Can I Garden While Pregnant?
Many people love gardening as a hobby and find it relaxing. It’s also good for the mind and helps to lift your spirits during pregnancy.
However, there are a few risks you should be aware of when gardening while pregnant. Some of them include exposure to chemicals and soil-borne infections.
1. Get Help
Gardening is an ideal hobby to engage in during pregnancy, as it offers both exercise and relaxation. It also helps lower blood pressure, improves mood, and reduces stress. It is also a great way to connect with your loved ones.
However, gardening while pregnant comes with a few added precautions that you should take to ensure your safety and the health of your baby. To start, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not exposing yourself to chemicals and pesticides while working in your garden.
Pregnancy is a time to be extra cautious about chemical exposure as it can harm your developing fetus. This is especially true if you are gardening in soil that has been treated with herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides.
Another possible hazard is toxoplasmosis, which is a condition that can be spread from the feces of cats. This parasite can cause serious health issues for pregnant women, including damage to their developing fetal organs.
Toxoplasmosis can be prevented by not handling the soil or tools in your garden that might have come into contact with cat feces. You’ll also want to make sure you wash all produce from your garden and flowers before bringing them indoors so that you don’t get this dangerous parasite in your food.
It’s not a good idea to stand or lift heavy pots and garden implements during your pregnancy, as this can strain your back and increase your risk of injury. If you can’t do these tasks on your own, ask someone to help.
You might also consider hiring a gardening assistant to do the heavy lifting and digging in your garden so that you don’t have to worry about this task while you’re pregnant. This will free up your hands to handle other things, such as weeding and pruning, without worrying about putting unnecessary strain on your back.
2. Wear Gloves
One of the most important things to do when gardening while pregnant is to wear gloves. Not only does this protect your hands from splinters and thorns, but it also reduces the risk of contracting an infection in your hands.
Gloves are available in a variety of materials, but leather is often recommended. This is because it provides the most protection against thorns and branches. They also tend to be more comfortable to wear, making them easier on your hands and wrists.
Pregnant women should be especially careful when gardening with their hands, as they are at risk of being infected with a protozoan called toxoplasmosis. This parasite is common in soil and cat feces and can cause miscarriage, brain damage, and seizures for the baby if the mother contracts it while pregnant.
A woman’s immune system is weakened during pregnancy and this makes them highly susceptible to infection from germs, chemicals, and harmful toxins in garden soil. This includes herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides.
When applying these chemicals, the CDC recommends wearing long sleeves and pants, and gloves. It is also a good idea to keep the area away from strong wind.
In addition to gloves, a pregnant woman should avoid getting too close to plants and vegetables when they are being treated with chemicals. This is because these products can be very potent and if ingested, they could harm the developing baby.
It’s also a good idea to stay hydrated while gardening. This will help to keep your energy levels up and decrease the likelihood of you becoming fatigued. It can be difficult to hydrate when you are working, so make sure to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.
3. Stay Hydrated
Gardening is an excellent activity for women who are pregnant, but it isn’t without its risks. It’s important to understand these risks so you can avoid them when gardening.
A big part of staying safe while gardening is drinking plenty of water. This will help keep you hydrated, which is crucial for both your health and that of your baby.
You’ll also want to be sure that you are passing urine frequently, as dehydration can cause your body to produce more acid in the urine, which is not good for you or your baby. This can lead to several problems including urinary tract infections, low amniotic fluid, and oligohydramnios.
During pregnancy, your skin is extra sensitive to the sun. This means that you can easily overheat, so it’s best to be cautious and wear a wide-brimmed hat when working in the garden.
If you’re gardening during a hot day, you can take breaks in the shade to prevent heat exhaustion and dehydration. This will give you a chance to rehydrate, refill your water bottle, get some snacks, and relax!
Another way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of fruit juice. This provides many vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for both you and your baby.
Alcohol, however, should be avoided during pregnancy as it can cross the placenta and harm your unborn child. Moreover, alcoholic drinks can increase your risk of developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which can result in birth defects, developmental disabilities, and other lifelong issues.
When it comes to chemical exposure, it’s best to stay indoors and away from sprays unless you’re very far from them or you have someone else apply them. This will ensure that you’re not ingesting any of the chemicals.
4. Avoid Low-Lying Plants
If you’re pregnant, it’s important to stay safe when gardening. There are a few concerns to be aware of, including the risk of exposure to chemicals.
Chemicals in sprays can be harmful to both you and your baby, so it’s best to stay indoors when they’re being used. If possible, use organic pest control methods and avoid using any pesticides altogether.
You also want to ensure you don’t pick low-lying plants in your garden, as this can cause back strain. Instead, plant taller crops like beans or peas on a trellis that will be easier for you to harvest and care for.
These are just a few tips to keep in mind when gardening while pregnant, but there are many more! It’s also important to remember that you need to be mindful of your surroundings and listen to your body.
If you need help gardening, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from family or friends! During your pregnancy, it’s essential to be careful with your back and knees.
It’s also a good idea to stay hydrated while you’re gardening, as dehydration can be dangerous for both you and your baby. It can cause low blood sugar levels and lead to an increase in headaches and nausea.
Aside from being a great way to get fresh produce, gardening can be a fun and relaxing activity. So why not give it a try this summer?
If you’re looking for some new ideas for your garden this year, check out my eBook Think ‘Inside’ the Box. It’s filled with everything you need to know about growing vegetables in containers. You can get your copy of this free resource now!
5. Don’t Overwork Your Body
Gardening is an excellent way to keep your body healthy and active during pregnancy. It can also be a fun activity that helps you relax and unwind after a long day. However, it is important to take the necessary precautions when gardening while pregnant to avoid harming yourself or your baby.
The CDC recommends working in a kneeling position instead of bending for long periods when gardening while pregnant. This will help you avoid injury and reduce the amount of stress on your back and spine. You may also want to invest in a knee pad that you can place under your knees to cushion them while working in the garden.
When preparing a bed for planting, choose low-lying plants like beans and peas that can be climbed up a trellis. This will make it easier for you to reach and harvest the produce.
Using gloves is also recommended when gardening while pregnant. This will ensure that you don’t get splinters or thorns in your hands that could hurt you and your baby.
You should avoid overworking your body when you are gardening while pregnant because it can cause exhaustion and fatigue. It is best to take plenty of breaks and walk around your garden while you work so that you don’t overwork your body and put yourself at risk for injuries or miscarriage.
It is also important to be careful when using chemicals while gardening during your pregnancy. These can contaminate the soil and affect your developing baby’s development, so be sure to wear gloves when spraying any pesticides or herbicides.
Lastly, it is best to work on one project at a time and take plenty of breaks in between. This will prevent you from overworking your body and make it more difficult to get it done the next day.