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PROVIDERS
PARENTS |
Stay Lead Safe During Pregnancy
Lead poisoning is caused by too much lead in the body. Too much lead in a pregnant woman's body can affect her growing fetus because lead can pass from a mother to her unborn child. High levels of lead can increase the risk of miscarriage and could cause the baby to be born too small or too early. Low levels of lead can cause learning and behavior problems in children. The most common cause of lead poisoning comes from lead paint, or the dust created from lead painted areas that wear away, flake and chip. Scraping lead painted surfaces creates dust that can be ingested. One easy preventative measure is to just stay away from peeling paint and repair work areas. Cleaning, painting, or remodeling a room with lead paint can hurt you and your baby. While lead paint is the most common source when it comes to lead poisoning, there are others. Talk to your doctor about any dietary supplements you are taking or home remedies you are using. These may contain bone meal or shells with lead. If your culture involves eating soil or clay, or using products like Surma and Kohl, which have a high lead content, check with your doctor first. Remember that what you ingest or use can affect your unborn child. Make sure that you choose healthy, nutritious foods rich in Iron, Calcium and Vitamin C. These foods will help keep you and your unborn baby healthy and well. The Massachusetts Lead Law protects children under 6 who may be at risk of lead poisoning. The more you are aware, the better prepared you will be after your baby is born, Children are required to have their first lead test when they are between 9 and 12 months old. Talk to your doctor about testing your baby and what the results mean. If you live in a home built before 1978, ask your landlord to test your home for lead. If there is lead paint in your home, your landlord must fix it. If you have additional questions about lead poisoning or need assistance dealing with lead removal from your home, please feel free to contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 1-800-532-9571, or visit us on the web at: www.mass.gov/dph/clppp. Carla M. Grimaldi is a health educator with the Preschool Enrichment Team of the Childhood Lead Prevention Program for Springfield and Holyoke. She can be reached at 413-736-3900 or at cgrimald@vgernet.net |
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We have
a new arrival due in our home in early September. this will be my
third child, and there is a 10-year gap between my youngest son and
our new baby coming. Even as a health educator, I am amazed at the
amount of information about prenatal testing, health care, nutrition,
exercise, and environmental concerns that effect pregnant women and
their unborn child. I remember the point in my pregnancy when the
idea of getting the house ready for baby hit me, and it hasn't stopped.
Some people call it "nesting"; my husband has a different
name for it! And, while the idea of making room for baby, decorating
a nursery, or just sprucing things up is an exciting part of pregnancy,
there are some things to be aware of.