Why non-toxic choices matter in pregnancy by the Modern Midwife

The Modern Midwife Marie Louise shares her thoughts about reducing your toxic load during pregnancy, and what she’s doing to prepare for her third baby.

There is a shift that happens in pregnancy that can feel almost primal - and feeling primal is fairly rare for us in this day and age! It’s not just that you’re growing a baby (and a placenta - I am obsessed with the placenta!), there’s also this pull to get things ready. To sort, organise and prepare. To nest!

Nesting is a behaviour we see across many species on earth. I’m expecting my third baby now, so I know this feeling well. But what’s surprised me this time isn’t the urge to organise drawers or fold tiny clothes (again) - it’s how much I actually care about what I’m bringing into my home. Because nesting, for me now, isn’t just about creating a nice space. It’s about creating a safe one - or at least safer where I can.

Plant-based, non-toxic cleaning products being used on a kitchen surface during pregnancy

The hidden toxic load in our homes

We often think of toxins as something ‘out there’ like polluted air or processed food. But in pregnancy you may start noticing things a bit closer to home, like your skincare routine or the cleaning sprays in your kitchen cupboards. The stuff we clean the bathroom with. The wipes you grab without even thinking (and I have gone through a lot of wipes with Georgie and Frankie - must be hundreds of thousands!).

Pregnancy impacts your awareness of your body and what you’re putting into it. You’re often told about certain foods and drinks to avoid but we talk less about products - such as cleaning or skincare - to avoid in pregnancy. Your baby’s environment is important long before they’re born, and their environment is quite literally your skin, your air, your home.

But equally, there’s no need to panic about this, as ultimately we can’t control everything - and we’re not meant to. It’s just about being a bit more conscious where it feels doable, or making simple swaps that are impactful.

Why a non-toxic environment matters in pregnancy

Reducing exposure to unnecessary chemicals during pregnancy and early infancy is a simple and realistic step. I see a lot of content online that can be really worrying for parents. But what you need to know and consider is that a baby’s lungs, skin and immune system are developing rapidly - both in utero and after birth - so they can be a bit more sensitive to irritants. Things like strong cleaning sprays or heavy synthetic fragrances can affect air quality indoors, especially if you’re using them a lot or in closed spaces. But perspective also matters here. If you’ve used products containing harsh chemicals every now and then, it’s very unlikely to cause harm. It’s more about daily, repeated exposure that can build up.

As a midwife, I do see more babies with sensitive skin or parents navigating skin reactions, and I do believe that parents should be made more aware of the impact of what touches their baby’s skin from day one. That’s where I’ve found Kit & Kin’s range really helpful in my own home - from their wipes and diapers to their skincare, laundry detergent and cleaning. These are the things we use all day, every day, without even thinking about it. And they sit directly against your baby’s skin or in their mouth - if you’re at the ‘everything goes in the mouth’ phase, you’ll know what I mean! Choosing options designed with sensitive skin in mind, without unnecessary irritants, is a small but sensible step. Especially if your baby is prone to dryness or reactions like my little boy Frankie was. It’s just about reducing the overall load a little bit, wherever you can.

Close-up of reading product labels to avoid harsh chemicals during pregnancy

Nesting, But make it non-toxic

With my first baby, nesting looked like colour-coded boxes and Pinterest boards that I absolutely did not stick to. Third time around it’s very different. Slower and a lot less aesthetic if I’m honest. There are still toys everywhere, snacks crushed into the carpet, and I’m cleaning around actual life rather than a perfectly styled adult space. If I’m setting up my home for a brand new tiny human, I just want the products I’m using daily to be as gentle and safe as possible.

Preparing for this baby hasn’t been about doing more - if anything, it’s the opposite. The cupboards are not perfect, the nursery isn’t even started and I’m okay with all that. But what I use every day has been important and again, carefully considered.

Kit & Kin’s eco cleaning range, including the best pregnancy-safe non-toxic cleaning products

My go-to Kit & Kin favourites

When you’ve got kids already, you just want things that work. No fuss, no strong smells, and definitely nothing that makes you feel like you need to open every window after using it.

These are the ones I keep reaching for:

All-purpose cleaner - my everyday essential for kitchen sides, high chairs, and those constantly touched surfaces. It cleans beautifully without harsh smells.
Eco bathroom cleaner - effective, but without the strong fumes that can feel especially unpleasant during pregnancy.
Floor cleaner concentrate - reassuring for those moments when little ones are playing, crawling, and lying on the floor.
Hypoallergenic laundry liquid - gentle enough for newborn skin, but still powerful enough for the reality of baby mess.

A quick note on allergies

For a lot of us, allergies sit in the back of our minds more now than they used to. With Georgie, I didn’t really think about it much. But with Frankie, who had some food intolerances early on, I was definitely more aware.

I found myself paying closer attention to his skin, noticing little reactions and just generally being more conscious of what we were using day-to-day. You hear about it more amongst friends, baby groups, and chats at soft play.

Allergies come up a lot, which is unsurprising when around 40% of children in the UK are affected by allergies in some form, whether that’s eczema, asthma or food-related. We also know that things like indoor air quality can play a role, and some everyday products release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) , especially strong cleaning sprays or heavily fragranced products, which can contribute to irritation in some people.

This isn’t something to stress over, though - just something to be aware of. For me, it’s not about trying to control everything, it’s just about the small things I can influence day-to-day, for example, what’s on their skin, what I’m using constantly around them, and what they’re crawling and playing on.