i live in a rented flat and my landlord has arranged for a painter and decorator to come over on saturday to paint my hall, bedroom and all doors and doorframes.

Do you think it will be safe?

Trust me, the smell will make you sick. Have you got anyone you can stay with for a few days?

I agree ^ We're having the corridors at work painted and we have to have the office door shut as it's making me feel/want to be sick

no...i dont mind feeling sick as i already am so much at the moment im just worried the fumes may harm the baby

Im not sure hun, but i think if it was me i'd go stay with someone for a few days just incase

Well, whenver you paint inside, pregnant or not, there are harmful fumes, that is why they tell you to keep the windows open... lol... But ya, I think going somewhere for a couple days will be much less hassle. Then they can leave the windows open a crack for a few days.

I think all the fumes wiolol make you queezy....
But it's safe in general...

no it's not...don't mean to call you out or anything nikky, i just don't want anyone to assume that it cant hurt the baby. I'm super worried about stuff like this (maybe a bit too much? lol, i just like to be safe than sorry, u know?) so i have been doing a bunch of reading about different stuff.

Just want to let you all know that i've read in a few different places that it's not good for the baby to be around those fumes and what not.

Just looked it up, and this is what i got:

Question:

Is it safe to paint while you are pregnant?

Answer:

No not usually because of the fumes. If you must try a ventilation mask with a filter and open all the windows and doors. Try to have someone else do it and you leave for the day. You can even discuss with your doctor.

It is not only lead based paints that are unsafe. Paints with high VOCs (such as oil-based enamels and epoxy) are not safe for anyone to breathe over an extended period. If you are pregnant and want to do some painting, be sure to ask for a paint with low VOC, or at least be sure to use a water based (latex) paint and have proper ventilation. Even for several days after paint has been applied it can "offgas" fumes into the air. Continue to supply fresh air to an area that is freshly painted for as long as is practical after painting.

While solvent-based paints pose more of a threat, water-based paints contain anti-microbials to inhibit microbiological growth while packaged. There are known health effects resulting from occupational exposure to anti-microbials. This would be an extremely low-level exposure, but low-level exposure science is just emerging and much is still unknown. Minimizing exposure to potentially hazardous substances while pregnant (and any other time) is prudent.

I think I read a few things that said it was OK so long as the area was well ventellated, but I guess as with all advice they give us pregnant women it all contracticts its self.

I'd agree with the others and try to stay with a friend if you can.

Fumes make me feel sick at the best of times and gloss paint gives me a headache. Whe you go back home, if it still smells - try lighting a candle in the center of the room.

I attended a seminar on pregnancy at my hospital a while back, and the doctor specifically mentioned that now is not the time to start painting in your house, and if you are preparing a new house, give it around 2 weeks after painting before you move in. She mentioned this on a couple of separate occasions... Then again, maybe some of the paints used here in China could be more toxic?

Anyway, if you have a chance to stay somewhere else for a bit, what's the point of risking it!