The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
|
Better pregnancy nutrition can grow a healthier baby, keep perineal tissues intact and support VBAC
In my experience, there are significant
things a pregnant woman can do to improve
the integrity of the tissues and thus help
to reduce complications. The
Better Baby Book: Use nutrition,
your environment, and your mind to create
the healthiest, smartest, autism-free baby
possible by Lana Asprey, MD, and Dave
Asprey, "To help parents gift their
children with better health and higher
intelligence for life." It's available
either on Kindle or paperback. This book was written by a couple who
know more about pregnancy nutrition than
anyone I've ever heard, met or read about.
|
Unborn
babies
carry pollutants, study finds 7/14/05 - WASHINGTON
(Reuters)
- Unborn U.S. babies are soaking in a stew of chemicals, including
mercury,
gasoline byproducts and pesticides, according to a report released
on Thursday.
1-800-532-3749 (in California)
California Teratogen
Information
Service (CTIS) operates a Pregnancy Risk Information Line to
promote
healthy pregnancies through education and research.
The service provides FREE information about the following
exposures
during pregnancy: over-the-counter Medications, Prescription
Medications,
Vitamins/Supplements, Alcohol/Recreational Drugs, Vaccinations or
Immunizations,
Diseases or Infections, Chemicals, Pesticides, Occupational
Exposures,
Paternal Exposures. CTIS also provides information about the
effects of
medications taken while breastfeeding. This service is offered to
the general
public, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, women planning
their
pregnancy, fathers, physicians,
genetic
counselors, midwives, nurses, social workers, and other health
care providers. The information and counseling is provided
in a non-directive,
and non-judgmental manner. To speak with a counselor about your
questions
call: 1-800-532-3749 (in California) or send an email via
the website.
For residents outside of California but in the US or Canada: Contact the Organization of Teratology Information Services
For residents outside the United States or Canada: Contact
the
European
Network of Teratology Information Services.
CARE Northwest gives free telephone advice to pregnant and
breastfeeding
women about the possible effects of drug and chemical exposure.
Call Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.: 888-616-8484.
Poisoned
Profits:
The Toxic Assault on Our Children by Philip
Shabecoff and Alice Shabecoff - From autism to cancer.
With indisputable
data, the Shabecoffs reveal that the children of baby boomers—the
first
to be raised in a truly “toxified world”—have higher rates of
birth defects,
asthma, cancer, autism and a frightening range of other
neurological illnesses
from ADHD to mental retardation, and other serious chronic
illnesses compared
to previous generations. They reveal that one out of two
pregnancies fails
to come to term or results in a less than healthy child, that
premature
births and infertility are on the rise as this generation matures,
while
the ratio of male babies dwindles. These children are
victims of
a (perhaps unwitting) crime; the perpetrators are the companies
who manufacture
and use poisonous products. Environmental exposures from
conception
to early life can set a person´s cellular code for life and
can cause
illness at any time from childhood until old age.
Parkinson´s and
Alzheimer´s diseases and breast cancer are examples.
Environmental Toxins Associated With Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
See also: Pollution and Chemical
Teratogens
Many Toxins
and Suspected
Toxins Are Commonly Found in Face, Body, and Hair Products
Breast
is
Best, but it Could Be Better: What is in Breast Milk That Should
Not Be?
This article provides many helpful tips about avoiding toxic
chemicals
that could be passed to your baby during pregnancy as well as
postpartum
through breastmilk.
In Harm's Way - Toxic
Threats
to Child Development - the toxins in household products may
cause serious
developmental disabilities through prenatal exposure - from the Greater
Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Pregnancy
and
Birth Issues section from Avoidance
of Toxic and Unhealthy Exposures from Holistic
Healing Web Page. This includes a section on Dental
Materials / Procedures.
Can
I
have dental work done while pregnant?
Dental
anesthesia
in early pregnancy? Dangerous?
The March of Dimes wants all parents to know the joy of having a healthy baby. Oddly, though, they seem to be lukewarm about breastfeeding support, which would prevent 20% of infant deaths. In 2005, they allowed a formula manufacturer to be one of the major sponsors of their WalkAmerica.
This endorsement sends the wrong message to parents as well as to
health
care professionals. How appalling!
Preventing
Congenital
Toxoplasmosis - from the CDC
Risk
of
Congenital Toxoplasmosis Better Assessed by New Tests -
January
29, 2001
Toxoplasmosis
Infection
Does Not Appear to Retard Fetal Growth - [Feb, 2005]
CDC
recommendations
for 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily for all
women of
child-bearing age to prevent neural tube defects.
Vitamin C and lots of water helps to flush toxins out of the
body.
Dental
X-Rays
Linked to Low Birth-Weight Babies - 4/27/04 - The
association
could be related to exposing the mothers' thyroid, pituitary or
hypothalamus
glands to radiation, even early in the pregnancy.
See also: Cerebral Palsy
for a
discussion of concern about the FluMist vaccine for close contacts
of pregnant
women.
H1N1 and Pregnancy
from
CMQCC
- California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
Pregnant
Women
and Novel Influenza A (H1N1): Considerations for Clinicians
The dog ate Roche's Tamiflu homework - Tamiflu, developed to combat influenza, is derived from star anise, a weak natural anti-viral. Roche chemicalized it so it could be patented, and performed trials that didn't go as Roche would have hoped. Tamiflu did not show efficacy.
Tamiflu
anti-viral
drug revealed as complete hoax; Roche studies based on
scientific
fraud
Monday, December 14, 2009
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
H1N1 Flu (Swine
Flu):
Resources for Pregnant Women from the CDC
General
search
of CDC web site about swine flu
Vitamin
D
and H1N1 Swine Flu - evidence vitamin D is protective
against H1N1
Does
the
Vaccine Matter? by Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer
New
Study
Demonstrates Significant Harm From Just ONE Mercury-Containing
Vaccine
from Dr. Mercola
H1N1 Vaccine and Thimerosal Exemption from the California Dept. of Public Health
CA permits H1N1 vax with illegally high levels of Mercury for kids & pregnant women
From: ACOG District IX
Date: October 21, 2009 1:05:30 PM PDT
Subject: Important Information Regarding H1N1 Vaccine and
Thimerosal
Exemption
Dear ACOG, District IX Members,
We received the following letter from Mark B. Horton, MD, MSPH at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) concerning the exemption for using Thimerosal containing H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women and young children until the vaccine supply becomes stabilized, or at least until the end of November. Please review.
Thank you very much.
In 2004, in order to ensure that pregnant women and children under age 3 years have access to mercury-free vaccines, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2943 (Pavley, Chapter 837, Statutes of 2004). Under the terms of AB 2943 and Health and Safety Code Section 124172, since July 1, 2006 vaccines containing levels of mercury greater than specified limits cannot be administered to pregnant women and young children, except under certain circumstances.
While many commonly used vaccines administered in the United States are available in ample supplies of mercury-free formulations, there are currently limited supplies of the new vaccine to protect Californians against pandemic (H1M1) influenza [Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine] that have levels of mercury below the state legal limits.
The Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency has granted an exemption to this restriction for Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine in children younger than 3 years of age and pregnant women from October 12, 2009 - November 30, 2009. The exception is being granted because of the present dangers posed by pandemic (H1N1) influenza and because there are insufficient supplies of thimerosal-free influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent influenza vaccine to comply with the law. The need for an extension of the exemption will be assessed over this period.
In accordance with the intent of the law, during this exemption period physicians should prioritize supplies of thimerosal-free vaccine to young children and pregnant women as long as prioritization does not prevent the immunization of others.
As with other routine vaccines, providers should continue to provide patients and parents or guardians with the specific Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) that lists risks and benefits before immunization. Providers should also discuss the availability of thimerosal-free influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent influenza vaccine with patients, parents and guardians prior to immunization. During this discussion, please consider
* Children younger than 3 years old are among
those
recommended to receive 2 doses of vaccine for full protection
* Pandemic (H1N1) influenza virus is
currently
circulating in California
* Whether your patients of any age will have
additional
opportunities to return for immunization in time to be protected
against
infection.
For additional information about these topics, please contact the California Department of Public Health's Immunization Branch at (510) 620-3737 or www.getimmunizedca.org.
(This email was sent on behalf of your ACOG District. If
you do
not wish to receive these types of emails in the future, please
email and
request that you be removed from the District email list.)
Why
"Herd
Immunity" is Moot in Seasonal Flu or Swine Flu by Alix Mayer
NBCI
statement
on breastfeeding and H1N1
About Swine Flu from The
Wolfe
Clinic and Dr.
Mercola
Russell Blaylock, MD, has a sequence of interviews on Dr. Mercola's site. In Part 2, around 7:30 into it, he address vaccination during pregnancy: "This time, if they indeed use more powerful adjuvant, we're going to see a lot more Guillain-Barre paralysis, infants are going to die, the pregnant women are going to have babies that have a high risk of developing autism and schizophrenia, which has been shown in the medical literature quite powerfully, that immunization during pregnancy, particularly repetitive the way they're talking about here, can drastically increase the incidence and risk of autism and schizophrenia in the offspring, plus delayed neurological diseases."
He also suggests that the single, most important nutritional preventive of flu is vitamin D3: 2000 IU daily for children, and 5000-10000 IU daily for adults.
He has a nice section on Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure in
case
you're forced to get vaccinated. (It's about 3/4 of the way
down
the page.)
Best of the Net - Infections
During
Pregnancy from perinatology.com
Five
ways
to avoid germs while traveling (and the rest of the time,
too!)
Infections
of
the Fetus and Newborn Infant - (Congenital and Perinatal
infections)
Congenital
Infections
of the Newborn
Infectious
Diseases
in Pregnancy - from motherisk.org
Infectious
pregnancy
complications from the Geneva Foundation for Medical
Education
and Research
Passive
immunization
during pregnancy for congenital cytomegalovirus infection.
Nigro G, Adler SP, La Torre R, Best AM; Congenital Cytomegalovirus
Collaborating Group.
