Pregnant Women and Lead

Pre-natal care requires a woman to know and be aware of the dangers that exist in the world around her and how these things inadvertently harm her unborn child. One of the most overlooked threats is lead poisoning. The use of lead has been integrated into millions of products and it is important for pregnant women to know what those products are.

Clean Up!

Ensuring continual cleanliness is the best way to protect and provent oneself from any harmful...and this will help protect a woman during pregnancy from lead exposure. Chipped pain and dust may contain lead and it is important these surfaces are continually clean to avoid lead poisoning exposure. Cover chipping paint in your home with duct tape, plastic or contact paper, and vacuum dust whenever possible. To avoid breathing in lead particles in dust or chipped paint, use a wet cloth to wash down surfaces that are dusty or contain lead paint. Hand-washing, while common-sense, is not practiced enough, so be sure to wash up after interacting with soil, which might contain lead toxins, and before preparing food or eating. Lead toxins often exist in soil, which is why it is important to thoroughly wash hands after contact with soil and to wear gloves during any gardening activities.

Craft With Care

Ceramic and other pottery may have its appeal, but with lead paint posing a very real threat to your fetus, it may be a good idea to avoid ceramic crafts until after your pregnancy. It is imperative to wash hands and clothing if you cannot avoid dealing with paint and pottery that have lead contaminants. Solder is a bad idea while pregnant, so hand the soldering iron off to another crafty woman during your pregnancy. Change your clothing after working with lead-filled crafts materials and be sure to wash them away from other family members' garments.

Take Care At Work

Occupational exposure to lead is dangerous for men and women, but pregnant women run the additional risk of lead contamination to their unborn children. If you work with soldering irons, welding materials, lead-based paint, common construction site chemicals and items, or work in a factory setting, you may be putting your fetus at risk. Ask your employer about a transfer to a lower-risk area of the factory, and be sure to wash hands often. Put your work clothing in a separate hamper and wash it separately from other family's garments. Shoes and boots that may have remnants of lead on them should be kept outside of the home and it is imperative for an individual to vacuum immediately after an individual may have had lead-exposed attire in the house. Educate yourself about the hazards of lead exposure and be certain to talk to your doctor about how your prenatal care can reflect your concern about lead poisoning and lead exposure.

Seek Legal Advice for Exposure

If you have been exposed to lead paint or other lead at work or at home, consult a doctor and then a lawyer. Contacting a lead poisoning law firm that is experienced is important to provide compensation for you and your baby.

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