusive, enough research has been done in this area to conclusively show that there is a connection between breathing issues and chemical cleaners.

What chemicals should expecting mothers stay away from? Well, almost every household cleaner contains some chemical that is dangerous, unless it is an all-natural cleaner. Some of the worst, however, including triclosan, which can actually be found in not only cleaning products but also in some hand washes and even toothpastes. Alkylphenols, a chemical in detergents, are also quite dangerous. Latex paints, naturally, should be avoided as they are toxic and release what are called volatile organic compounds in the air. Expecting mothers should stay out of freshly painted rooms and make certain they have been well-ventilated before entering them.

Mothers who spend plenty of time outdoors may want to avoid insects, but they will also want to avoid bug sprays that feature DEET since it has not been evaluated for safety. Pesticides are also very harmful. Pregnant women may apply bug sprays and repellants to their clothing, but they should be very careful not to get any of it on their skin.

Finally, other chemicals that should be avoided include oven cleaners, bleach, paint stripper, and carpet/window cleaners. Do your best to avoid coming into contact with any of these harmful chemicals, and check the labels of all cleaners you use to see which contain dangerous ingredients. If possible, replace them with natural cleaners that will not cause any harmful side-effects for either you or your child.