Q&A: I inhaled paint fumes. Did I harm my baby?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am feeling really guilty right now. I had the baby's room painted when I was about seven months pregnant and didn't really think twice about it as I was not the one doing the painting and I opened all the windows for ventilation. The paint smell, however was a bit stronger than I had thought and the baby room is attached to our master bedroom, where I slept that night. Anyway, I just found the paint can in the garage and the can states that "in the state of California some ingregients in the paint have been known to cause birth defects and reproductive problems." Now I am scared I may have harmed my baby. Do you think that my chances of having done damage are really great or not from sleeping in a room with paint fumes for one night?

Don't panic. First of all, it's pretty hard to hurt your baby. Especially at seven months. Most developmental abnromalities are due to exposure to toxic substances in the first trimester.

In fact, if you were to have problems with your baby, it would be more likely to just a coincidence in the general population than what you happened to smell that one night.

You'll probably do just fine. Consider yourself reassured!

find more about:
related categories:
All the pregnancy info you need—from the first trimester to the last.
watch more videos