There is now much evidence to connect black mold to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and miscarriage. The death of a baby can be devastating to a family, as can losing a baby to miscarriage. It is vital that all necessary steps are taken to prevent these dire events.
It’s not just the fact that black mold is toxic that means it’s dangerous for babies. One way it is believed to work is that black mold spores end up on the baby’s mattress and release harmful chemicals from the mattress into the air and the baby breathes in this deadly gas. This process is believed to be responsible for many cases of SIDS.
Black mold has also been associated with miscarriage. It seems that exposure to mold toxin could be the cause of many women losing their baby during pregnancy. Not all mold is toxic, but it’s almost impossible to tell just by looking at it. The usual way to determine toxicity is to send the mold to a laboratory for analysis. That’s why it’s probably a good idea for pregnant women to treat all mold like it’s toxic and stay away from it.
The best way to prevent black mold from becoming a problem for babies and pregnant women is to prevent it from occurring in your home, and if you have it, eliminate the problem quickly. This can be a difficult issue for those who live in rented accommodation and have a landlord who simply won’t do anything about their mold problem. The advice here is to find another place to stay, either permanently or until the problem is fixed.
The real danger comes when black mold is growing and you don’t even realize it. Mold likes damp places that are poorly ventilated, so be sure to check your attic and basement and any other cubicles. Of course, if you are pregnant, you will want someone else to do this search for you. In most cases, eradicating mold will be fairly straightforward as long as you discover it all. Pregnant women should not participate in any part of the cleaning process, but should stay away from the area in case toxic spores are released into the air. When the mold is completely removed, you will need to take steps to make sure it doesn’t reappear.