Yesterday, I went to visit my friend to help her with her garden and she gave me some great news – she’s pregnant! Of course we were overjoyed and can’t wait to celebrate so we went onto her patio for some coffee and she told me all about her excitement. She also told me she’s concerned about doing some of the gardening chores now – “Can I pull weeds while pregnant?” she asked me.
Yes, it’s completely safe to pull weeds while pregnant, with a few precautions. Gardening helps relax and calm your mind and nerves, so it can be a great hobby while pregnant. But, it is important to avoid coming into contact with potentially poisonous and harmful chemicals, or any bacteria and infections present in the soil which can cause harm to your pregnancy.
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Gardening Risks while Pregnant
Pesticides – According to the CDC website, exposure to pesticides while pregnant can have harmful effects such as miscarriage or birth defects. There are also concerns about pesticides potentially being able to pass through breastmilk.
These chemicals should be avoided at all costs. Especially during pregnancy – by using organic and all natural pest control methods instead of harsh chemicals. Diatomaceous earth is a great organic pest control method that is safe to use during pregnancy! It even gets rid of those horrible caterpillars that eat your plants!
Unknown Plants – Another main concern about pulling weeds when pregnant is the possibility of touching plants that you aren’t familiar with.
Now, I know that the majority of weeds in my garden aren’t poisonous or dangerous. But if you aren’t sure what the plant is, your best bet is to use gardening gloves to pull weeds and touch the soil.
Some gardening gloves are better than others. So to set you down the right path, I have an entire post about gardening gloves.
Toxoplasmosis – The last major concern is about contracting a condition known as Toxoplasmosis. This occurs due to Toxoplasma gondii parasite which is present in contaminated cat faeces.
And even if you don’t have cats, don’t dismiss this quite yet.
I don’t keep a cat as a pet, but that doesn’t stop the neighborhood cats from rolling around in my garden beds.
Some symptoms of Toxoplasmosis include a fever, swollen glands, headache, and muscle aches. And not only can this affect you, but it can be passed to an unborn child as well, causing potentially long term effects.
So if you have any concerns about cats in your garden – pick up a good pair of gloves and use them while you work!
Safe Gardening Tips While Pregnant
Gardening is a hobby which releases happy hormones known as endorphins which reduce stress and anxiety overall.
So it’s safe to say that gardening is a great pregnancy hobby. The smell of roses, fresh air, and lots of sunshine.
But with all of the above risk factors, it’s no wonder you might be asking yourself “Can I pull weeds while pregnant?”
In order to stay safe while gardening, here are a few tips to consider!
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1) Stay Hydrated
While gardening is relaxing, digging up plants in the hot sun can be tedious and can lead to dehydration.
Make sure to drink loads of liquids while gardening to make sure your blood sugar levels don’t drop. And to keep your pregnancy glow shining bright!
2) Say No to Chemicals
If you usually use pesticides or chemical treatments in your garden ask your spouse, friends or family to take over this task.
Chemicals can cause harm to the baby if inhaled, even in trace amounts.
When the chemicals are being sprayed remain indoors or avoid the area that has been sprayed for at least 2 days. The chemicals should have completely dried out before you begin gardening again.
Even commonplace sprays like weed killers can be harmful if inhaled.
3) Organic Pest Control
Now might be the perfect time to switch to an organic pest control system if you’re not doing this already!
Using permaculture techniques and companion planting is a great way to attract beneficial insects to eat unwanted pests or distract pests from eating your vegetables!
For example, planting rosemary repels insects due to its strong scent, and planting nasturtiums near tomatoes can distract aphids from destroying your crops!
Plus, using diluted neem oil and diatomaceous earth to get rid of garden pests is super effective and safe for pregnancy!
4) Cover Yourself
To avoid sunburn, avoid gardening around noon, when the sun is highest in the sky.
If your routine doesn’t allow it then make sure to use a good sunscreen or a hat if it is really hot out.
