Pregnancy - and working in the garden

[patsyk]

Hi - I am wondering if anyone can answer this question for me. :confused: I am about 12 weeks pg, and right after I found out my SIL told me when she was pg the dr told her not to work in the garden at all due to the fertilizer and such. I haven't been able to find any information that confirms this, however, I haven't been in my garden since I found out because you just never know.

Has anyone else who has been pg during the summer or is currently pg heard of this? My garden has turned into a jungle of weeds and I would love to spend time getting it cleaned up, but wanted to hear what others say first. I'll be seeing my dr in a couple of weeks, and I will be asking her as well.

Thanks! :)

[djoygirl]

PatsyK, I hadn't really thought about the fertilizer issue before. I wouldn't think that you'd have to stop working in the garden all together. But it's probably a very good idea to wear gloves if you do. I don't know if fertilizer is a risk, but it's a good possibility that some neighborhood cats have used your garden as a litter box. That's definitely something you don't want to come into contact with. I would certainly ask your doctor next time about the fertilizer. Good luck!

[Nirak]

Definately worry about the cat issue ... wear gloves. In fact, being pregnant got me out of litter box duty and I'm proud to say 8 years later DH is still doing that nasty chore. (BTW, congrats)

[beacooker]

I've been continuing to work in my garden through out my pregnancy (not that I do it that much!). I just wear gloves when I use fertilizer and when I am going to have my hands in the dirt. For simple weed pulling, I don't bother.

[Zinnia]

I agree with all the above.. Also, check & read the boxes of fertilizer (if you still have them; and if using more than 1 type of fertilizer for diff. areas), to see about precautions/mixing of them...
Call the Dr. or gardening store to ask advice before, or on your next (more frequent :)) visit, to get certain info. Other than running when I see a bee, I wear latex gloves and think of it like a surgery when in the garden. I don't even touch my face/mouth with my used gloves, I have a set of gardening clothes I wear, tools for only this or that, and/or yell for someone to help me, lol.....
Also, I try to do my gardening in the morning before work and then jump in the shower.
Congratulations to you and good luck! :) Zinnia

[KristaMB]

Patsy, congratulations! I looked in some of my books and the only things I could find had to do with what djoygirl already mentioned: cats may have used the soil as a litter box and you don't want to risk getting toxoplasmosis. One book also mentioned washing homegrown produce with detergent and/or peeling it and cooking it to avoid infection.
~Krista

[SusanT]

Some pesticides and fungicides can be absorbed through the skin so get someone else to apply them, if you use chemicals.