N Engl J Med. 2005 Sep 29;353(13):1350-62.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of pregnant women with CMV-specific
hyperimmune
globulin is safe, and the findings of this nonrandomized study
suggest
that it may be effective in the treatment and prevention of
congenital
CMV infection. A controlled trial of this agent may now be
appropriate.
Copyright 2005 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Update on TORCH Infections in the Newborn Infant [06/16/2004]
Hand,
Foot,
& Mouth Disease - Viruses from the group called
enteroviruses
cause HFMD. The most common cause is coxsackievirus A16;
sometimes, HFMD
is caused by enterovirus 71 or other enteroviruses. The
enterovirus group
includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses and other
enteroviruses.
Parvovirus
B19
Infections from the AAFP
I would just draw her Parvo B19 IgG/M titers and then you will
know
if ANY ‘risk’ even exists; if immune, end of conversation, if
neg/neg,
I would repeat draw in ~ 4wks even if she never develops any sx
(cause
I live in C(Y)A).
Books
on
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
See also: Pharmacy
References
Pharmacokinetics
and
Drug Metabolism - from motherisk.org
- Understanding how drugs move through the body and cross the
placenta
is important in understanding their effects on the pregnancy or
fetus.
In this section we include studies and review articles that
investigate
the mechanisms by which drugs transfer across the human placenta
and how
they affect the fetus.
Drugs in
Pregnancy
- from motherisk.org
Acid
Blockers
for Mom During Pregnancy Increase Baby's Risk of Asthma:
Presented
at AAAAI
March 24, 2008 -- Taking acid-blocking medications for heartburn
associated
with pregnancy increases the baby's risk of developing asthma by
more than
50%.
Maternal
Progestin
Intake and Risk of Hypospadias
Suzan L. Carmichael, PhD; Gary M. Shaw, DrPH; Cecile Laurent, MS;
Mary
S. Croughan, PhD; Richard S. Olney, MD; Edward J. Lammer, MD; for
the National
Birth Defects Prevention Study
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:957-962.
Conclusion This study found that pregnancy-related intake
of progestins
was associated with increased hypospadias
risk.
I've heard that this study is flawed in that it lumps together
synthetic
progestins (which are molecules tweaked from testosterone and
nor-testosterone)
and bio-identical progesterone(which has a different chemical
composition
and different biological effects). If you give a pregnant
women something
that displaces testosterone off its receptors, wouldn't you expect
it to
have an effect on an organism (the male fetus) that relies on
having a
normal level of testosterone to develop properly?
I have noticed many questions related to drug effects on early development. In that vein, I thought you might be interested in the following which is taken from Blackburn and Loper, 1992, in Maternal. Retal, and Neonatal Physiology.
"The preembryonic period stage (up to 14 days after conception) is a time of little morphologic differentiation. During the first part of this period, the zygote is protected by the zona pellucida. Exposure to teratogens during this period usually has an all-or-nothing effect. Either the damage is so severe that the zygote is aborted or there are no apparent effects. Teratogens or environmental disturbances may interfere with implantation of the blastocyst or cause death and early abortion. However, most congenital anomalies do not arise during this period....
The period of organogenesis (15 to 60 days after conception)( is a period of extreme sensitivity to teratogens and the period when most congenital malformations develop. Insults early in this period (15 to 30 days) are more like to result in death if the embryo is damaged....
Hopefully for those of you with questions about exposures very
close
to the time of conception, hopefully this info will help lay those
concerns
to rest.
According to the FDA, NO drug, either prescription or over the
counter,
has ever been proven safe for an unborn baby.
Yes, and, . . .
if you read the fine print, you see that it's because no drug can be guaranteed to be 100 percent safe. The same is true of all foods and every other kind of environmental exposure. (It's kind of like trying to prove that Big Foot doesn't exist. You'd have to test every single baby, including the future ones, which is clearly impossible. If I had the energy, I'd rewrite the above so it doesn't sound as if the FDA is testing every single baby to see if they're a Big Foot.)
The best they can do is look for evidence that harm can be demonstrated, and if they find none, then they can only presume (not guarantee) that the substance is safe.
According to Will It Hurt the Baby?", birth defects can only occur during weeks 4 to 12 of pregnancy. Earlier exposures may cause miscarriage, and later exposures may cause slow or altered growth, such as mental retardation that can occur from regular alcohol abuse in later months.
I know there are some caregivers who flat out recommend that pregnant women avoid all tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, non-organic vegetables, and industrial or household chemicals.
I may be in the minority here, but I don't see it as my place as a healthcare provider to provide misleading, partial truths to my clients or consumers in general. I figure that it's my place to tell them the facts related to their situation, and let them make the choices.
That "I know better than they do" attitude is what leads to cesareans for just about any excuse under the sun.
We are a teratogen information service that provides information on exposures to medications, chemicals, drugs/alcohol/cigarettes, illnesses, etc. during pregnancy or lactation. We have been a toll free service for those health care practitioners and patients in the Pacific Northwest, but are now changing our service. We are going to have a 900 number for anyone to call, regardless of geographic location. In addition, for health care providers that feel they will be calling more frequently, we will have subscriptions available to our service on an annual basis.
Our new phone number is 1-900-616-8484. This is a toll call, billed at $3.00 for the first minute, and $2.00 for each additional minute. We want to answer questions efficiently and completely, so will need pertinent information, but we will not try to keep people on the phone longer than necessary. Anyone can call this number.
For subscribers, we will provide a toll free number and they will have unlimited access. This will include written materials and evaluations, when applicable. Subscription fees range from $100 to $300 per year depending on the situation. For more information feel free to email me.
If you or your patients have questions, feel free to call! We
answer
calls whenever we are here, and not on another line. You will not
get charged
until we answer the phone. Usually we can be reached 9:00am -
4:30pm Pacific
time, Monday through Friday. In September our hours will probably
be until
later in the evening.
March of Dimes (national HQ) offers this SAME service, FOR FREE.
MOD
is also a member of OTIS, Organization of Teratogen Information
Services,
and thinks this information should be available to all consumers
at NO
CHARGE. They will soon have an 800 number; meanwhile, they can be
reached
at March of Dimes Resource Center, (914) 997-4750. Your call will
be returned
within 24 hours.
Inadvertent
Fetal
Exposure to Antibiotics During Unplanned Pregnancies by Jill
Taylor - Care should be taken when treating women of child-bearing
age
for urinary tract infection.
Drugs given during pregnancy may not be safe - [2004-09-17 Reuters Health]
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - More than a third of pregnant women
are
prescribed medications for which there is no evidence that they're
safe
to use during pregnancy, investigators report.
Common
drugs
linked to sex drive - Using anti-inflammatories during
pregnancy
may affect fetus' adult conduct. Known as COX-2
inhibitors,
this class of anti-inflammatories includes aspirin, acetaminophen,
ibuprofen
and indomethacin. [A
related article from Reuters]
In Utero Exposure to Antibiotics May Increase Risk of Allergic Disease
"Women who take antibiotics during pregnancy may increase their child's risk of allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever, or eczema" and "This effect did not appear to depend on the type of antibiotic or the trimester the antibiotics were prescribed in."
The
importance
of prenatal exposures on the development of allergic disease:
a birth cohort study using the West Midlands General Practice
Database.
McKeever TM, Lewis SA, Smith C, Hubbard R.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002 Sep 15;166(6):827-32
Claim
That
Dextromethorphan Causes Birth Defects Not Supported in Humans
ANECDOTAL ONLY --- I've had experience with only two babies with diagnosed heart defects. This one and a hypoplastic Right side who died about 18 hours. Both of these moms were DAILY users of nosedrop decongestants; they both described themselves as being "hooked" on them for years.
Now; anecdotally only; these two cases only; I have never had
heavy
decongestant users other than these two, never had HD either --
and I'm
so tempted to wonder if there is a connection between use of OTC
decongestants
and HD........
More anecdotal: My one stillbirth baby had a heart defect
incompatible
with life and the Mom was a heavy decongestant (OTC) user. I was
an apprentice
and don't recall the exact type of HD, but just remember those
words "incompatible
with life". She was also Down's, but the autopsy said not the kind
that
usually die. I guess my memory is too fuzzy about this, and
obviously the
HD could have been totally due to something else. But I always
wondered.
See also: Herbs for Anxiety,
General
Pregnancy Anxiety, Depression
During
Pregnancy and Visualization and
Self-Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy/Hypnobirthing
Antidepressants reach fetus through amniotic fluid
Antidepressants
in
amniotic fluid: another route of fetal exposure.
Loughhead AM, Fisher AD, Newport DJ, Ritchie JC, Owens MJ, DeVane
CL,
Stowe ZN.
Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;163(1):145-7.
CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of antidepressant concentrations
in amniotic
fluid is similar to recent data for placental passage. Although
the significance
of amniotic fluid exposure remains to be determined, these results
demonstrate
that maternally administered antidepressants are accessible to the
fetus
in a manner not previously appreciated.
Women
Fearful
of Effects of Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Antidepressant
Use
During Pregnancy May Increase Miscarriage Risk
Infants
Born
to Women Taking Antidepressants at Increased Risk of Withdrawal
Symptoms
for First Weeks of Life, Study Says [May 18, 2005]
Neonatal
signs
after late in utero exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors:
literature
review and implications for clinical applications.
Moses-Kolko EL, Bogen D, Perel J, Bregar A, Uhl K, Levin B, Wisner
KL.
JAMA. 2005 May 18;293(19):2372-83.
CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence indicates that in utero exposure
to
SRIs during the last trimester through delivery may result in a
self-limited
neonatal behavioral syndrome that can be managed with supportive
care.
The risks and benefits of discontinuing an SRI during pregnancy
need to
be carefully weighed for each individual patient. Development and
validation
of assessment methods and clinical management strategies are
critical to
advancing this research. [Ed.: These are maybe not the best
homebirth candidates!!!]
