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Will Using Undiluted Bleach Harm Baby During Pregnancy?
I have already asked this question assuming that my response would be from an American Doctor as was shown, but it was not. Could and AMERICAN doctor please answer my query: Hi, I have an anxiety disorder where over a period of 18 months I used undiluted bleach on my hands (max of 10 seconds before washing off) to feel clean . This would have been quite regularly, 3-5 times a week. My question is, can this cause long term effects (ie, build up in your body)? Or, more importantly, can this affect a baby if I am pregnant (I have not touched bleach in my pregnancy). I am nearly 5 weeks pregnant and have not been bleaching my hands during that time.
Fri, 7 Aug 2015
Hello there, I am located in the US (and American) and I hope to help answer your question.
Bleach, even though it is very caustic to your hands, is not absorbed into your body at all just by washing with it. You yourself would be sick or poisoned if any bleach entered your system. So there are not any residual effects of the bleach in your body and therefore it cannot be transmitted to your fetus.
I hope, especially now that you are pregnant, that you have a mental health provider who you see regularly for your anxiety disorder. Pregnancy can make a lot of psychological problems worse, and having a baby is very anxiety provoking in itself. There are antianxiety medications that can be safely taken during pregnancy if you need them. Once you get prenatal care, you should discuss this with your provider, and they can help you with making the appropriate referral.
In the meantime, begin taking prenatal vitamins, and try as best as you can to relax. Pregnancy is not a disease- it is a natural healthy state for women, and if you are healthy the greatest chance is that you will have a healthy pregnancy.
I hope this advice was useful, and take care,
Dr. Brown
Bleach, even though it is very caustic to your hands, is not absorbed into your body at all just by washing with it. You yourself would be sick or poisoned if any bleach entered your system. So there are not any residual effects of the bleach in your body and therefore it cannot be transmitted to your fetus.
I hope, especially now that you are pregnant, that you have a mental health provider who you see regularly for your anxiety disorder. Pregnancy can make a lot of psychological problems worse, and having a baby is very anxiety provoking in itself. There are antianxiety medications that can be safely taken during pregnancy if you need them. Once you get prenatal care, you should discuss this with your provider, and they can help you with making the appropriate referral.
In the meantime, begin taking prenatal vitamins, and try as best as you can to relax. Pregnancy is not a disease- it is a natural healthy state for women, and if you are healthy the greatest chance is that you will have a healthy pregnancy.
I hope this advice was useful, and take care,
Dr. Brown
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