Some pregnant women may still have to clean the house. Although not prohibited, pregnant women need to be extra careful. In order to stay safe and not interfere with health, there are several ways that need to be considered when cleaning the house during pregnancy.
Keeping the house clean is an important thing to do in order to create a healthy family and be protected from various diseases. However, the level of safety when cleaning the house, especially for pregnant women, should not be ignored.
The reason is, exposure to dust flying in the air and chemicals used in certain cleaning agents can cause some pregnant women to feel more nauseous and increase the risk of parasitic infections that are harmful to pregnancy health.
How to clean the house while pregnant is safe
Here are some safe ways to clean the house during pregnancy, so that pregnant women's health is maintained:
1. Use gloves and a mask
To protect pregnant women's skin from exposure to chemicals when cleaning the house, you should always use gloves made of latex or at least plastic and use a face mask. When finished, don't forget to always wash your hands with warm water and soap.
2. Open doors and windows
It is important to always keep the doors and windows open when cleaning the house. This is done so that air exchange is smooth and dust can come out, so that indoor air quality is maintained properly.
3. Pay attention to the chemical content
One of the household chores that pregnant women should avoid is cleaning the house using harsh chemicals, such as glycol ether, phthalates, parabens, EDCs, and aerosol sprays. Usually these ingredients are found in oven cleaners, glass cleaners, detergents, and air fresheners.
Pregnant women need to be more vigilant, because exposure to harsh chemicals can increase the risk of asthma in babies, respiratory problems, birth defects, reproductive disorders, and miscarriages.
So, try to use cleaning agents that are labeled environmentally friendly and free of perfume. As an alternative, pregnant women can use natural cleansers, such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
4. Avoid cleaning the cat litter box
For pregnant women who keep cats, you should avoid cleaning the cat litter box to prevent the risk of infection with the Toxoplasma parasite. The reason, this parasitic infection can cause disturbances in pregnancy, including miscarriage and premature birth.
5. Pay attention to body condition
It is important to always maintain the condition of the body, especially the stomach, when doing housework. Try not to hit the stomach area with any objects and you should avoid cleaning narrow places that can accidentally press the stomach.
It is also important to remember to always limit the duration of cleaning the house, so that pregnant women do not get tired, for example, only 15 minutes a day. After that, pregnant women can rest in peace and comfort.
6. Feel free to ask for help
The first and third trimesters of pregnancy are times that may be quite heavy for pregnant women. The body can become tired easily and have limitations in doing various household chores. So, don't hesitate to ask for help from those closest to you to clean the house, okay?
In fact, pregnancy is not an excuse to slack off and neglect the cleanliness of the house. Pregnant women can also stay active by doing various household chores.
Just don't force yourself to clean the house when you're pregnant. If pregnant women feel tired, stop and rest for a while. If necessary, pregnant women can consult an obstetrician first about safe homework to do and homework that should be avoided during pregnancy.
