Pregnancy is a delicate time, and many expectant parents worry about what everyday things pose risks to their developing child. Smoking, alcohol, certain foods and medications—these are all well-known threats. But what about air pollution and pregnancy?
Indoor Air Quality and Safe Pregnancies
According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution contributes to numerous deaths every year. While most of these are older individuals with health complications tied to indoor air quality, even mothers and babies in the womb are not immune.
Research on exactly how indoor air quality impacts unborn babies and their mothers is limited. However, it is known that air pollution in general has a negative impact on the developing fetus. Logically, this means that poor indoor air quality will creating similar issues.
Ideally, before conceiving or early in the pregnancy, all expectant parents should work on improving the air quality in their home. Air purifiers, filters, humidifiers, and duct cleaning can all help mothers-to-be breathe easier and protect their babies.
Dangerous Elements in Indoor Air
As any HVAC company in Sandy Springs and they will tell you there are a lot of dangerous pollutants that circulate through your system. Some of these can be controlled but not prevented, while others should never be present in your home. Examples include:
- Gas leaks (smelly gas while pregnant is very risky)
- Pollen
- Dander
- Dust
- Mildew
- Mold
- Rodent droppings
- Dead insects
- Mites
All of these have the potential to cause significant health problems for the mother, which can lead to complications for the baby.
Potential Maternal and Fetal Health Complications Related to Indoor Air Quality
Low Birth Weight
Oftentimes, when mothers are exposed to high levels of pollution, their babies are born weighing less than they should. Any baby born weighing less than 5 pounds 8 ounces has a low birth weight. This is troublesome since these babies are also at high risk of respiratory illnesses throughout their lives.
Pre-Term Birth
When mothers’ bodies struggle to get sufficient oxygen, it can cause the body to go into survival mode, leading to pre-term birth just to take stress off her body. Premature infants are always at high risk for health complications, and since most will also have a low birth weight, they are particularly vulnerable to breathing problems.
Miscarriage
Perhaps there is no better reason to schedule air duct cleaning in Atlanta than this. Sadly, exposure to certain forms of air pollution can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage due to the stress on the mother’s body, and potentially birth defects in the baby that are incompatible with life outside the womb.
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, now is the time to protect your health and your baby’s. Contact your AC repair company in Roswell for air duct cleaning, filter changes, and other services that reduce indoor air pollution.