The same goes for using gloves while gardening to avoid contact with contaminated soil.
5) Be Careful With Herbs
You may already know that not all foods are safe during pregnancy.
But according to the American Pregnancy Association, you might want to avoid herbs as well during pregnancy.
Many herbs have a negative effect on pregnancy, causing uterine contractions which can lead to premature birth and miscarriage.
So before planting or harvesting any herbs in your garden, talk to your OBGYN about any herbs to avoid.
Unfortunately the same goes for any herbal teas you regularly use from the garden – it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
6) Invest in Proper Gardening Tools
During pregnancy you should take the best care of your body as possible! This includes using the proper tools and instruments to keep the garden tidy.
Instead of lifting heavy objects, opt for a wagon and enlist some help.
Instead of ripping out garden beds by hand, try a trowel that will do most of the work for you.
And instead of bending over to pick up leaves and make piles out of them, opt for a rake that will make the job much easier!
7) Maintain Proper Posture
Back strain while gardening is a common issue – even more so when a woman is pregnant.
Always be aware to keep proper posture and avoid bending over for prolonged periods of time.
Instead of bending over, try working in your beds in a kneeling position while gardening. This avoids putting pressure on the back and spine. You can also get a kneeling pad to cushion your knees. It would aid in supporting your knees and back when you garden for long hours.
A kneeling bench with small pockets with all your gardening tools can also be used to help protect your back and spine while gardening.
And an important reminder while gardening – do not lift heavy objects while pregnant! It can put a lot of strain on your back and can cause harm to you and your baby.
And of course, always consult your doctor if you have any concerns!
8) Avoid standing for long periods of time
I can be out in my garden for hours – before I know it the sun has set and my back is achy!
This is exactly what you should avoid in pregnancy.
Standing on your feet for hours on end can be harmful to pregnancy, according to the CDC, with the potential of causing injury, preterm birth, and miscarriage.
Instead, use a knee pad like this one to safely kneel down and work in your garden.
Why is picking heavy objects during pregnancy not advised?
There are a lot of factors which can trigger premature birth or miscarriages. Lifting heavy objects in one of those factors. During pregnancy, your bones and muscles are more malleable. This is because your body is constantly changing to accommodate your baby. Hence, you are more prone to injury. Lifting heavy objects can lead to bad posture or cause a sudden shift in the balance due to the increase in size which can lead to a regrettable accident which poses harm to both you and your baby.
Is it safe to shovel dirt during pregnancy?
Some women, who have been doing some heavy lifting professionally can handle the pressure of shovelling during pregnancy. However, if you are not very athletic then it is not advised to shovel dirt or engage in any sort of tedious gardening activity while pregnant as your muscles soften and loosen to make room for the baby. Shovelling can cause serious back strain due to the constant twisting action which can harm your pregnancy. Always think of safety before opting for any challenging task during your pregnancy.
What causes soil craving during pregnancy?
If you have the urge to eat soil during pregnancy you are likely suffering from Pica – a condition in which people crave eating objects which are not considered food. According to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnant women can experience Pica by craving dirt, coffee grounds, clay, or other inedible objects. Thankfully, Pica is not common in pregnancy but women who do suffer from Pica should consult their OBGYN to avoid causing harm to their unborn child.
At the end of the day, there is no harm gardening and pulling weeds while you are pregnant, but with care and caution.
Make sure that you wear proper clothing when you go outside to the garden, and always wear your gardening gloves when changing or amending the soil to avoid contracting infections from toxic and contaminated soil.
Make use of proper gardening tools and invest in a good quality knee pad so that you can garden easily in a kneeling position with your knees properly cushioned. Do not stand for long hours as it can get very exhausting and listen to your body.
Your body is at its most vulnerable point when you are pregnant so do not physically exhaust your body to a limit which can result in a miscarriage or stillbirth.
I hope this was super helpful! And for more gardening resources, get access to our free gardening resource library! It will help you fast track your garden and it only takes 5 seconds!
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