Gardening while pregnant

[Olivia]

Hi, I am wondering if gardening, particularly using fertilisers, is safe during pregnancy. I know, with fertilisers, there is a risk of toxoplasmosis, but are there are any other risks (e.g. from breathing or touching chemicals such as phosphorous etc)? Should gardening be avoided completely during pregnancy just to be on the safe side?

[SammyD]

Personally I've been staying away from chemical fertilisers, and pesticides, although am still using Seasol. Potting mix is also risky for toxoplasmosis, even the dust from it, so if you have to use it, make sure it's wet and that you use gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Even better if you have a DH that can take on these jobs for you while you stick to pruning :)

[Bewitched]

Not sure to be honest! Not trying to scare you here, but i read in the paper about a guy who got Legionnaires disease from potting plants without gloves and went into a coma!!. Apparently it states on the potting mix bags to use gloves as this is a possibility, freaked me right out because i never use gloves!