Is It Safe To Use Fertilizer In My Yard When I’m Pregnant?
During pregnancy, it is necessary to keep in mind that one will have to make a lot of adjustments and think of the consequences as the mother is now in-charge of another life. It is important not to take unnecessary risks. The topic of concern right now is whether using fertilizers are safe during pregnancy or not. A little gardening activity is not harmful. In fact it is good as it provides a little exercise for the mother and also exposes her to ample fresh air. Though there are no conclusive studies regarding the ill-effects of using fertilizers during pregnancy, it is still necessary not to expose the developing fetus to toxic chemicals, which might be there in some fertilizers.
What Are The Probable Risks?
It is one of the ground rules of pregnancy that the fetus should not be exposed to any such chemical that might affect its development. The effect of repeated exposure to such chemicals is usually long-lasting and irreparable.
During pregnancy, the mother’s skin becomes very sensitive. These chemicals often enter the body through the mother’s skin. Other ways of entering are inhaling or ingestion. “Fertilizer” is a wide category and many pesticides fall under it too. And needless to say, exposure to pesticides is never safe for the developing fetus.
The synthetic chemicals present in many fertilizers may lead to cancer or disruptions in the endocrine system. The pesticides are also known to enter the mother’s body and pass through the breast milk of the mother. The exposure to pesticides in the first trimester of pregnancy, i.e. when the nervous system is developing in the fetus can prove to be lethal as it may lead to deformities in the nervous system. Often exposures to certain toxic chemicals present in the fertilizers or pesticides lead to birth defects in the child. Apart from that, chances of chromosomal defects, miscarriages and the risk of it becoming carcinogenic for the mother cannot be ruled out too.
Safety Norms:
Fertilizers can be harmful for the baby if they are synthetic and the exposure to them is in high amounts and on a repeated basis. The immune system of both the mother and the baby are vulnerable at this time and hence it is better not to risk it. If one has to work in their yards, they can opt for the organic fertilizers. There are a number of fertilizers available in the markets which use organic components and hence are completely safe. One can even prepare such fertilizers at home by composting. Composting is basically the procedure where biodegradable matters like vegetables, fruits, egg shells etc. are decomposed and given back to the earth as a fertilizer. This is completely organic and does not pose any threat.
In case, the mother is not sure about the components of the fertilizer, she should wear gloves and face masks as a safety measure. It is advisable to make someone else spread the fertilizer in order to minimize the mother’s exposure to it.
