Life doesn’t stop just because you’re pregnant. For many women, morning sickness and extreme fatigue can interfere with daily activities. While you can continue some household tasks normally, there are many products and activities pregnant women should avoid. Additionally, some chores may not be safe in and of themselves, potentially leading to dangerous accidents. Here’s a look at which chores to pass on to your partner while you’re pregnant.
No Cleaning Up After Pets
There are some things to stay away from, like animal feces. If you have pets, it’s important to be aware of the bacteria that can spread through fecal matter, such as salmonella and intestinal parasites. Kitty litter boxes, in particular, should be cleaned by someone else in the home, as toxoplasmosis can be transmitted through cat stool.
Avoid Lifting, Squatting, or Overexertion
Chores that require too much bending or squatting should also be handed-off to your partner or other kids. Taking out the trash, for example, involves bending over to empty smaller trash cans, and carrying what can be a pretty heavy garbage bag. Likewise, scrubbing the baseboards should wait until you’ve recovered from labor and delivery. In fact, anything that requires overexertion, heavy lifting, or other feats of strength should be largely avoided -- this includes moving any large furniture. Since doing the laundry falls into these categories, it’s important to at least ask for a little help gathering dirty clothes and moving full laundry baskets.
Don’t Climb Ladders
As your pregnancy progresses, you’re likely to find your center of balance shifting. Additionally, as joints get looser in preparation for birth, you may notice an increase in clumsiness. Because of this, it’s important for pregnant women to stay off ladders, step stools, and other precarious heights. Whether this is to dust ceiling fans, wash the windows, or clean out the gutters, find someone else to take care of it for you until after delivery. By the same token, be extra careful on slippery floors. A tumble is much more likely when you can’t trust your normal sense of equilibrium, and can be extremely dangerous for both you and your growing baby.
Stay Away from Certain Chemicals
You should make every effort to avoid some chemicals entirely, while others may not be quite as terrible in small amounts with plenty of ventilation. Stay far away from pesticides, even those designed for home use, like roach spray. Cleaning products with strong fumes and lots of warning labels, like bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner, and just about any other standard bottle you’d store under the sink, should be used sparingly, with gloves, and in a room with open windows.
For a safer alternative, use more natural products. Vinegar makes a great window cleaner. Baking soda with a splash of lemon can clean up everything from shower scum to oven grease, and will leave that citrus-fresh scent. If you’re in doubt about the safety of a chore or cleaning product, ask your obstetrician or midwife before you get started.
