cleaning while pregnant (use of bleach)

silverhalo

 I have a serious question that I have been worrying about lately. Early in my pregnancy we had a problem with mice and it seemed for a month or 2 their droppings were EVERYWHERE. I found it completely disgusting and I know that mice can carry several diseases and some of them can be harmful to pregnant women. I had no choice but to clean it but I would spray bleach onto the droppings before cleaning them up. For those 2 months I used bleach a lot and I always made sure that I tried not to breath it in. For example when I would spray it I would cover my nose and mouth and stay away from that area until the smell went away. I never had any problems with breathing, or coughing, or feeling lightheaded when I used the bleach. Sometimes I could still slightly smell the odor but it NEVER was irritating at all. Now that I am almost to the end of my pregnancy (37 weeks) I know there is nothing that can be done about it but I have been worrying like crazy that I could have harmed the baby by being around the smell sometimes. However even when I did use it I never had any discomfort AT ALL and neither did my husband or son. You could just slightly smell it sometimes. Has anyone else used bleach while pregnant and everything been fine? I would appreciate serious answers b/c I am very worried about this. Has anyone asked their doctor about use of bleach while pregnant? It was something I did not think about at the time at all, I was just trying to rid my house of those disgusting droppings and didn't want to chance messing with anything carrying diseases. I truly appreciate any answers you ladies may have. I am getting so anxious in the last weeks that I am getting paranoid about EVERYTHING that I have done in the last 9 months.

MattsWifey<3

Yes, I had used cleaners with bleach in it and put bleach in my white wash.

Smelling and using bleach to clean with is a lot different than ingesting it or getting it spilled on you or prolonged exposure. 

I think you're totally fine and it's normal to be worried about everything when you're nearing the end! 

 

SweetSweetHam

I cleaned with it throughout my first pregnancy and this one also and everything has been fine.

dnagal

Bleach and other household cleaners are not teratogens.  You have no reason to be concerned.

Because it is caustic, and smelly, you should work in a ventilated area to avoid inhaling the fumes (causing a headache, dizziness, and potentially damage to your lungs) but this would not result in danger to your baby--unless you passed out and fell down a flight of stairs.