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.
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.
10
Facts About the Flu Vaccine and the Flu from
safeminds.org: Under average conditions when the vaccine is
a partial match for the circulating strains of flu, 100 people
need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza
symptoms. . . . the flu vaccine causes approximately
one case of Guillian-Barré syndrome, a major neurological
condition leading to paralysis, for every one million vaccinations
administered.
According to flu vaccine package inserts, “Safety and
effectiveness has not been established in pregnant women or
nursing mothers and should only be given to a pregnant woman if
clearly needed.”
Should
I Get the Flu Shot? CDC Data Raise Concerns by Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr.
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!)
10
Public Hot Spots for Germs from WedMd
A study done by the University of Arizona found an average of
421,000 different bacteria on shoes. Coliforms, a bacterial
indicator of the level of sanitation of foods and water (and
universally present in feces), were detected on the bottoms of 96%
of shoes.
In addition, E. coli was detected on 27% of the shoes, along with
seven other kinds of bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae,
which can cause urinary tract infection, and Serratia ficaria,
which can cause respiratory infections.
“We walk through things like bird droppings, dog waste and germs
on public restroom floors, all of which are sources for E coli,”
says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., a microbiologist and professor at the
University of Arizona.
Researchers then wanted to know about the transfer of bacteria
from shoes to uncontaminated home floors. They discovered that the
transfer of bacteria from shoes to home floors ranged from 90% to
99%.
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
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
Antidepressant Use in Pregnancy and Congenital Cardiac Defects [9/9/14] - From a clinical perspective, the increased risk for defects is very small and has to be weighed against the risk for untreated depression, which is likely to be substantially higher.
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.
The
Toxic Baby (Must Watch TED Talk) - 26 October, 2014 - Could
the chemicals you are exposed to during pregnancy affect your
unborn child? This is a must watch TED talk!
WATER FOR
HEALTH AND LONGEVITY by Lawrence Wilson, MD - I don't agree
with everything he writes, but it's good food for thought.
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.]
Indoor
Air Pollution [6/15/16] - from Dr. Mercola - Regardless of
your local outdoor air pollution, there are some easy things you
can do to improve your indoor air quality!
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
EWG's Tap Water Database
- Since 2010, water utilities' testing has found pollutants in
Americans' tap water, according to an EWG drinking water quality
analysis of 30 million state water records. Just enter your
zipcode and get an analysis of your tap water. (This can't reflect
any issues with your house plumbing.]
EWG's Tap Water Database - This is an extremely helpful resource
for identifying the source of your tap water and the contaminants
identified from that source. In addition, they detail the types of
filters that will remove the specific contaminants.
"Childhood exposure to fluoride is safer than prenatal. There is
pretty good science now to support the fact that the fetal system
tends to be more sensitive to environmental toxicants than once
the child is born," said the study's lead author, Howard Hu,
founding dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the
University of Toronto.
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).
Incense Use
and Cardiovascular Mortality among Chinese in Singapore: The
Singapore Chinese Health Study. [free
article]
Pan A1, Clark ML, Ang LW, Yu MC, Yuan JM, Koh WP.
Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Dec;122(12):1279-84. doi:
10.1289/ehp.1307662. Epub 2014 Aug 15.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to incense burning in the home
environment was associated with an increased risk of
cardiovascular mortality in the study population.
If
Incense Kills What About Scented Candles?
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
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.)
Avoiding
Fish for 5 Years Before Pregnancy by Michael Greger M.D.
FACLM August 7th, 2019 - The problem with fish advisories
that tell pregnant women to cut down on fish is that it may be too
late for certain persistent pollutants. [Ed: PLEASE do not beat
yourself up about this; just consider this for your future.]
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.
What
You Should Know About Using Cannabis, Including CBD, When
Pregnant or Breastfeeding - FDA strongly advises against the
use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and
marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Kids
Exposed to Cannabis In Utero Face Higher Risk of Autism by
Amanda D'Ambrosio, Staff Writer, MedPage Today August 10, 2020
Mothers who used cannabis while pregnant had a 50% higher
likelihood of having a child with autism (adjusted hazard ratio
1.51, 95% CI 1.17–1.96), reported Daniel Corsi, PhD, of Ottawa
Hospital in Ontario, and colleagues.
Can
Prenatal Cannabis Use Affect Kids' Brain Development? CME /
CE 8/11/16] - On the basis of these findings, the investigators
suggest an association between prenatal cannabis exposure and
cortical thickness in children.
The
Effects of Marijuana on Fertility & Pregnancy by Michael
Greger M.D. FACLM July 3rd, 2019 - Pregnant and
breastfeeding women should probably be advised to either decrease,
or where possible, cease cannabis use entirely. And, couples
trying to conceive may also want to consider cutting down.
What
Are the Effects of Cannabis Use During Pregnancy? [9/12/14]
- Cannabis compounds have a small molecular size and are
lipophilic in nature which allows for the drug to readily cross
the placental barrier.
Effects of Marijuana on the Fetus and Breastfeeding Infants - Recent longitudinal studies suggest an increased risk of motor, social, and cognitive disturbances in offspring who were exposed to cannabis prenatally.
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."
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