Humans and mold have lived together from the very beginning, but mold has only recently become a major health problem. So many cases of toxic mold poisoning have recently come to light that people can’t help but worry.

Because this concern is so new, we have just begun to study the effects of black mold and pregnancy. There isn’t much real evidence, but doctors are very concerned about how exposure to black mold during pregnancy might affect babies.

Black mold and birth defects

There are countless stories of women exposed to mold during pregnancy and suffering miscarriages or birth defects. However, there is still no solid scientific evidence that mold exposure directly causes birth defects. Animal studies have shown that there is a definite link between black mold and pregnancy, but animals are different from humans so the results are inconclusive.

Still, most doctors assume there is some connection and that pregnant women should be careful about exposure.

Asthma and Pregnancy

Modern scientific studies say that the causes of lifelong chronic allergies are both genetic and environmental.

Much evidence indicates that the development of allergies and asthma actually begins in the womb. This is especially the case with asthma. Researchers are discovering that asthma may not be genetic at all. It is caused by triggers in the environment. Studies show that people with asthma develop the condition at some point in their lives due to exposure to toxins, such as mold. It can start in the womb.

SIDS and mold

Some studies have suggested that there may be a link between sudden infant death syndrome and exposure to black mold in utero. There are also a variety of chronic fatigue illnesses that children who have been exposed to mold can suffer from. Still, studies have not been done to show whether or not this is entirely the case.

What you can do

If you just found out you’re pregnant, or if you’re just starting to worry about mold, you should get your home or workplace mold tested. You can get a home test kit at the hardware store. It’s probably a good idea to start your pregnancy in a mold-free environment. No one knows the exact link between mold and birth defects, allergies, and asthma, but prevention is better than cure.

For your baby’s health, it’s also important to keep your home free of mold after birth. There are no studies showing that mold has an effect on breastfeeding, but mold is definitely not healthy for your baby’s overall health.

One more thing to think about is your workplace. Many women work in the early or mid-stages of pregnancy, and mold is often more difficult to find in a building where you work than in your home. Ask your boss about mold inspections, especially if you work in an older building. If you can see or smell mold in your workplace, you are definitely in danger.

If your boss or supervisor doesn’t do anything about the mold problem, you can seek a legal solution. There are laws to protect your health and the health of your unborn baby.