Expecting a new-born? Invest in an air purifier

Last year I decided to move back home (Durban) for support as I was not coping with parenting alone. It was the best decision I could’ve done for both myself and my kids. Time came when we had to move back because my eldest had to start high school, and I have to say, the move back hasn’t been smooth, especially on my youngest.

The air in Durban is completely different to the air in Johannesburg, we know this very well. But I didn’t think it would affect her this badly. We moved from a humid place to dry polluted air, which has affected her breathing and her sleep. A lot of people advised me to get a diffuser, which worked for some time but I needed a long-term fix, and that’s when I came across Solenco Air Purifiers.

The more research I did on air purifiers (something I didn’t even know existed) the more I realised I needed it, and I wish I got it sooner because of its benefits.

More and more, studies are showing that clean air is vital for the wellbeing and healthy development of in utero and newborn babies. Or, more to the point, studies are showing that polluted air can stunt fetal and newborn development and growth, with serious long-term effects.

However, there’s a lot that expecting and new parents can do to ensure their babies’ health and wellbeing in this regard, says Bianca Leonard, Marketing Manager at air treatment specialist Solenco. “At Solenco, we know that air purity has many benefits. Quite simply, the cleaner the air we breathe, the better it is for our overall health and wellbeing, with the health of in utero and newborn babies being no exception. Air pollution is more than just an environmental problem. It’s a major health risk that impacts both current and future generations.”

As adults, asthma, allergies, headaches – even our stress levels – are all impacted by the quality of the air we breathe, and the effects of air pollution like ozone, chemical fumes, exhaust fumes and second-hand smoke on adults are well documented. However, a recent study published by Medical News Today shows that air pollution can also affect the health of developing babies. It’s been proven that contaminants in the air can cross into the placenta, affecting the health of the placenta itself and disrupting the baby’s development.¹

Other recent research suggests that higher exposure to air pollution results in lower birthweights, abnormal lung development, higher rates of infant mortality, and increased pre-term births, as well as inflammation in mothers. A 2019 study published in Nature also suggests that exposure to certain air pollutants is associated with first-trimester pregnancy loss.²

Leonard says that, while it’s not generally possible to control the amount of air pollution we’re exposed to outdoors, we do have control of the air purity in our homes, and this is where a good air purifier will benefit young, growing families.

“Expecting and new parents should consider investing in a good quality home air purifier system. A purifier with HEPA filters can reduce the outdoor air pollution that makes its way inside our homes, by 23%,” says Leonard. “A quality air purifier can reduce parents’ and their babies’ chances of being affected by air pollution and its related health-problems. It can also contribute positively to the growth and development of the baby, both before and after birth.”

Solenco air purifiers, like the new upgraded CF8608 Air Purifier, use a multi filtration system including prefilter, medical grade H13 HEPA filters, activated carbon filters and UVC light combined with a photocatalyst. This has seen Solenco awarded a certificate of approval from the Allergy Foundation of South Africa.

The new upgraded CF8608 has smart app technology and is designed for the modern open plan home, recommended for spaces up to 50m2 at 4 ACH. Its five-stage purification system traps up to 99.97% of particles, while killing bacteria and viruses as small as 0,001 micron, and reducing VOCs, toxic fumes and odours. It is suitable for use in a range of settings, including schools, homes, doctor’s rooms, garages, etc.

You can check out my Instagram to see how the air purifer has been working for me.