Antidepressants
to
Come with Pregnancy Precaution - 6/9/04 - "Drug makers are
adding
a notice to widely used antidepressants that babies of women who
take the
drugs late in pregnancy may experience jitteriness and other
withdrawal
symptoms"
Maternal
selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitor use during pregnancy and newborn
neurobehavior.
Zeskind PS, Stephens LE.
Pediatrics. 2004 Feb;113(2):368-75.
"Results provide the first systematic evidence that women who use
SSRIs
during pregnancy have healthy, full-birth-weight newborn infants
who show
disruptions in a wide range of neurobehavioral outcomes. Effects
on motor
activity, startles, and HRV may be mediated through the effects of
SSRI
exposure on gestational age. Future research can lead to a better
understanding
of the effects of SSRI use during pregnancy and an improved public
health
outcome."
FDA
Advising
of Risk of Birth Defects with Paxil - [12/8/05] - new
studies
for Paxil (paroxetine) suggest that the drug increases the risk
for birth
defects, particularly heart defects, when women take it during the
first
three months of pregnancy.
Antidepressant Use by Moms-To-Be May Affect Baby - 2/2/04
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Certain antidepressants taken by
mothers
during pregnancy can lead to disturbed behavior in their
offspring, according
to the results of a small study. Antidepressants like Prozac or
Paxil,
known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have
previously
been shown not to cause birth defects, the authors explain in the
medical
journal Pediatrics. However, only a few studies have looked at the
potential
neurobehavioral effects of these medications on newborns. Dr.
Philip Sanford
Zeskind and Laura E. Stephens from the Carolinas Medical Center in
Charlotte,
North Carolina, examined the neurobehavior of 34 newborn infants.
Maternal
SSRI
Use During Pregnancy May Disrupt Newborn Neurobehavior
AAP's bulletin on Use
of Psychoactive Medication During Pregnancy and Possible Effects
on the
Fetus and Newborn (RE9866)
More so than other similar antidepressants, paroxetine
(Paxil)
use late in pregnancy seems to be associated with higher
rates
of neonatal complications; but that does not mean women should not
take
the drug. [5/02]
Antidepressants OK for pregnant women
Counseling As Effective As Prozac for
Postpartum
Depression
We have several women on them at the clinic i work at. We don't
taper
them off to prevent withdrawal in baby and haven't seen a problem
yet at
all.....there are varying opinions about what is the best
strategy, some
say use Prozac in pregnancy, then change to Zoloft for
breastfeeding because
of their profiles, but many therapists think it is dangerous to
taper women
or change them at such a vulnerable time because a woman who needs
the
SSRI, is at a much higher risk of postpartum depression and taking
them
off or changing right at that time can make it much worse......so
i don't
think there is clear consensus on it; i have talked to several
psychiatrists
and OBs about it and have heard many different opinions on what is
best,
but in practice i think most leave them on it and don't
taper...............If
they need it they really need it postpartum..........anyway that
is what
i have gleaned over time.
From our local Doctor of Chiropractic / Certified Clinical Nutritionist:
"Since Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), and since 95% of the serotonin in the body is produced Enterochromaffin Cells (EC) of the gastrointestinal or GI tract (Gershon M. Review article: serotonin receptors and transporters: roles in normal and abnormal gastrointestinal motility. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004;20(suppl 7):3-14.), anything that influences serotonin production in the brain has a significant effect on the GI tract.and visa-versa. Thus, nutrient absorption is affected. Not only that, since approximately 60% of your immune system function is associated with the GI tract, you can set up a dysbiosis (abnormal gut flora and blunting of the microvilli of the mucosal lining) and imblanced immune system function for the mother and the baby. Imbalanced immune system atopic skin conditions in children associated with our western culture presently. This results from skewing of the T-helper cells (either T helper type 1.called Th1 or T helper type 2.called Th2) of our immune system being imbalanced to either a Th-1 or Th-2 predominance, thereby leading to various chronic diseases, depending on the mothers environmental factors such as diet, pre-pregnancy nutritional status, stress load before and during pregnancy, cleanliness or over-cleanliness and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid function before and during pregnancy.
For all these reasons, and more, I discourage anyone from taking
SSRI
antidepressants before, during or after pregnancy. There are
basic
nutrient factors that help considerably with the underlying
biochemistry
of depression, (that are not only safe to use pre-pregnancy and
during
pregnancy, but very necessary to use!) particularly the L-5
methyltetrahydrofolate
form of folic acid, the pyridoxyl-5-phosphate form of vitamin B6,
and the
methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin form of vitamin B12.
There is some research to show that the developing embryo relies on the electromagnetic field from the mother’s heart to orient the anatomic development of the fetus. It is thought that this may be why a human embryo cannot be grown in the laboratory past a very early developmental stage.
I strongly encourage you to do what you can easily do to reduce your personal exposure to the various forms of energy that our electronic devices create around us: turn off your WiFi and wireless phone systems when you’re sleeping, or at least keep them out of your bedroom, and keep your devices at least 2 feet away from your body when not in use. The more powerful the device, the more important that you not wear it directly on your body.
Most pregnant women tend to have an elevated body temperature, so
they
generally wouldn't be using electric blankets, but if you need a
little
something extra beyond a fluffy down comforter, consider one of
those new
electric blankets that use fiber optics to conduct the heat.
Full Signal - 61-minute
documentary,
12/09 - Full Signal talks to scientists around the world who are
researching
the health effects related to cellular technology
Neurological Effects of Wireless Technologies from Sage Associates, an environmental consulting
Maternal use of cell phones during pregnancy is reported to be associated with altered fetal brain development, which is expressed in serious behavioral difficulties in children by the time they reach school age (Divan et al, 2008).
Prenatal
and postnatal
exposure to cell phone use and behavioral problems in children.
Divan HA, Kheifets L, Obel C, Olsen J.
Epidemiology. 2008 Jul;19(4):523-9.
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has emphasized the need
for
research into the possible effects of radiofrequency fields in
children.
We examined the association between prenatal and postnatal
exposure to
cell phones and behavioral problems in young children. METHODS:
Mothers
were recruited to the Danish National Birth Cohort early in
pregnancy.
When the children of those pregnancies reached 7 years of age in
2005 and
2006, mothers were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the
current
health and behavioral status of children, as well as past exposure
to cell
phone use. Mothers evaluated the child's behavior problems using
the Strength
and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS: Mothers of 13,159
children completed
the follow-up questionnaire reporting their use of cell phones
during pregnancy
as well as current cell phone use by the child. Greater odds
ratios for
behavioral problems were observed for children who had possible
prenatal
or postnatal exposure to cell phone use. After adjustment for
potential
confounders, the odds ratio for a higher overall behavioral
problems score
was 1.80 (95% confidence interval = 1.45-2.23) in children with
both prenatal
and postnatal exposure to cell phones. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to
cell phones
prenatally-and, to a lesser degree, postnatally-was associated
with behavioral
difficulties such as emotional and hyperactivity problems around
the age
of school entry. These associations may be noncausal and may be
due to
unmeasured confounding. If real, they would be of public health
concern
given the widespread use of this technology.
How to find out your level of exposure from communications
towers? AntennaSearch.com
Electromagnetic
Fields
- EMF Information for Your Personal Safety from Dr. Mercola.
Electro Pollution -
Our mandate
is to educate and prevent EMF & cell phone radiation from
harming you.
Our research and products are backed by support of industry
leaders with
a common goal; your health.
Public
Health
Sos: The Shadow Side Of The Wireless Revolution by Camilla
Rees
and Magda Havas Ph.D. (Paperback - April 26, 2009)
Powerwatch is a
non-profit
independent organisation with a central role in the UK
Electromagnetic
Field and Microwave Radiation health debate. We work closely with
decision-makers
in government and business, and with other like-minded groups,
promoting
policies for a safer environment. We have been researching
electromagnetic
field effects on health for the last 20 years, and provide a range
of information
to help the general public understand this complex issue.
Reducing EMF in Your Home from Your Own Health and Fitness - KPFA broadcast date 4/7/2009
Environmental consultant Michael
R.
Neuert, MA, BSME, discusses common EMF exposures in the
home, their
effects, and how to reduce and eliminate them. Resources: Neuert
Electromagnetic
Services www.emfcenter.com; Resources on radiation and resources
on environmental
health
Cell
phones
and radiation: 10 best and 10 worst
Warning:
Using
a mobile phone while pregnant can seriously damage your baby
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Study of 13,000 children exposes link between use of handsets and
later
behavioural problems
Regulating Wireless Radiation from Your Own Health and Fitness - KPFA broadcast date 3/17/2009
Environmental consultant Cindy Sage of Sage EMF Design, lead
author
with David Carpenter of the Bioinitiative Report, discusses how
Europe
is responding to the current science about the dangers associated
with
microwave, wireless, and cellphone radiation. Resources:
Bioinitiative
Report www.bioinitiative.org;
Collaborative on Health and the Environment EMF Working Group www.healthandenvironment.org/working_groups/emf;
Resources on radiation and resources on health politics
Higher
Cancer
Rates In Under-18 Cell Phone Users
Brain Damage From Mobile Phone Radiation from Dr. Mercola.
On a side note, in the UK they are dropping
children's
mobile phone safety guidelines ...
High
EMF
Risk from Personal Organizers - excellent radio show from
April
3, 2007
Pregnancy
and
Radiation from the Health Physics Society
Environmental consultant Cindy Sage discusses the latest research
on
wireless technology's possible risks to humans and the
environment.
PDA exposures from blackberry and treo units, among others, create
exceptionally
high exposures when worn on or very near the body. She will
discuss these
exposures, their possible health consequences, and ways to reduce
exposure.
Resources: Sage Associates www.sageassociates.net; Resources on
environmental
health and resources on radiation: wireless, EMR, RFR, and
ionizing radiation
See also: Drinking Water, Water
Bottles and other Plastics, Personal
Care Products
Healthy
Stuff
tested 5,000 products for unhealthy chemicals, and created a handy
searchable
database so consumers can access the results.
Compared to children with low prenatal exposure, those with high exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos had abnormalities in the cortex (the outer area of the brain), says Virginia Rauh, ScD, professor and deputy director of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
The cortex helps govern intelligence, personality, muscle
movement, and other tasks.
Prenatal
Pesticide Exposure May Harm Kids' Brains [Medscape - 5/2/12]
Prenatal
Exposure
to Dioxin-Like PCBs Interferes With Brain Development [9/14/09]
- Prenatal exposure to a particular category of dioxin-like
polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with the strongest detrimental
effects on
fetal neurodevelopment, new research suggests.
There's increasing evidence that the developing egg/embryo/fetus
are
very sensitive to environmental contaminants.
University of
Pittsburgh
Cancer Institute - Center for Environmental Oncology
The Environmental Working
Group offers
a very compact shopper's guide to getting the smallest
amount of pesticides
in your food at the least cost. The results are far from
intuitively
obvious, so this is really useful.
Environmental
Toxins
Associated With Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Body
Burden
— The Pollution in Newborns - A benchmark investigation of
industrial
chemicals, pollutants and pesticides in umbilical cord blood
Health & Safety Information
on
Household Products from the NIH
TOXNET - Toxicology Data
Network
from the National Library of Medicine
A
Silent Pandemic: Industrial Chemicals Are Impairing Brain
Development Of
Children Worldwide
Teflon
and
Scotchguard as major offenders.
You can read more about Environmental
causes
of infertility and miscarriage
Potential
residential
exposure to toxics release inventory chemicals during pregnancy
and childhood brain cancer. [full
text]
Choi HS, Shim YK, Kaye WE, Ryan PB.
Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jul;114(7):1113-8.
CONCLUSIONS: Risk of childhood brain cancers may be associated
with
living near a TRI [polluting] facility; however, this is an
exploratory
study and further studies are needed.
How
to
Avoid the Top 10 Most Common Toxins by Dr. Mercola.
Read down
the page for his "Tips to Avoid Toxins".
Prenatal
pesticide
exposure damages the brain [3/16/06]
Source: Pediatrics 2006; 117: 546-56
Exposure to pesticides in the womb may leave children with high blood pressure and a reduced ability to copy geometric figures, a study of children in Ecuador suggests.
Pesticide
exposure
and stunting as independent predictors of neurobehavioral
deficits
in Ecuadorian school children.
Grandjean P, Harari R, Barr DB, Debes F.
Pediatrics. 2006 Mar;117(3):e546-56.
CONCLUSION: Prenatal pesticide exposure may cause lasting neurotoxic damage and add to the adverse effects of malnutrition in developing countries. The effects differ from those due to acute pesticide exposure.
Maternal
Pesticide
Exposure Linked to Childhood Leukemia
In
a
discussion of Having Faith, a book written about her
pregnancy, Sandra
Steingraber says, "Being aware of environmental dangers to
children's health
seemed part of my new responsibility as an expectant mother -- in
the same
way that infant car-seat recalls and pediatric vaccination
schedules were.
And yet, oddly, most popular guidebooks on pregnancy encourage
mothers-to-be
not to dwell too much on environmental dangers that seem to exist
outside
their individual ability to control."
Disinfection
byproducts
may hinder fetal growth
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology 2006: 163: 38-47
Estimating the effects of disinfection byproducts in drinking water on birth weights among a population served by a single water utility.
The risk of having a low-birth-weight baby may be influenced by levels of disinfectant used to treat drinking water, particularly among non-Caucasians, public health experts report.
Previous research has suggested that exposure to the disinfection byproducts trihalomethanes during pregnancy might impair fetal growth but most epidemiologic studies have used relatively crude measures of exposure and did not look at racial and ethnic subgroups.
For the latest study, C. Lewis (University of California, Los Angeles, USA) and colleagues looked at a large racially diverse population that received drinking water from the same public utility in Massachusetts. Vital records data obtained for the population between 1999 and 2001 were studied, along with weekly measurements of trihalomethanes in the water system.
The researchers found that a high average total exposure to trihalomethanes, of 70 microg/l or more, during the second trimester was associated with a 50 percent increased risk of term low birth weight in singleton births. This risk was much lower in Caucasian women than in African-American, Hispanic, and Asian women combined (37 percent vs 60 percent).
"The study suggest that high levels of trihalomethanes experienced during the second trimester and pregnancy overall may affect fetal growth," concludes the research team.
Posted: 22 December 2005
Early Exposure to Combustion Gases Raises Risk of Childhood Cancers
Oil
combustion
and childhood cancers.
Knox EG.
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005 Sep;59(9):755-60.
CONCLUSIONS: Childhood cancers are strongly determined by
prenatal or
early postnatal exposures to oil based combustion gases,
especially from
engine exhausts. 1,3-butadiene, a known carcinogen, may be
directly causal.
ReproTox - An Information
System
on Environmental Hazards to Human Reproduction and Development
Air Pollution Damages Babies in Womb - Study [2/15/05] - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Babies' DNA can be damaged even before they are born if their mothers breathe polluted air, according to a study published on Tuesday. [Ed. - It can be scary to pregnant women to think that there's not much they can do about the quality of the air they're breathing, but most indoor air pollution is actually caused by chemicals that you bring into your own home. Human Milk - Still the Best Choice discusses the ways that you can control the chemicals that enter your body.]
Pollution, fetal changes linked in study [2/16/05] - A study of New York City newborns suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution may be linked to genetic changes associated with an increased risk of cancer, researchers have said.
Molecular
evidence
of an interaction between prenatal environmental exposures and
birth outcomes in a multiethnic population.
Perera FP, Rauh V, Whyatt RM, Tsai WY, Bernert JT, Tu YH, Andrews
H,
Ramirez J, Qu L, Tang D.
Environ Health Perspect. 2004 Apr;112(5):626-30.
"This study provides evidence that combined exposure to
environmental
pollutants at levels currently encountered in New York City
adversely affects
fetal development."
Human
Milk
- Still the Best Choice by Rachel Mosteller
This great article from La Leche League discusses the chemical
hazards
that can be passed through to babies in breastmilk, but it's even
more
important to observe these guidelines during pregnancy!
Canada Study Details Pregnancy Chemical Hazard - [Oct 4, 2004] - Children whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy to common workplace chemicals scored lower on tests measuring language skills, attention and memory, researchers said on Monday.
Organic solvents such as ethanol, mineral spirits and acrylic
resin
are found in facilities ranging from medical laboratories and dry
cleaning
shops to nail salons. They are easily inhaled and can penetrate
the skin.
The Chemical Scorecard -
Just
type in your zip code and find out what chemicals are being
released into
your neighborhood environment by manufacturing plants, which of
these chemicals
are potentially the most harmful, and what companies are
responsible.
A
New Chemical
Headache: Solvents May Injure Unborn Brains - We’ve known
for years
that exposure to any number of chemicals can cause developing
fetuses physical
harm. From chlorinated hormone disruptors to cancer-causing
hydrocarbons,
the list of developmental problems that can be caused by pre-natal
exposure
to synthetic compounds is almost as long as the list of chemicals
itself.
The growing list includes the latest research from the University
of Toronto,
where scientists have discovered that in-utero contact with
petroleum-based
solvents can harm mental abilities later in life.
Locate the
Watershed
for your water supply and check out the environmental
profile.
Teratogens in our Everyday Environment
Remember - if you can smell it, the molecules are in the mucous
membranes
of your nose and mouth and in your bloodstream.
Avoid hair styling salons where you can smell chemicals. Avoid
synthetic
perfumes, which includes most commercial scents. You can use
organically
processed essential oils for fragrance.
Dry cleaners and copy shops are also horrible places for pregnant
women!
Occupational/Environmental
Exposures - from motherisk.org
Is Pregnancy Safe for Women Working in
Chemistry
Labs?
Chlorine, pollution and the environment
The substance used to chlorinate swimming pools is usually a salt
(sodium
hypochlorite) which contains very little free chlorine.
Organochlorines
do occur in swimming pools, but these do not include the highly
toxic dioxins.
Toxins inhaled and absorbed through the skin can be more
dangerous than
ingested toxins - showering, bathing and other activities which
involve
hot water are particularly dangerous. Avoid being around the
dishwasher
when it's running. Swimming pools may be a source of
significant
exposure.
Herbicides Linked to Infant Health
Problems
Texas Soil May Contain Teratogens
See also: Fragrances
Reducing your exposure to
PBDEs
in your home
Obviously, there is mixed research about drinking water. If
it's
possible to drink spring water from a reputable source, that seems
optimal.
Prescription
drugs
found in drinking water across U.S. - CNN.com
Study: Tap water
poses
little pregnancy risk (Reuters) [] - Although some studies
have suggested
that certain chemical byproducts in tap water raise a woman's risk
of miscarriage,
new research suggests that the threat is small, if it exists at
all.
Tap water
may
hurt pregnant women
A
prospective study of spontaneous abortion: relation to amount
and source
of drinking water consumed in early pregnancy.
Swan SH, Waller K, Hopkins B, Windham G, Fenster L, Schaefer C,
Neutra
RR.
Epidemiology. 1998 Mar;9(2):126-33.
Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Department of Health Services, Emeryville, CA, USA.
This study confirms the association between cold tapwater and
spontaneous
abortion first seen in this county in 1980. If causal, the
agent(s)
is not ubiquitous but is likely to have been present in Region I
for some
time.
From: C-reuters@clari.net (Reuters)The Environmental Working Group says the drinking water of 4.3 million Americans during the last year had concentrations of pesticides exceeding new federal standards of acceptable risk. The study also showed that people in farm areas, particularly the Midwestern corn belt, were being served a cocktail of farm chemicals in their tap water. The worst example was Williamsburg, Ohio, where 10 weedkillers and other chemicals were found in a glassful of water. But, despite the seemingly grim report, a spokesman for the group says U.S. drinking water may be improving. He says in a number of cities efforts to improve water quality are producing results.
Organization: Copyright 1997 by Reuters
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 1:00:38 PDT
Not all bottled waters are equal. There is a huge
difference between
bottled tap water (Dasani, Aquafina, Propel, etc.), bottled spring
water
(Calistoga, Poland Spring, etc.), bottled artesian water (Fiji),
and bottled
mineral water (Gerolsteiner, Perrier, Evian, Apolonaris, Vichy,
Pellegrino,
etc.). The differences in waters is much more
commonly
known in Europe, and there is more awareness around the benefits
of drinking
the different kinds of mineral waters available in their
countries.
Also, there is a difference between waters sold in glass vs.
plastic bottles.
----
A member of my family is an expert in water, and here is a part of
his email response to this article:
What they leave out is the simple fact that bottled spring or mineral water normally meets stricter standards than tap water and that bottled spring or mineral water usually has not traveled through hundreds of miles of pipe to sit in a reservoir where birds poop in it, fish breed in it, and then it is cleaned up using toxic chlorine which creates trihalamethanes and mutants, from the resultant carbon compounds left in the water from the aforementioned animal activity. These stay in the water no matter what kind of additional filters people use. The chlorine smell people detect in their tap water is actually from chloramines, the very compounds to which I refer.
In short, this type of article has been written since 1979 when Perrier first appeared. The one truth in the article with which I totally agree is that tap water makes up a huge amount of the bottled water industry and it is indeed a waste of money and all the resources they talk about.
Spring or mineral water is another story. Bottled reasonably close to the source, even if it involves trucking, it is pure and natural unlike any tap water out there and no chlorine is used. Ozone, manganese greensand and UV are used as they do not leave residual problems in the already clean spring or mineral water. Public water managers like chlorine because it is a broad-spectrum oxidant that can bind up the pathogens found in surface waters used as tap water. The resultant chemical compounds formed by chlorine are the problem, and the reason why bottled water is far superior to almost any tap water out there.
There are exceptions and I offer [deleted] tap water in the town
of
[deleted] as one. The provider of this water has a deep, rural
well with
no organics present so the chlorine he adds is benign. It meets
State standards
without forming the huge chains of chemical compounds found in
most tap
water.
New
concerns
raised on safety of chemical in plastics - Government
toxicologists have reiterated safety concerns about a chemical
used in
baby bottles and food containers, just weeks after the Food and
Drug Administration
declared the substance safe.
Eight years ago, we thought Nalgene bottles were fine for
pregnant women.
At this point, and given the rate of anomalies I'm seeing in baby
boys,
I recommend that my clients use non-plastic water bottles. I
especially
like the Sigg bottles,
available online
from swissbottle.com
On
the
Trail of Water Bottle Toxins...from the Non-Toxic Times
Newsletter,
Vol. 5, No. 6 - April 2004
Toxin
in plastics harming
unborn boys - Scientists say chemicals have gender bending
effect by
Ian Sample, science correspondent - 5/27/05 - The Guardian
Toxic
Compounds
in Food Containers Wreak Havoc on Your Health from Dr.
Mercola.
Klean Kanteen - Reusable, lightweight, and risk-free stainless steel
The Biota
compostable
bottle is made from corn!
And while you're thinking about the issue, think of baby bottles
and
sippy cups, too! Born
Free has better solutions.
Thalates
Can
Cause Birth Defects, Cancer [4/23/07] - Thalates are a group
of
chemicals used to make plastics, making them more flexible.
Polycarbonate water bottles (labeled #7) contain bisphenol A (BPA), which leaches from the plastic even at room temperature and has been linked to chromosome damage and hormone disruption. These are the types of plastic Nalgene water bottles found in sports stores. #1 PET or PETE bottles (polyethylene terephthalate) may leach DEHA, a known carcinogen, if used more than once. Additionally, your water bottle that has been refilled is likely to contain potentially harmful bacteria that grow on saliva, food particles, and fecal material from unwashed hands. Many people have reported getting diarrhea from their reused water bottles. Washing bottles with hot water and detergent or a rinse with bleach will sanitize them, but also leaches harmful chemicals out of the plastic.
What to do?
Use metal bottles. A Swiss company, SIGG, makes colorful and safe aluminum drinking bottles lined with an impermeable alloy. They're available online from swissbottle.com. They can be found on the Internet. The best price and the greatest variety of choices I have found in the US is at www.momovelo.com in the sundries/liquids section. They offer both children’s and adult’s sizes and designs. Many other sites carry SIGG bottles as well. Thermos makes stainless steel bottles for both hot and cold drinks or soups at www.thermos.com. Wash these bottles and their tops with hot water by hand after use. Dishwashers may not get into the narrow mouths of water bottles to clean their interiors.
Safer plastic containers are polyethylene #2 and #4 (High density HDPE #2 and Low density LDPE #4). HDPE is used for milk, water, juice, and yogurt containers. LDPE is used for squeezable bottles (honey, mustard, etc.).
Buy food products packaged in glass whenever possible. Use glass containers for storing leftovers.
Relatively safe:
Possible health issues to all this? Mainly all the chemicals they add. They don't add Bisphenol A like they do in polycarbonate, BUT they still add all kinds of crap (most of which has not been rigorously tested for health concerns). The biggest concern with polypropylene is that the chain itself can start coming apart when exposed to UV light. There is UV light in sunlight (to stop this they sometimes add UV-absorbing additives (more chemicals)).
Bottom line? I have worked in a chemical plant (it made
surfactants
and polypropylene and food additive among other things) it is a
nasty place...
All plastics (even the happy corn based "renewable" kind) come
from a place
like that. They are all going to leach something. Some are
worse
then others. In our modern world I don't know that we can 100% get
away
from it. The main thing to do with all plastics is keep them at
room temp,
out of the sun, away from acidic foods, and NEVER put them in the
microwave.
The following is a quote, straight from SIGG:
"The proprietary SIGG bottle lining is a water-based, non-toxic coating that is baked into the interior walls and remains flexible and crack resistant for the life of the bottle....Due to the finish of the liner, there is much less chance for bacteria build-up with a SIGG as opposed to plastic containers."
"The (lining) formula has not been released, since it is proprietary, but we have been working with them and they have agreed to release it soon. The liner has undergone extensive tests in Switzerland and Germany. The liner absolutely does not leach Bisphenol-A or other potential toxins. We have conducted our own tests in the US with a California lab, and they confirmed the European findings. So, the best I can do at this time is to assure you that the liner is completely safe, does not leach plastic products, contains no petroleum products, and exceeds all associated FDA requirements for food liners. The additional information will be released soon from Switzerland." -- Ron Peters of SIGG USA
Furthermore, "bottles made by the manufacturer Sigg, market
leader in
both Switzerland and Germany, showed no traces of aluminum...the
manufacturer
Sigg shows that it is possible to avoid residue from synthetic
coating.
Rolf Kothrade, responsible for aluminium bottles at Sigg, explains
that
his company changed the entire production process two years ago
and now
uses a water-based interior coating." -- OKO-TEST July 1997
(Independent
German Consumer Test Magazine).
Apparently mercola.com is
now
carrying low-cost enamel-coated cast iron cookware. [I
wans't able
to find them, but you might, and the savings are worth your time.]
dangers
of
teflon cookware - a metacollection of links
Chronology
of
Teflon/Scotchgard (PFCs) Content from the Environmental
Working
Group
Scanpan
addresses the
question: "Recent news reports (January 2006) seem to make a
case for
nonstick pans being unsafe to use. Is that so, and if not, why
not?"
They say that the carcinogenic chemical is involved in the
manufacture
of nonstick coatings, but that none is actually carried on the
finished
product.
Is
Nonstick
Cookware Safe? from about.com
Fragrances show up in all sorts of personal care and household products. Whereas true perfumes are from botanical sources, modern "perfumes" are chemical and can be toxic or carcinogenic.
Anne C. Steinemann, PhD., specializes in water resources and environmental management. She has (co)authored several cutting-edge papers on the subject:
“National Population Study of Asthma’s Prevalence, Etiology, Age of Onset, and Association with Chemical Hypersensitivity.” Toxicology and Industrial Health (in press).
See also: Fragrances
Even products that claim to be unscented or claim to contain
organic
or green fragrances may still contain toxic substances. You
can get
more information from the Environmental
Health
Network and the Fragranced
Products Information Network.
Natural Consumer
Products
Found Contaminated with Cancer-Causing 1,4-Dioxane [Mar.,
2008]
A cancer-causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in
some
of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics by a study
commissioned
by the Organic Consumers Association, including products from Kiss
My Face,
Nutribiotic, Jason, Ecover, Citrus Magic, 365, Alba, Lifetree,
Giovanni,
Seventh Generation, Method, Earth Friendly Products, Sea-Chi
Organics and
many other brands . 1,4-dioxane (often just called dioxane) is a
clear,
colorless, organic compound that's a liquid at room temperature
and is
a known human carcinogen.
Mommy's Bliss makes
a
Diaper
Cream
and a Babyderma
Body
Cream. I checked to see how non-toxic they were with
the
Environmental
Working
Group's Skin Deep database. In general, they were very
good. The only concerning ingredient is Benzyl Alcohol,
which is
contained in both, but not too near the top of the list.
They
haven't made an overall evaluation, taking into account the
percentage
of the product which is of concern.
Terressentials: Organic
and
100% Natural Body Care. We hand-craft a wide range of
certified organic
products: organic skin care, organic hair care, organic baby
products,
and other goods made with certified organic herbs and certified
organic
essential oils. USDA Certified Organic!
ilumina Organics
proudly
provides Organic products developed by Health & Wellness
experts to
help guide you and your baby to a healthier, safer
lifestyle. They
have an education page about The
Real Truth Behind Non–Organic & Natural Products.
New EWG Study Finds Most Personal Care Products Untested, Ranks Brand Names for Safety - Despite widespread belief to the contrary, the federal government has no authority to require health studies or safety assessments for personal care products before they are sold. EWG's interactive investigation allows consumers to decode the ingredient labels on 7,500 different products.
Hazards to Avoid
from
MOOM
Skin Nourishing Hair Remover and Beauty Products
Skin
Deep:
The Hidden Toxins in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Popular
Make-up
Brands Get a Non-Toxic Makeover - Revlon and L’Oreal have
applied
the new European Union rules that ban a wide variety of hazardous
compounds
from consumer products.
A'kin ® is made
naturally
by The Purist Company Australia. . .the 'world leader' in Safe,
Pure, Natural,
Organic hair, body and healthy skin care. A'kin ® products are
organic,
ingredient rich, vegan, 100%
natural botanical aromatherapy, are hypo-allergenic in matching
the
skins natural pH and are the world's first sulfate, paraben &
ethoxylate
FREE products.
With all the attention on organic foods, many consumers are unaware of the potential health benefits provided by a wide variety of personal care products made to the same high levels of organic purity. It is a known fact that, as the skin is porous, much of what we apply to our skin is absorbed into our bodies and bloodstreams, as exemplified by products like the nicotine patch. As the body's largest organ, the skin creates a substantial surface area through which toxic chemical migration may occur. Recent studies have shown that people may actually acquire more toxins through skin absorption and inhalation than through the foods we eat. Using personal care products with ingredients grown and processed free of toxic pesticides, fertilizers and chemical preservatives has obvious and irrefutable benefits.
MotherNature.com has become the first online retailer to be awarded Organic Certification under the USDA's National Organic Program. Visit their online Organic Body and Bath Store.
What It Means To You
When consumers see the USDA ORGANIC label on MotherNature.com,
they
are assured that the products have undergone a lengthy audit
guaranteeing
that the products' organic integrity is maintained throughout its
full
lifecycle. Each organic product is carefully scrutinized and
recorded to
ensure that it:
1. does not contain prohibited substances in its formulations
(including
genetically modified materials and certain chemical
preservatives);
2. is made from ingredients grown without the use of toxic
pesticides,
fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers;
3. is clearly labeled to provide the customer with details on
organic
ingredients and content levels;
4. is transported and warehoused in such a way as to prevent
commingling
with non-organic products;
5. is stored in facilities which are cleaned and maintained
without
the use of ammonias and other prohibited substances; and
6. has a detailed audit and record of the source of its
ingredients.
One of the scariest pieces of news I heard was that many skin
care products
contain "enhancers" to increase their absorption through the skin,
and
that there is no FDA control over these products!
If someone out there has some really concrete proof of the
dangers of
formaldehyde in sculptured nail products (not just in the
clinical/research
use) I sure would appreciate it.
Was assisting with a beautician/ manicurist who developed a very strange severe intractable anemia. (highly compromised baby, emergency cesarean for chronic distress). I didn't believe her occupation could possibly be considered a contributing factor until I read this in Bensons on aplastic anemia "the anemia may be a toxic sequela to administration of drugs such a s chloramphenicol, phenylbutazone, mephenytoin, or alkylating agents. Hair dyes, insecticides, and cleaning fluids may be implicated also."
I absolutely don' t know that this was the cause, but her working
in
a tiny shop with no open window or working ventilating system
certainly
couldn't have helped her pregnancy!
As an ex-cosmetologist I have something that may be related...
While working in our fairly small and very busy salon, out of the 6 girls that worked there, we experienced 3 miscarriages in a period of 6 months. We didn't do nails, but did do a lot of chemical services and had very poor ventilation. We (those of us who miscarried) became pregnant again a short time later (yes, all three of us, it was like an epidemic). We all experienced a great deal of severe nausea. I also experienced dizziness to the point that I would have to sit down for fear of collapsing. I have often wondered if these problems were related to the chemicals.
Two of us have gone on to become pregnant again. I had a pretty
uneventful
pregnancy, with a little bit of nausea at the beginning. My friend
still
had
quite a bit of nausea during the majority of her pregnancy, but
has told
me that it was still much less severe than the previous pregnancy.
Are You Putting Your Unborn Baby’s Health at Risk? By Sarah Marr
If you are like most expectant mothers you want to create, design, and decorate a special place for your new baby, a place that speaks from your heart, is safe, and comfortable.
However, your good intentions could be endangering your new born.
What
most new mom’s don’t know is that redecorating means exposing your
unborn
child to toxic chemicals through; brand new paint, new carpet,
washable
vinyl, wallpaper, new crib with synthetic mattress, new no iron
sheets,
new easy care synthetic clothing, disinfectants, scented baby
lotions,
powders, synthetic fiber stuffed animals, plastic rattles all of
which
are made with toxic chemicals and are potential health risks to
your new
baby’s health.
The
Healthy
Baby Nursery - It is heartbreaking for me to see
well-meaning
and excited new parents decorating their new baby's nursery by
painting
it, installing new carpeting, and buying a crib with a brand-new
foam or
synthetic mattress. I did some of these things when I was
pregnant; I knew
better, but I wanted to be "normal" (and not chemically sensitive)
and
provide standard things for my baby like everybody else did.
Everyday
Exposure
to Toxic Pollutants - Environmental regulations have
improved
the quality of outdoor air. But problems that persist indoors have
received
too little attention
by Wayne R. Ott and John W. Roberts
This Scientific American article from 1998 states that indoor air
pollution
is often worse than outdoor air pollution, and that most indoor
toxins
are brought in intentionally as
cleaning products, dry cleaning, etc. or unintentionally on
shoes.
Removing shoes at the door dramatically reduces toxins in the
home:
This is especially important for those little crawlers!
American
Healthy
Homes Survey: A National Study of Residential Pesticides
Measured from
Floor Wipes
Stout DM et al.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, 43, 42944300
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in
collaboration
with the United States Environmental Protection Agency conducted a
survey
measuring lead, allergens, and insecticides in a randomly selected
nationally
representative sample of residential homes. Multistage sampling
with clustering
was used to select the 1131 homes of which a subset of 500
randomly selected
homes included the collection of hard surface floor wipes. Samples
were
collected by trained field technicians between June 2005 and March
2006
using isopropanol wetted wipes. Samples were analyzed for a suite
of 24
compounds which included insecticides in the organochlorine,
organophosphate,
pyrethroid and phenylpyrazole classes, and the insecticide
synergist piperonyl
butoxide. The most commonly detected were permethrin (89%),
chlorpyrifos
(78%), chlordane (64%), piperonyl butoxide (52%), cypermethrin
(46%), and
fipronil (40%). Mean and geometric mean (GM) concentrations varied
widely among compounds, but were highest for
trans-permethrin
(mean 2.22 ng/cm2 and GM 0.14 ng/ cm2) and cypermethrin (mean 2.9
ng/cm2
and GM 0.03 ng/cm2). Results show that most floors in occupied
homes in
the U.S. have measurable levels of insecticides that may serve as
sources
of exposure to occupants.
Pesticides
linger
in homes, whether we use them or not
Even a little caffeine may harm fetus, study finds (11/3/08)
LONDON (Reuters) – Pregnant women who consume caffeine -- even about a cup of coffee daily -- are at higher risk of giving birth to an underweight baby, researchers said on Monday.
The new findings published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ)
also
linked any source of caffeine, including that from tea, cola,
chocolate
and some prescription drugs, to relatively slower fetal growth.
Coffee,
pregnancy,
and stress - A small, preliminary study suggests that
drinking
coffee may reduce maternal stress in the third trimester of
pregnancy.
Researchers found that “the relaxing effect of coffee is stronger
in pregnant
than in nonpregnant women”.
Coffee
raises
fetal death rate -- [11/15/05] -- Drinking more than three
cups
of coffee daily when pregnant increases the risk of fetal death,
says a
Danish study released Tuesday.
Pregnant
women
who drank eight or more cups of coffee per day during pregnancy
had
an increased risk of stillbirth, but not of infant death.
[BMJ 2003;326:420 ( 22 February )]
Caffeine Enzymes' Activity Linked to Spontaneous Abortion Risk - The activity level of two enzymes involved in caffeine metabolism are associated with the risk of spontaneous abortion; these are preliminary findings but warrant further research. [Obstet Gynecol 2001;98:1059-1066.]
Caffeine
intake
and the risk of first-trimester spontaneous abortion.
Cnattingius S, Signorello LB, Anneren G, Clausson B, Ekbom A,
Ljunger
E, Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK, Petersson G, Rane A, Granath F.
N Engl J Med 2000 Dec 21;343(25):1839-45
Michel Odent is investigating a preconceptional programme to
remove
fatty acids from the maternal system.
JOPPPAH 17(2), Winter, 2002, p. 123
Trans
fatty
acids may impair biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturates and
growth
in man.
Koletzko B.
Acta Paediatr 1992 Apr;81(4):302-6
"Trans fatty acids were also inversely correlated to birth weight
but
not to gestational age. These data indicate a potential impairment
of essential
fatty acid metabolism and early growth by trans isomers in man,
and question
the safety of high dietary trans isomer intakes during pregnancy
and the
perinatal period."
"Trans fatty acids represent a particular group of fat-soluble
pollutants.
Today they are abundant in such foods as cakes, biscuits, French
fries,
fast foods, etc. A German team demonstrated that they cross
the placenta
and have adverse effects on fetal growth. An American team
found
a correlation between the maternal intake of trans fatty acids and
the
risk of pre-eclampsia, a maternal disease that can have long term
consequences
for the child."
JOPPPAH 17(2), Winter, 2002, p. 121
Holistic
Dentistry
- Six Common Dental Procedures That can Harm Your Health, and How
Environmental
Dentistry (aka Holistic or Biological Dentistry) can Help
MELISA® tests for allergy to
metals
such as mercury, nickel and titanium, and measures the severity of
the
reaction
The Got Mercury? calculator
helps you figure out your mercury exposure levels.
Fish Oil
Supplements
May Be Safer Than Eating Fish
Fish
Consumption
to Promote Good Health and Minimize Contaminants from the
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
How
Mercury-Tainted
Tuna Damages Fetal Brains By Sandra Steingraber
Mercury Exposure During the Primal Period
- by Michel Odent, Winter, 2003
On Nov. 15, 2000, the judge of the Superior Court of California in San Francisco signed a consent decree that requires that the link between birth defects and silver-mercury dental fillings will have to be disclosed to California dental patients after Feb. 15, 2001.
Mercury
Damage
Seen in Children of Fish Eaters - Scientists at the Harvard
School of Public Health have found that methyl mercury
contamination of
seafood can cause heart damage and irreversible impairment to
brain function
in children, both in the womb and as they grow. [It's not clear
how this
compares to the mercury from dental work - we need more research
on this
subject.]
Pregnant Women Warned on Fish [Jan. 2000] - Pregnant women
and
those who might become pregnant should not eat four types of
fish--shark,
swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish--because it could contain
enough
mercury to, over time, hurt an unborn baby's developing brain, the
government
said. But the Food and Drug Administration rejected calls to also
put tuna
on the list, saying the other four types of fish contain far more
mercury
than does tuna.
Sushi - One of my clients is a highly trained sushi chef,
and
he says that the raw fish in sushi is fine for pregnant women if
it has
been deep frozen below 0 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 days.
Apparently
this will kill any parasites that are the primary concern for
pregnant
women. (Mercury is still an issue.)
If an expectant mother can't quit cigarettes, she might counter some of the bad effects by taking extra vitamin C.
Vitamin
C
prevents the effects of prenatal nicotine on pulmonary function
in newborn
monkeys.
Proskocil BJ, Sekhon HS, Clark JA, Lupo SL, Jia Y, Hull WM,
Whitsett
JA, Starcher BC, Spindel ER.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 May 1;171(9):1032-9. Epub 2005
Feb
11.
Smoking during pregnancy leads to decreased pulmonary function
and increased
respiratory illness in offspring. Our laboratory has previously
demonstrated
that many effects of smoking during pregnancy are mediated by
nicotine.
We now report that vitamin C supplementation can prevent some of
the effects
of maternal nicotine exposure on pulmonary function of offspring.
Timed-pregnant
rhesus monkeys were treated with 2 mg/kg/day nicotine bitartrate
from Gestation
Days 26 to 160. On Gestation Day 160 (term, 165 days) fetuses were
delivered
by C-section and subjected to pulmonary function testing the
following
day. Nicotine exposure significantly reduced forced expiratory
flows, but
supplementation of mothers with 250 mg vitamin C per day prevented
the
effects of nicotine on expiratory flows. Vitamin C supplementation
also
prevented the nicotine-induced increases in surfactant
apoprotein-B protein.
Neither nicotine nor nicotine plus vitamin C significantly
affected levels
of cortisol or cytokines, which have been shown to affect lung
development
and surfactant expression. Prenatal nicotine exposure
significantly decreased
levels of elastin content in the lungs of offspring, and these
effects
were slightly attenuated by vitamin C. These findings suggest that
vitamin
C supplementation may potentially be clinically useful to limit
the deleterious
effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on offspring's lung
function.
Smoking
can
damage fetal genes - a preliminary study in yesterday's
Journal
[3/9/05] of the American Medical Association suggests that there
was a
3½-fold increase in structural chromosomal abnormalities in
fetal
cells from pregnant smokers than those from nonsmokers.
7 Ways
Smoking
Harms Babies in the Womb from Dr. Sears
MEDLINE
Abstracts:
Maternal Smoking - 01/28/2004
A
tobacco-specific carcinogen in the fetus.
Milunsky A, Carmella SG, Ye M, Hecht SS
Prenat Diagn 2000 Apr;20(4):307-310
Tobacco Abuse in Pregnancy by Robert J. Oliver, M.D., Ph.D.
JOPPPAH 17(2), Winter, 2002, p. 153
Second-Hand Smoke and Pregnancy Risk
A study by researchers at the University of Birmingham indicated that up to 15 percent of childhood cancers could be due to smoking by fathers.
``Fathers who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day had a 42 percent increased risk of having a child with cancer,'' Dr Thomas Sorahan of the University of Birmingham told a news conference.
Those who smoked between 10 and 20 cigarettes a day had a 31 percent increased risk compared to non-smokers, while those who smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day still increased their children's risk of cancer by three percent.
Sorahan's group looked at data from the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers, a review of more than 1,500 parents whose children died of cancer between 1953 and 1955.
They compared the figures with 1,500 parents whose children did not have cancer during the same period.
``We started out with a very precise and detailed hypothesis -- that a mother's smoking was not a risk factor to childhood cancer but a father's is,'' Sorahan said.
Sorahan's group had seen studies in the United States that indicated cigarette smoke could damage sperm and said this backed their epidemiological study -- one looking at actual incidences of disease in a population.
The findings were striking, he said, and were clear even when other factors such as social class, whether the mother smoked, whether the mother had been X-rayed during pregnancy and the age of the parents were taken into account.
Sorahan said his group was now looking at more recent data, from 1971 to 1976. But he said the older surveys might be more reliable.
``Those data were collected well before stop-smoking campaigns were in full flow, so maybe there were more accurate answers,'' he said.
Parental smoking has also been linked by other research to cot death or sudden infant death syndrome, and mothers who smoke risk having smaller babies.
``This new study gives a compelling reason for men who smoke and
want
children to quit,'' said Gordon McVie, director general of the
Cancer Research
Campaign, which sponsored the research and published the paper in
its British
Journal of Cancer.
More
Evidence
Light Drinking During Pregnancy May Not Be Harmful to Offspring
Experts Say This Should Not Be Interpreted as a Green Light for
Drinking
While Pregnant
"October 19, 2010 — A new study from Western Australia has found no link between low and moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy and alcohol-related birth defects. There was, however, a significantly increased risk for birth defects with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure, as expected.
"The new study, published in the October issue of Pediatrics, echoes findings from a British study, which generated considerable media attention in recent weeks. The British study, published October 5 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that light or moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy did not increase the risk for clinically relevant behavioral or cognitive problems in infants at 5 years of age.
"On the heels of both of these studies, several professional
groups
have weighed in, including the International Scientific Forum on
Alcohol
Research, a joint undertaking of the Institute on Lifestyle &
Health
of Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts and
Alcohol in
Moderation (AIM) of the United Kingdom. Forum members are not
paid; members
are researchers who share their knowledge and expertise and put
recent
research into context with other studies."
I understand that the public health position is roughly: "If you
tell
pregnant women that half a glass of wine daily during pregnancy is
fine,
then they'll get blotto drunk every day." No, they
won't. Women
who have alcohol dependency problems might cite the
recommendations as
justification for their use of alcohol, even though it greatly
exceeds
the recommended safe levels. But it's not going to increase
their
alcohol use, based on my experience in working with pregnancy
women. I
can't be the only healthcare professional who believes that
women deserve
accurate information!
Light
drinking
in pregnancy, a risk for behavioural problems and cognitive
deficits at
3 years of age?
Kelly Y, Sacker A, Gray R, Kelly J, Wolke D, Quigley MA.
Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Feb;38(1):129-40. Epub 2008 Oct 30.
CONCLUSIONS: Children born to mothers who drank up to 1-2 drinks
per
week or per occasion during pregnancy were not at increased risk
of clinically
relevant behavioural difficulties or cognitive deficits compared
with children
of abstinent mothers. Heavy drinking during pregnancy appears to
be associated
with behavioural problems and cognitive deficits in offspring at
age 3
years whereas light drinking does not. [Ed. Many cultures
have encouraged
light alcohol consumption by pregnant women to help them to remain
calm
and relaxed. This would increase oxygen supply to the
uterus, reduce
adrenaline levels that might predispose children to live an
anxiety-filled
life, and it would facilitate an easier birth. Daily
meditation or
guided imagery might accomplish the same thing for those who wish
to abstain
from alcohol but also give their baby all possible advantages.]
Maternal
alcohol
consumption during pregnancy may delay the development of
spontaneous
fetal startle behaviour.
Hepper PG, Dornan JC, Little JF.
Physiol Behav. 2005 Jan 17;83(5):711-4.
"Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy may delay the
development
of spontaneous fetal startle behaviour. Previous study indicated
that fetuses
exposed to alcohol exhibited a significantly higher incidence of
spontaneous
startles compared to fetuses not exposed at 20 weeks gestation.
This study
examined startle behaviour longitudinally from 20 to 35 weeks
gestation
to determine whether the previous results were due to
'developmental delay'
or a 'permanent effect'. The number of spontaneous startles
exhibited by
fetuses of mothers who drank during pregnancy and fetuses whose
mothers
did not drink was recorded at 20, 25, 30 and 35 weeks gestation
during
a 45-min observation. The results indicate that exposure to
alcohol during
pregnancy significantly increases the exhibition of spontaneous
startles
by the fetus but across gestation there is significant catch-up in
startle
behaviour. The results suggest exposure to alcohol delays the
natural maturation
of spontaneous startle behaviour of the fetus but also has a
smaller 'permanent'
effect. It is suggested that these effects are mediated by alcohol
exerting
an effect on the inhibitory pathways controlling startle
behaviour."
Quite frankly, when I saw the video, it looked to me as if the
babies
were hiccuping. We have a cultural association between
alcohol and
hiccuping. Are scientists really sure that this isn't
anything beyond
hiccuping?
I'm suspicious about this line in the Reuters report: "Hepper
found
that the babies of mothers who drank — whether one unit a week or
four
— all continued to display a “startle reflex” throughout their
pregnancy.
The reflex in the babies of the non-drinking mothers tailed off at
18 weeks."
Well, a startle reflex (also called the Moro reflex) is a normal
newborn
reflex, so it doesn't actually tail off at 18 weeks.
