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You’ve been loading your plate with fresh produce, laid off the caffeine, nixed the alcohol and are doing your best to stick to a regular workout routine. But have you checked the ingredients list on your body wash and other personal care items? 5-Chloro-2-Nitro-Benzaldehyde
If the answer is no, you might be using products that contain antimicrobials, or substances that could potentially affect your baby’s growth and development. What is considered antibacterial?
Antibacterial products contain ingredients that kill bacteria, such as triclosan and triclocarban. You’ll most likely see the term “antibacterial” on the labels of soaps and body washes. These products are different from regular soaps, which physically pull germs off the skin so that water can wash them away.
In 2016, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ruled there was no evidence that a number of antibacterial ingredients were safe for regular use over the long term. As of 2017, the FDA banned nearly two dozen ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, from soaps and body washes that are marketed to consumers.
So why can you still find “antibacterial” or “antiseptic” hand soaps on store shelves? Companies have responded to the FDA’s ban by replacing ingredients like triclosan with other antibacterial chemicals, including benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol (PCMX).
The FDA has asked companies selling these products to provide evidence that they’re safe for the general public to use. In the meantime, the FDA strongly recommends against using antibacterial or antiseptic products and to stick with regular soap and water. Why aren’t antibacterial products recommended during pregnancy?
Some research has found that two antibacterials — triclosan and triclocarban — that were once exceedingly common in many everyday products could have unwanted side effects for both you and your baby. These ingredients have been widely used to kill bacteria because they’re chemically stable, meaning they don’t break down easily. Continue Reading Below More About Endocrine Disruptors and Pregnancy Phthalates Were Just Banned From Toys & Baby Products — Here's What That Means for You Prenatal Exposure to Phenols in Common Cosmetics, Soaps, Toothpastes May Effect Boys' Growth STUDY: Antibacterial Compounds in Soaps, Cosmetics, Toothpastes May Affect Fetal Growth Phthalates Were Just Banned From Toys & Baby Products — Here's What That Means for You Prenatal Exposure to Phenols in Common Cosmetics, Soaps, Toothpastes May Effect Boys' Growth STUDY: Antibacterial Compounds in Soaps, Cosmetics, Toothpastes May Affect Fetal Growth
Though that's great for manufacturers, it’s not so great for you: These components don't break down when they get into your body, either. When you’re expecting, they could end up traveling from your bloodstream into your baby’s through the placenta.
Triclosan and triclocarban are also what’s known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they impact the body’s hormonal (or endocrine) system — including the hormones that regulate your baby’s growth — right when all of a baby’s organs are just forming.
Preliminary research has shown that high exposure to endocrine disruptors during pregnancy could have a potentially negative impact on the formation of a baby’s reproductive system that may not become apparent until many years after the exposure happens.
Other research has found that women with higher levels of triclosan in their urine during pregnancy were more likely to give birth to babies earlier, and that babies were more likely to have a lower birth weight.
While the FDA banned a long list of antibacterial ingredients (including triclosan and triclocarban) from soaps and hand sanitizers, they may still be present in other products labeled as “antimicrobial.” Newer antibacterial soaps also still contain antimicrobial ingredients, like benzalkonium chloride. While these chemicals haven’t been banned, they also haven’t been proven safe.
What’s more, using antibacterial chemicals unnecessarily contributes to antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance, i.e. the ability of microbes like bacteria that resist the effects of antimicrobials altogether.
Plus, your body is full of good-for-you bacteria that actually support your health. Some researchers have expressed concern that going overboard on products that wipe out both good and bad bacteria could have unintended long-term health consequences.
For now, it's still your best bet to avoid “antibacterial” or “antiseptic” soaps, especially if you’re expecting. What antibacterial products are not safe during pregnancy?
Antibacterial ingredients are found in some places that might surprise you. While it’s difficult to avoid all exposure to these chemicals, it’s not a bad idea to avoid them where you can, especially when you’re pregnant. Check the ingredients' labels on the following products in your house, then find out which alternatives can do the job instead.Soap and body wash
While triclosan and triclocarban are no longer allowed in hand and body soaps, “antibacterial” or “antiseptic” soaps now include other bacteria-busting ingredients (like benzalkonium chloride) that may or may not be safe, either.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), warm water and soap are just as effective at cleaning your hands and eliminating unwanted bacteria and viruses — including the flu and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — as products with these chemicals.
Aim to scrub your soapy hands for about 20 seconds and rinse well under running water each time you wash.
When soap and warm water are not available, use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol, which don’t contain chemicals like triclosan. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub until they feel dry, which should take about 20 seconds.Socks
Triclosan has been used in antimicrobial socks because it suppresses bacterial growth on your feet, which can cause odors and infections.
Fortunately, you don’t need antimicrobial socks to keep your tootsies safe. Just remember to replace wet socks with dry ones — especially after working up a sweat — to avoid bacterial and fungal growth on your feet.Mascara, lipstick and lip gloss
Antibacterial agents like triclosan are sometimes used in makeup (usually lip balms and lipsticks, though they may also be found in mascaras) to prevent bacteria on your fingers, lips and eyelashes from contaminating the product as you reuse it.
You probably won't find triclosan in most natural beauty products. Keep in mind that the FDA does not test or approve cosmetic products, so the strengths of their preservatives (which can help kill bacteria) can vary quite a bit.
Your best bet? Choose pregnancy-safe cosmetic products and abide by the expiration dates. When preservatives are weaker, companies tend to shorten their expiration dates. And keep as much bacteria out of makeup in the first place by storing it in closed containers, washing your hands before every use and applying makeup with a brush instead of your bare hands.Cutting boards
Cutting boards that claim they’re bacteria-resistant are sometimes treated with antimicrobial ingredients like triclosan.
Experts say that soap and water can keep your kitchen equipment just as clean as long as you wash it thoroughly after every use. It’s also a good idea to have separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables to avoid cross-contamination.How to avoid triclosan and triclocarban
Now that you know a few of the unexpected products hiding triclosan and triclocarban, here are some ways to steer clear of the chemicals:Read labels. The best way to stay away from these ingredients in personal care and cleaning products is to review the labels on the goods you buy and avoid those that contain triclosan and triclocarban. Pay attention to buzzwords. Other ingredients beyond triclosan and triclocarban warrant extra caution. Look for the words “antimicrobial,” “antiseptic” or “antibacterial” on the label, which are marketing-speak for chemicals you might be better off avoiding.Use warm water and soap. Choose traditional soap and water to clean yourself and your home instead of antibacterial soaps, detergents and wipes.Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. If soap and water aren’t available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Buy organic personal care products. Triclosan and triclocarban are not permitted in certified organic products — so buying goods with the “USDA certified” organic label is a good way to avoid the ingredients.Check online. While some products may claim to be natural, that doesn’t mean they don’t contain triclosan or other antibacterial ingredients. So if you’re unsure, you can often get a full list of ingredients of any product you’re considering on the company’s website.
It’s impossible to eliminate all the risk of exposure to antibacterial ingredients, but it’s not a bad idea to avoid them when you can. Choose wisely, then focus the rest of your energy on all the other important ways you can keep your body healthy for both you and your baby-to-be.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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