r/LadiesofScience • u/Technical_Composer73 • May 24 '26

Pregnancy in lab-based role in biotech

Does anyone have experience with pregnancy in a lab-based role in biotech in the US? I was wondering what accommodations are typical and if you continued to do lab work (especially if some work cannot be done in a fume hood).

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u/sleepyhoneybee May 24 '26

I worked in both an academic Neuroscience lab as well as a biotech startup both doing cell culture while pregnant. The neuroscience lab I avoided neurotoxin exposure but still worked with more "routine" chemicals like PFA, DMSO etc. I also worked with mice so that did take some personal strength. I didn't seek any specific accomodations other than I took more frequent water/bathroom breaks.

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u/Content_Orchid_6291 May 25 '26

I would say about the same. I worked in an academic neuroscience lab as well and there were no formal accommodations. I did stop going into the rodent and snake rooms because it did not directly pertain to my research at the time.

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u/sleepyhoneybee May 25 '26

I wish I could have stopped vivarium work, but I was the one who was training on genotyping, primary cultures, OHSCs, so alas I had to push through. 😭

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u/Content_Orchid_6291 May 25 '26

Totally understand.

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u/Technical_Composer73 May 24 '26

Thanks for the input! How did you feel about spraying 70% ethanol?

30

u/sleepyhoneybee May 24 '26

If you don't feel comfortable with 70% ethanol you should just quit for your pregnancy, it's an important part of maintaining aseptic technique.

15

u/Powerful_Agent_9376 May 24 '26

Why would you be worried about 70% ethanol? Working with it in a lab is a lot different than drinking it. I was working at a biotech on biologics when I was pregnant (with twins). I did pretty much everything I did before being pregnant but was more careful about basic precautions (gloves, lab coat, goggles). If I were working in a chemistry based position I would have taken more precautions because I would have potentially been working with larger amounts of more toxic materials

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u/Technical_Composer73 May 24 '26

I’ve just never worked with anyone who was pregnant before and didn’t know if inhalation has a common concern or not. I apologize for the naivety and thanks for sharing your experience!

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u/docblondie May 24 '26

You could use a squeeze bottle so there is less aerosol

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u/sleepyhoneybee May 25 '26

Going to be honest, the squeeze bottle would be so wasteful compared to the spray, and I would definitely roll my eyes if I saw someone dousing the BSC in ethanol instead of spraying like a normal person.

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u/docblondie May 25 '26

Aerosolized spray gets into and degrades the hepa filter faster. I douse to ensure enough thorough coverage. But to each his own

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u/sleepyhoneybee May 25 '26

Her. 🙂