I love to paint! I painted during all of my pregnancies. My last pregnancy we moved to a new house. I painted 9 rooms. The key is to stay hydrated, take breaks, and keep the area well-ventilated. Latex paint is fine. Exterior, oil-based paints ARE NOT okay to paint with when you are pregnant (spray paint is one such example).
My children are very intelligent and have no health problems. When my oldest was 2 she could sing the alphabet and count to 10 (usually not accomplished until 3-4 years old). My youngest started saying words at 5 months old. I'm telling you this to show that I do not believe painting had any adverse affects on them.
You'd have to smell the fumes, in an unventilated area, for hours on end for there to be enough fumes to affect your unborn baby***. It takes only a few hours to paint a room.
***This info was given to me by a doctor of obstetrics.
i am taking advantage of what some people say is unsafe and having my husband do it! hehe!! the only downside is that he isn't as motivated as i am so it is taking him longer to get started... but it will be nice to supervise rather than have to do it!!
It's totally fine to paint your nursery. Open the windows, take frequent breaks outside for fresh air, use low-fume/low-chemical paint, and cover your face while you paint. I used a bandana wrapped around my nose and mouth and couldn't smell a thing... and when the room was done I kept the door closed (but windows open & an oscillating fan going) so the fumes didn't get into the rest of the house. So just take the proper precautions and have a great time!! I love working on the nursery, it's one of the best parts of this whole thing. :)