Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products and Pregnancy

While most experts agree that it's OK for a woman to continue using regular household cleaners when she's pregnant, you may want to err on the side of caution and go for some more eco-friendly products while you've got a bun in the oven. Recent studies have suggested that babies born to mothers who used bleach and air fresheners during pregnancy may have a higher chance of getting asthma.

The term "environmentally friendly" or "green" technically means that there are no synthetic chemicals used in the cleaning product. They're made from natural or renewable things like plants, seeds, fruits and nuts. However, the process is not strictly monitored like it is for food items, so dangerous stuff can still be present in green products. You can pick up eco-friendly cleaning products almost anywhere these days or make your own general cleaner by mixing a ½ cup of vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda in a half gallon of water.

Regardless of whether your cleaning products are synthetic or organic, you should work in a well-ventilated area and use gloves for any household cleaning. If you begin to feel dizzy when you're cleaning, leave the room and get some fresh air immediately.

And don't ever mix cleaning products, as they can quickly become a science experiment gone bad and the resulting chemical reaction can cause potentially harmful noxious fumes. Not a good thing when you're preggers or not!