Gardening
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18368
Printed Date: 21 August 2025 at 2:32pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gardening
Posted By: ginger
Subject: Gardening
Date Posted: 18 June 2008 at 8:29pm
I was outside today in the garden, finally starting to deal with the weeds that have flourished since I started IVF etc which I've just not been able to deal with. I was thinking 15 minutes a day for about the next 2 years, and I'd just about have them under control again, without overdoing it 
And then my neighbour came over and told me to get out of the garden!  Apparently you should *not* be digging in the garden whilst pregnant because of the risk of disease from the soil.
Is this right? Do I seriously have to leave my gardens for the next 7 months? I thought that if you wore gloves and made sure you washed your hands properly afterwards, it would be ok. Any light to shed anyone? ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Replies:
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 June 2008 at 8:43pm
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Well it didn't stop me from gardening thats for sure! I always wore gloves, washed my hands thoroughly and I was extremely careful not to inhale potting mix odours (if you are handling it) and mind the cat poo (thinking most cats poo in the garden), thats definately something to avoid if poss!
I have never heard to avoid gardening ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 18 June 2008 at 8:50pm
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Oh dear, lol, its the old "Pregnant women should live in a bubble for 9 months drinking only purified water" thing again.
Im sure gardening is totally fine, your not eating the dirt are you ginger  
Just wear gardening gloves if anything 
ETA- I LOVE eating ice and an annoying lady DF works with told me "Oh nooo you shouldnt be eating ice!! there are lots of bugs and stuff in ice love"!!!!!!!!!!! I laughed at her and said 'its ICE, frozen WATER, i will continue to eat it thanks" lol ------------- |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 18 June 2008 at 9:23pm
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Don't worry Ginger, if it were dangerous to garden there would be chapters dedicated to it in all the 'What to expect' type books.
As Peachy said, there is risk associated with cat poop and its recommended that everyone should dampen down potting mix so you don't breathe in any nasties from the dust but poop aside, regular garden soil is fine. Just keep doing what you're doing r.e. precautions and taking it easy and ignore well meaning but misguided advice! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 4:36am
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What the others have said...just wear gloves and you'll be fine! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 8:09am
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That's what I thought - thanks everyone! (Luckily that neighbour is going away for a weeks holiday so I might just be able to get all the weeds out before she gets back and just say the husband did the gardening! )
I bought really heavy duty gloves, and I'm not going near potting mix because I know that's a bit dodgy and it's a practical precaution to take. The funny thing was that the neighbour made a big deal of how dirt gets through the gloves, but when I took mine off, my hands were spotless! Anyway, thank you! I obviously don't want to take any unnecesary risks with baby, but it just seemed like if I couldn't even do my gardens I may as well hide under the bed for the next 7 months ... or at least until I don't fit
The biggest risk I'm probably running is that I'm having trouble with my hips  and I popped one getting up out of the garden!!  ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: scarecrowfarm
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 10:25am
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I was gardening on and off right up to my due date. I got my doctor to do a blood test to see whether I had antibodies already to toxoplasmosis. That was my biggest concern with gardening, as I figured it would probably be impossible to avoid cat poo entirely.
By the way you'd be surprised how much you can get done in 15 minutes. ------------- Robyn www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 10:55am
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AND, I was just reading, http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1857111 - even Nicole Kidman gardens while pregnant!
So, it must be ok because celebrities can just pay people to do stuff they don't want to do, or can't ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 10:59am
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I did gardening. If anyone told me something like that I'd tell them to bugger off lol
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Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 5:08pm
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i don't do gardening but One of Dh's "knowledge expert workmates" told him that your not soppse to because of the cat wee thing just like you shouldn't eat parsley. (who doesn't wash their parsley before the eat it honestly) but honestly if gardening floats your boat then do it. just like dyeing your hair and eating chicken etc. Each to thier own!!! ------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel  07/08/2014
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Posted By: catisla
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 7:05pm
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weeding is my stress buster so need to do it even more at the moment!
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 8:07pm
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1st trimester it should be avoided for listeria or something risk from animal excrement? ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 8:09pm
Boooooo....cheer up though luv, wait until you strain your ribs innocently sneezing!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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ginger wrote:Posted By: cat007
Date Posted: 19 June 2008 at 9:43pm
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Garden till your hearts content......its not my thing but I would suggest you would be pretty safe if you wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards (before you touch food or your mouth). Hey, but who doesnt do the hand washing thing anyway?!
Im so over "expert" people telling me what I should or shouldnt be doing while pregnant. I figure most of it isnt as bad as they make it out to be. The only thing I am a stickler for is - no vacuuming while pregnant! (some lovely lady told my DH that I shouldnt be doing it) and seeing as I hate it - DH is welcome to believe it! Im not arguing with that one! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  [/url http://lilypie.com">
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