During your pregnancy you're bound to have many pregnancy safety questions about how your lifestyle, or certain substances you're exposed to either at home or work, could affect you. Get the answers to your pregnancy safety questions and learn some pregnancy safety tips that will keep mom and baby health and happy.

Is hair coloring safe during pregnancy?
There's no proof that the chemicals in hair dyes cause birth defects, miscarriages, or any other complications — nor are there reliable studies that prove these substances are safe. Because we don't yet know enough about these chemicals, some doctors say that pregnant women should avoid hair dyes (or at least minimize their contact with them), especially during the first trimester.

Highlighting or streaking your hair, both processes that involve less scalp contact, may be safer. Vegetable-based products, such as henna, are also considered safe.

If you decide to color your hair yourself, wear plastic or latex gloves to minimize absorption of the chemicals through your skin, and don't leave the product on your scalp any longer than necessary.

Is painting the nursery safe during pregnancy?
It's probably safer to let someone else paint the nursery for you. All paints contain chemicals, and few have undergone safety studies focusing on exposure during pregnancy. If you do decide to help paint the nursery, be sure there is good ventilation (keep the windows open), wear gloves and protective clothing, and don't eat or drink in the room you're painting.

Some studies suggest that women who work with solvents called glycol ethers, present in some paints, have an increased risk of miscarriage. Other solvents are also suspected of causing miscarriage and possibly birth defects. Oil-based paints and paint thinners contain more solvents than do their water-based counterparts — but all paints contain numerous ingredients of unknown safety.

Is exposure to insecticides a threat during pregnancy?
So far there is little evidence that exposure to these chemicals at common levels significantly increases the risk to your fetus. All insecticides are poisons, however, and some studies have suggested that high levels of exposure to them might increase the chance of birth defects. If you must have your home or yard property treated:

• Don't apply insecticides yourself. Local application of a liquid or powder where it's needed is safer than widespread spraying.
• Clear away all food, dishes, and utensils from areas to be treated, including cabinets or drawers.
• Stay out of the house while it's being treated and for at least several hours thereafter.
• If insecticides are used outdoors, close all windows and turn off the air conditioning so that fumes won't be drawn into the house.
• Wear rubber gloves when gardening to prevent skin contact with residues of insecticides or herbicides (weed killers) that have been used on your property.

Is secondhand smoke a threat during pregnancy?
Some studies suggest that the babies of nonsmoking women who are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke are at an increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, subtle deficits in learning and behavior, and, possibly, certain childhood cancers.

A 1998 study suggests that a father's smoking may also cause genetic changes in a baby that have been linked to childhood leukemia. Because the chemicals present in passive smoke are at least potentially harmful to your baby, try to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke.