Are cleaning and conquering clutter on top of your mind? The uncontrollable urge to destroy dust shouldn’t go into overdrive especially if your due date is approaching closer. Take it easy and pretend to forget your nesting instinct and the urge to clean and organize.
There are quite a few household chores that are not safe for pregnant women. Get to know them and avoid the complications. Just play the pregnancy card and delegate the chores to someone or simply hire some help.
6 Household Chores To Avoid During Pregnancy
1. Bathroom Cleaning
We all know that cleaning of bathroom involves a lot of chemicals. Pregnant ladies aren’t supposed to inhale toxic chemicals. Your basic rule while being pregnant should be – “If something smells harsh, avoid it”. Delegate the work to someone else and in case you decide to clean the bathroom, make your own cleaners using ingredients like lemon juice, white vinegar, and baking soda. Some essential oils used as fresheners in the bathroom could also be bad for the health of the expecting moms.
2. Vacuum Cleaning And Mopping
Given a choice – would you just relax and enjoy your pregnancy or suffer painful sciatica after mopping and cleaning the house? We hear your answers! Yes, painful sciatica would be the result of vacuum cleaning and mopping when you are pregnant. It aggravates the back pain. Activities which require you to bend forward worsens lower back pain. Sciatica is very common during pregnancy because of the weight gain. So forget about cleaning your carpet or mopping the kitchen floor when you are pregnant. Delegate the work to someone else and all you pregnant ladies just relax!
3. Laundry Work
Chances of premature labor or high blood pressure are the result of laundry job. Dreadful laundry job can wait for you after delivery (yes, it is never gonna end). For now, while you are pregnant, get this chore done by others. Bending and picking up laundry baskets and buckets will only strain your back. If you have older kids, ask them to help you in picking up clothes and hanging it out. They would be happy to help you for sure.
4. Pet Litter Cleaning
Just like harsh chemicals, cat poop in the litter box might put you in trouble during pregnancy. Infections which transmit through cat feces could affect the baby. Ask someone else in the family to take care of the litter cleaning. If you end up doing this chore, wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from any infections. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
5. Lifting Heavy Weights
Avoid carrying heavy weights. Your healthcare provider would have given you the recommendations on how much weight is safe to carry. As your baby bump grows, it puts added pressure on your back. Carrying extra weight would only strain or worsen your back. Be cautious while carrying the heavy load. Always squat to pick up things from the floor and do not bend forward.
6. Cleaning Ceiling Fans And Hanging Curtains
You might have experienced the change in your gait by now. Pregnant women experience a change in their center of gravity. This makes you prone to dangerous falls, especially if you climb up high. Never climb on ladders to clean the ceiling fans or hang curtains. Avoid the risk of falling by giving this chore to somebody else in the house or simply hire help.
Who would have known a simple household chore could put you and your growing baby in trouble? It is best to delegate the chores to others. Don’t go on an overdrive about cleanliness and it is absolutely okay to ask for help on household chores during pregnancy.
