Gulf Oil Spill Information for Pregnant Women I’m pregnant. Can
the oil harm me or my unborn baby? Although the oil may contain
some chemicals that could cause harm to an unborn baby under
some conditions, the CDC has reviewed sampling data from the EPA
and feels that the levels of these chemicals are well below the
level that could generally cause harm to pregnant women or their
unborn babies. The effects that chemicals might have on a
pregnant woman and her unborn baby would depend on many things:
how the mother came into contact with the oil, how long she was
in contact with it, how often she came into contact with it, and
the overall health of the mother and her baby. People, including
pregnant women, can be exposed to these chemicals by breathing
them (air), by swallowing them (water, food), or by touching
them (skin). If possible, everyone, including pregnant women,
should avoid the oil and spill-affected areas. Generally, a
pregnant woman will see or smell the chemicals in oil before
those chemicals ca