Stupid question?

We went to visit friends and family this weekend and spent Saturday night with a family we have known for a while.  They have recently finished renovating their house!! The house was built in the 1940's.  Anyways, when we got there, there was this strong smell.  My husband said it was mothballs.  We left the next morning and my lungs /throat feel irritated.  I am sure this is from the strong smell.  My question is, do you think it could have affected my little peanut?? I am 5 weeks pregnant.

Thanks!
Lucy

 If they are newer mothballs (made with paradichlorobenzene) there's not much evidence it can harm a fetus. If they are older mothballs (made with napthalene) they can cause anemia, but only if "huffed" or consumed - I doubt your limited exposure would cause a problem.

http://www.envtox.ucdavis.edu/cehs/TOXINS/mothballs.htm

Thanks Sara!! 

I guess I am being over cautious!  I haven't huffed or inhaled them, lol... When I looked it up, it was the only way it could directly affect a baby. Oh and putting directly next to baby's skin (i.e. babyclothes being stored with mothballs)   However, where we stayed, the odor was sooooo strong!!!  Both my husband and I have sore throats and our lungs feel rough!! NOT GOOD!  I love my friends, and they apologized for the smell, but I think I will stay somewhere else the next time, lol!

Thanks again!
Lucy

 I know what you mean. We had our living room painted early in my pregnancy, and I ended up sleeping elsewhere while the paint dried (it wasn't low/no VOC paint.)

I'm with you!  I have such a strong sensitivity to smells right now, it's ridiculous.  My husband says I could smell a flea fart a mile away.

LOL...thats funny!! A flea's fart!!  LOL  Its true!!  My nose is very sensitive right now!!  My husband made popcorn today and burned it!! OMG!!!! I almost puked right there, the smell was soo strong, I had to leave the house!! LOL

My husband just can't understand why my sense of smell is so strong right now.  Things that I used to LOVE the smell of, like his cologne, totally make me heave, now.  Oh, and COFFEE!  I LOVE coffee, but the aroma just absolutely revolts me!  *sigh*

COFFEE!!!!!!!!!! Now that is bad!!!!  I am a coffeeholic and I am currently reducing my caffeine
intake!!  But I love my coffee!!!! Its a hard habit to break!!!!!!!!!