Lily
10-20-2015, 02:26 PM
I took my last birth control pill today, as hubby and I are going to start spawning soon. My question is, can I continue to make tails while pregnant?
As most of you know, I recently started my own tailmaking business and really don't want to give it up. I know people are willing to wait a year+ for, say, a Merbella tail, but I'm nowhere near popular enough to warrant that kind of lead time. There's also a fair amount of momentum that builds up with a business like this (the more you make, the more exposure you get, the more orders come your way) and I don't want to lose that by taking time off for pregnancy and (maybe) breastfeeding.
So... is it safe for me to continue tailmaking while pregnant? I already take all reasonable safety precautions: gloves at all times, respirator with organic vapor and particulate filters for painting, coveralls to protect my skin and clothing, working in well-ventilated areas. Do I need to step this up? I know that naptha and other paint thinners can cause low birth weight and other difficulties, so I'm most worried about the painting stage. Worst case scenario I can maybe teach my husband to paint but, in his own words, he's not very good at the "artsy" stuff. Maybe I could hire an art student from one of the local colleges? Also I think hubby is going to have to help me with the heavy lifting eventually, since I can barely manage to carry these tails around to my different work areas now, let alone when I've got a baby bump eclipsing most of the rest of me.
I will certainly be taking it slow during the pregnancy, and will take time off before and after the birth; if my sister and friend's pregnancies have been any indication, I won't be able to do much more than lie on the couch and incubate after a certain point. I'm also likely going to have a c-section (part due to overwhelming tokophobia, part due to my petite frame and my husband's family's tendency to have ENORMOUS babies), which is going to result in a longer recovery time than a vaginal birth.
Yes, I know this isn't a forum for medical advice, and I'll get the best answers from my doctor. But I like to be prepared, and know which specific safety questions to ask when I do meet with my OBGYN (or pester my OBGYN aunt).
As most of you know, I recently started my own tailmaking business and really don't want to give it up. I know people are willing to wait a year+ for, say, a Merbella tail, but I'm nowhere near popular enough to warrant that kind of lead time. There's also a fair amount of momentum that builds up with a business like this (the more you make, the more exposure you get, the more orders come your way) and I don't want to lose that by taking time off for pregnancy and (maybe) breastfeeding.
So... is it safe for me to continue tailmaking while pregnant? I already take all reasonable safety precautions: gloves at all times, respirator with organic vapor and particulate filters for painting, coveralls to protect my skin and clothing, working in well-ventilated areas. Do I need to step this up? I know that naptha and other paint thinners can cause low birth weight and other difficulties, so I'm most worried about the painting stage. Worst case scenario I can maybe teach my husband to paint but, in his own words, he's not very good at the "artsy" stuff. Maybe I could hire an art student from one of the local colleges? Also I think hubby is going to have to help me with the heavy lifting eventually, since I can barely manage to carry these tails around to my different work areas now, let alone when I've got a baby bump eclipsing most of the rest of me.
I will certainly be taking it slow during the pregnancy, and will take time off before and after the birth; if my sister and friend's pregnancies have been any indication, I won't be able to do much more than lie on the couch and incubate after a certain point. I'm also likely going to have a c-section (part due to overwhelming tokophobia, part due to my petite frame and my husband's family's tendency to have ENORMOUS babies), which is going to result in a longer recovery time than a vaginal birth.
Yes, I know this isn't a forum for medical advice, and I'll get the best answers from my doctor. But I like to be prepared, and know which specific safety questions to ask when I do meet with my OBGYN (or pester my OBGYN aunt).