Something's
wrong with this research or the reporting of it.
I think the difference is the presence of spontaneous
startle
reflexes, i.e. a startle response not caused by what we would call
a startling
stimulus.
Having lived in a few different countries I see the issue as some sort of anthropological exercise.
In France women were told that a glass of wine was fine but heaven forbid they had coffee.
In Holland (HUGE coffee drinkers!) wine was forbidden but one "kupje" coffee wasn't seen as being too problematic. Then I moved to the US were both were considered threatening to mother and baby.
Now Mexico..where moms are told to consume as little of each as possible but where I see pregnant women consuming both.
The campaign used here is "Todo con medida..nada con exceso."
Everything in moderation.nothing in excess.
Governmental
Response
to Pregnant Women Who Use Alcohol or Other Drugs from National
Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) - This Overview surveys
civil and
criminal laws directly addressing pregnant women's use of alcohol
and other
drugs. It reveals a patchwork of policies, some oriented toward
treatment,
some purportedly focused on child protection, some frankly
punitive.
Alcohol,
Nicotine,
Substance Use - from motherisk.org
Alcohol
during
pregnancy by Dr. Fawzia Sanaullah [Dec. 2004 - a
PowerPoint
presentation]
Maternal
and
paternal recreational drug use and sudden infant death syndrome.
Klonoff-Cohen H, Lam-Kruglick P.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001 Jul;155(7):765-70.
"There was no association between maternal recreational drug use
and
SIDS. Paternal marijuana use during the periods of conception and
pregnancy
and postnatally were significantly associated with SIDS."
Compulsory Treatment Orders - Patient's
Rights
Issues
LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF - ALCOHOL, SMOKING, CAFFEINE AND CANNABIS
- from
Britain's
National
Childbirth
Trust
The information all first-time mothers are given in
pregnancy
is that 'there is no evidence that light or occasional drinking
will harm
their baby'. This is defined as 'no more than one or two units of
alcohol
once or twice a week', i.e. up to four units.
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, UK Guideline on Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy
There is no conclusive evidence of adverse effects in either growth or IQ at levels of consumption below 120gms (15 units) per week. Nonetheless it is recommended that women should be careful about alcohol consumption in pregnancy and limit this to no more than one standard drink per day.1 unit of alcohol approximately equals 8gms of absolute alcohol, which is equivalent to:
½ pint of ordinary strength
beer, larger or cider
¼ pint of strong beer or larger
1 small glass wine
1 single measure of spirits
1 small glass sherry
From: C-upi@clari.net (UPI / LIDIA WASOWICZ, UPI Science Writer)GENE LINKED TO FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME: A few nights of binge drinking during the first trimester of pregnancy can leave babies with malformed faces, weak hearts, short limbs and impaired brains -- for life. This fetal alcohol syndrome affects some 12,000 U.S. babies each year. Many studies have produced many theories as to why alcohol inflicts such devastating damage. Most have speculated alcohol must stage a complex, multifaceted attack against several different parts of the body. But now Washington University School of Medicine scientists in St. Louis say they've found the real answer may be much simpler. In mice studies, they have traced the horrendous complications of fetal alcohol syndrome to a single alcohol-impaired gene. When researchers injected pregnant mice with alcohol, this essential gene disappeared in developing embryos. The gene, called msx2, helps control the development of the brain, heart, limbs, skull bones and other structures.
Subject: Health Today [Jul 7]
Organization: Copyright 1997 by United Press International
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 2:00:57 PDT
NAPARE Alcohol, Drug, and Pregnancy Hotline 1-800-???-????
Provides
information and counseling. 9 am - 5 pm CST, M-F. [Search online
for this.]
There is NO EVIDENCE of harm from moderate alcohol intake at any
stage
of pregnancy. Various groups have advised total avoidance on the
basis
that regular excess consumption is harmful. Most of the
publications on
the subject have that message hidden away somewhere.
I agree. There is NO EVIDENCE that moderate alcohol consumption can hurt a baby. Babies do NOT get fetal alcohol syndrome because mom drank a glass of champagne during the pregnancy! (I think these abstinence campaigns are good because they may help women avoid problem drinking behaviors. I think they are terrible because they unnecessarily frighten women!)
I have stats if anyone wishes them. Some folks seem really angry
to
hear them. They are simply reprints from CDC. Please don't get mad
at me
about the information, I'm just passing it along.
I get a bit amused sometimes at the north american puritanical attitude about alcohol and pregnancy -- funny how every country thinks it has the "proper" recommendations on this one -- and how nearly every country's is different!
I like to remind myself that alcohol is an inevitable by product
of
food metabolization -- your body is producing alcohol every day,
so obviously
it cannot be completely and absolutely toxic to a fetus. The key
to this,
as in so many things, is moderation. Fortunately during the
critical periods
of fetal organ differentiation, many women feel too sick to drink
anyway!
Government Publication on "Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome"
This [the above] seems to contradict a rather larger study
published
in the Br.Med.J. a couple of years ago. ( sorry don't have
reference here
it's at work ) That study showed no evidence of adverse affect at
lower
end of exposure range, though even they over-cautiously advised
probably
no alcohol is best !
I did a research project on FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) I was particularly looking at indians, I interviewed a Hopi woman who had given birth to a FAS child. First- alcohol consumption in pregnancy IS serious... BUT- there IS a direct correlation between the amount of alcohol consumed AND the duration of the drinking. The blood alcohol levels have to be elevated consistently for FAS and FAE (Fetal Alcohol Effect- not as serious, still some brain compromise but no physical deformities) to happen. Drinking one or two drinks early in pregnancy will NOT cause FAS. Generally binge drinking is considered worse than an occasional drink now and then. we are talking >2OZ of alcohol at a time. there is a LOT of information on FAS. I have attended workshops etc. and can get out specific info for those of you who want it, but the leaders here seem to be the people doing maternal child health at the IHS (Indian Health Service). Anyhow- i don't think it is worth it to scare a pregnant woman who drank a few drinks before she knew she was pregnant. If she had a beer or a couple of glasses of wine, it's probably OK. However, if she binge drank and did this several days in a row you are talking about a different story and may want to see if the woman is an alcohol abuser.
Finally, one thing about FAS is that usually it doesn't show up
in an
alcoholic woman until her 3rd or 4th pregnancy. She may have drank
a lot
her first pregnancy and her liver could handle it but if she
consistently
drinks by the time she is pregnant with baby #3 her liver is shot
and the
blood alcohol levels stay high with the result that the baby's
brain gets
soaked in ETOH resulting in permanent brain damage... So find out
how much
someone has drunk before you either tell them not to worry or
admonish
them... personally i think it's hard to chastise a woman for
something
she did before she knew she was pregnant. You need to find out
exactly
what the substance use was and if it WAS abuse then act
accordingly.. because
she can't go back in time and undo it... and another piece of data
is that
women who are alcoholics will decrease their chances of delivering
a FAS
or FAE child if they stop drinking... again, it's quantity and
duration
that cause the brain damage...
From: Janneli.Miller@nau.edu
Here's some of the more pertinent sources from my Hopi FAS paper. I did this in 1992, so references are older, but some are still standards, i haven't heard of any breakthroughs re the issue of how much alcohol is "too much" or 'safe"...
Eugene Hoyme, MD at University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, specializes in teratogens, esp. alcohol.
I think that any of you who want more info should look into
Streissguth,
Philip May and Kathleen Masis, as of 1993 they were the people
that were
the best informed... although who knows what has happened in the
past 5
years. They were (are) wonderful informed dedicated professionals,
i spoke
personally with Masis and May several times...
My understanding is that individual metabolism of alcohol varies
and,
while it is unlikely that daily consumption of one glass of wine
will lead
to FAS, it is possible. My recollection of what we know about
alcohol and
pregnancy is that FAS is primarily associated with consuming large
amounts
of alcohol, in particular binge drinking and certainly not with 4
or 5
total drinks in an entire pregnancy.
Long Piece on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Some Replies to Long Piece on Fetal
Alcohol
Syndrome
Long Reply to Long Piece on Fetal Alcohol
Syndrome
In Sweden all intake of alcohol during pregnancy and nursing is
condemned
by the health authorities. There are on-going campaigns about this
issue
and you are stared at with hostility if you drink an alcoholic
beverage
while pregnant. As some of you have pointed out, this information
unsupported
by studies etc. do nothing but cause guilt - and for all I know -
a greater
intake in shame in privacy at home.
Medical
Marijuana:
A Surprising Solution to Severe Morning Sickness
By Erin Hildebrandt
Issue 124 May/June 2004
Student report on marijuana use during
pregnancy
or labor and birth
In my personal experience, there HAVE been several compromised
infants
born to regular marijuana users. Fetal stress, being the
most reoccurring
one. I am no longer surprised when a user gives birth to a
"mec"
stained baby, and for me, this is not always present, but once we
have
a stressed baby, we almost always have to clear the airways, give
blow
by or transport in the event of heavy mec in early labor.
This is
proven over time and again not to be the case of a crimped cord or
head
compression in second stage. READ: Early labor fetal
distress, not
always the suspected late first/second stage labor. I don't
know
but a few other midwives willing to admit this is true for them,
but what
I've seen, it is a distinct "yes."
Marijuana
Use
and Birth Defects
Maternal
and
paternal recreational drug use and sudden infant death syndrome.
Klonoff-Cohen H, Lam-Kruglick P.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001 Jul;155(7):765-70.
"There was no association between maternal recreational drug use
and
SIDS. Paternal marijuana use during the periods of conception and
pregnancy
and postnatally were significantly associated with SIDS."
Interesting sites regarding marijuana and pregnancy:
Prenatal Marijuana Exposure and Neonatal Outcomes in Jamaica: An Ethnographic Study
Exposing Marijuana Myths: A Review of the Scientific Evidence
MARIJUANA AND MEDICINE: Assessing the Science Base
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