Ammonia is found in many household products. If often inhaled or exposed to the skin, these compounds can be harmful to health, especially in pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women need to be aware of various products that contain ammonia.
Ammonia is a gaseous chemical compound, colorless, and has a very strong odor. This compound is widely used as an ingredient in household cleaning products, hair dyes, and wall paints.
If you are exposed to ammonia too often, it can cause inflammation and a burning sensation in your skin and eyes. Ammonia can also cause irritation in the mouth, nose, throat, and lungs if swallowed or inhaled.
Anyone, including pregnant women, is at risk of exposure to ammonia from products that are often used at home. To prevent this, it is important for pregnant women to know the various products that contain ammonia and how to safely use them.
Various Products Made of Ammonia and How to Safely Use It
The following are some products made from ammonia that pregnant women need to know and how to safely use them:
Ammonia in hair dye
Hair dye products use ammonia as one of the raw materials. Permanent hair dyes contain high levels of ammonia, while semi-permanent hair dyes usually contain lower levels of ammonia.
These hair dye products work by opening the cuticle layer of the hair, so the dye can be easily attached and last longer.
Although it makes hair look more attractive, hair dye products that are used continuously in the long term can cause hair to look dull and fall out easily.
However, that doesn't mean pregnant women can't dye their hair at all. It's just that pregnant women don't use it too often and need to be more careful when using it. Well, there are some things that pregnant women need to pay attention to when using hair dye, namely:
- Wear gloves before applying hair dye.
- Make sure the place or room has good air circulation when coloring your hair.
- Avoid mixing hair dye products of different types or brands.
- Apply an adequate amount of hair dye only to the hair strands to reduce the risk of it being absorbed by the scalp.
- Rinse thoroughly with water until clean after staining.
Apart from the above methods, pregnant women can also dye their hair using ammonia-free dyes or those made from natural ingredients, such as henna. Pregnant women should also wait until the gestational age enters the second trimester to minimize ammonia exposure to the fetus in the womb.
Ammonia in cleaning agents
The content of ammonia in floor and furniture cleaning products generally has levels that are classified as safe. However, there are some things that pregnant women need to pay attention to when cleaning their house using cleaning products made from ammonia, namely:
- Open windows or doors when cleaning the house or furniture to allow air exchange and prevent the smell of ammonia from being trapped in the room and easily inhaled.
- Use the product in accordance with the instructions for use listed on the packaging label.
- Use gloves when using cleaning products, as the skin usually becomes more sensitive during pregnancy.
- Wash hands after using cleaning products with soap and running water.
- Avoid mixing cleaning products containing ammonia with bleach or bleach.
- Leave the room for a while if you feel dizzy or nauseous.
If possible, pregnant women should ask their partner or other family members to help clean the house. This can reduce the risk of pregnant women being exposed to ammonia and prevent fatigue during pregnancy.
Ammonia in wall paint and varnish
If pregnant women are doing home renovations, you should avoid areas of the house that have been freshly painted or items that have just been varnished. Some building materials, such as wall paint, thinner, and varnish remover, contain chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine.
If inhaled for a long time, these two chemicals can be harmful to pregnant women and increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and impaired brain development of the baby.
Therefore, if there is a house repair process, it is better for pregnant women to stay in another place for a while and return after the renovation process is complete and the dust has been cleaned.
So, if pregnant women are still doing their homework and using products made from ammonia, read the instructions for use on the packaging label first and always wear gloves.
Pregnant women can also replace household cleaning products with ingredients, such as baking soda, vinegar, or borax to minimize the use of ammonia.
Not only that, pregnant women are advised to regularly check with the doctor to find out the condition of their pregnancy. Do not hesitate to ask the doctor if pregnant women experience complaints, such as nausea, vomiting, or shortness of breath, after being exposed to products suspected of containing ammonia.
