We all currently experiencing an environmental toxic catastrophe, which is impacting everyone, especially the most susceptible group – our newborns. Hazardous compounds have been discovered in human cord blood, indicating that they are making their way to the womb and infant. It’s quite aggravating and awful that you have to be concerned about this, I recommend you take matters into your own hands.
1. Start early: Exposure to toxins before pregnancy can impact fetal health. If are you reading this and have no current plans for having children, or hope to down the road, the time is now to limit your exposure so you can protect your reproductive health options.
2. Don’t Smoke: Many chemicals found in cigarettes have been shown to be harmful, increasing the chance of low birth weight and size, decreasing lung capacity, and altering brain function, among other adverse effects. Infants whose mothers smoked while they were pregnant have an increased risk of developing asthma, SIDS, learning difficulties, lowered IQs, and behavioral issues.
3. Get Your Iodine: Iodine acts as a buffer against toxins like perchlorate, which can impair the thyroid system and the brain development of your unborn child during pregnancy and infancy. Take iodized salt and iodine-containing supplements, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing.
4. Eat Good Fats: Lead and mercury have harmful effects that can be counteracted by omega-3 fatty acids. Fish, eggs, nuts, and oils like krill oil and cod liver oil are all rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Instead of high-mercury seafood like swordfish and tuna, choose low-mercury options like salmon, tilapia, and pollock. The finest supply of healthy fats for babies is breastmilk, which also shields them from harmful substances.
5. Go Organic and Eat Fresh Foods: Choose organic produce and fruits. Choose just the “cleanest” produce if you buy conventional produce. To find the “cleanest” vegetables, use the Environmental Working Group’s shopping guide on pesticides in produce.
Very susceptible to pesticide contamination are unborn babies. Organophosphate exposure during pregnancy has been linked in studies to lower IQ in children. In addition to having an impact on behavior and fertility, these herbicides significantly raise the chance of ADHD
Choose milk and meat that were grown without the addition of growth hormones, and even better, pick organic. Reduce your intake of canned food because the linings of most cans contain bisphenol-A (BPA), a common xenoestrogen. Xenoestrogens have the capacity to imitate, suppress, or intensify hormonal reactions. Moreover, xenoestrogens have been associated with a shorter gestational period and a decreased birth rate.BPA is highly problematic for parents since estrogen governs the development of the brain, the reproductive system, and many other systems in the growing fetus.
6. Use Cloth Diapers or Non-Toxic Disposable Diapers: Diapers are made of synthetic plastic components, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates, which may be emitted during use. This is a worry since diapers come into direct contact with external genitalia for an extended period of time, and hazardous poisons may be absorbed into the reproductive system.
7. Drink Safe Water: Water can include contaminants including lead, chlorine, and perchlorate, which can be harmful to pregnant women. Avoid drinking bottled water because it is more expensive and may not always be better. Choose a reusable container made of stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic instead.
I also advise using a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to lessen the contaminants that you and your infant are exposed to. A helpful resource for learning which contaminants might be in the tap water in your community is the tap water database maintained by the Environmental Working Group. Also, finding the ideal water filtration system for your way of life will be made easier. have the water tested for arsenic if it originates from a well.
8 Don’t microwave plastic or put it in the dishwasher: Endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals leech out of plastic at elevated temperatures. Endocrine disrupters swamp a developing fetus, with potentially long-term implications. They have been linked to reproductive problems, early puberty, cancer, and obesity.
9. Choose Toxin-Free Body Care Products: A label that says “natural” or “gentle” does not imply that it is free of hazardous substances. Avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance, oxybenzone, and parabens by reading the ingredients.
Parabens are widely found in makeup, lip balms, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving creams, and face and shower cleansers and scrubs as antimicrobial preservatives. They go by the names methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben in the ingredients section of your beauty goods. aluminum, a heavy metal hazardous to the brain, is found in antiperspirants.
For all, you pregnant and breastfeeding moms, use paraben-free lotions, lip balms, shampoo, conditioner, and make-up because parabens are absorbed through your skin, blood, and digestive system.
If I’m unsure about a product, I like to look it up on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
10. Pick Plastic Products Carefully: Phthalates are a class of chemicals that are used to improve the flexibility or durability of polymers. A comprehensive list of phthalate-containing environments is provided below. Some industrial contaminants, known as “death-inducing signals,” can cause testicular cells to die sooner than they should. Furthermore, phthalates have been linked to hormonal changes, a decrease in sperm count and mobility, birth abnormalities in the male reproductive system, obesity, diabetes, and thyroid difficulties in studies.
There have been findings that phthalates are present in a pregnant woman’s cord blood, amniotic fluid, and meconium (the infant’s first poop). Concerns are raised because exposure to the developing fetus at critical stages of development can pass the placenta.
Exposure to phthalates is caused by the smell of plastic that is all too familiar whether you ride in a new car or walk into a dollar store filled with plastic. If you’re moving into a new house, the vinyl window coverings, the walls, the flooring, and even the roof are all full of phthalates (6). If relocation is your only option, at the very least ventilate your home to prevent daily exposure to the pollutants.
Never let your child chew on plastic. As soon as the child is born and has reached the stage where everything goes in the mouth, you can give them children’s toys, plastic/squishy toys, infant chew rings, or teethers. These all likely contain plastic substances like phthalates that you don’t want to be present in your baby’s body. Certain phthalates are already forbidden in children’s products, but not all of them, and infants are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of these chemicals.
11. Clean More Safely: Many common household cleansers are unsafe to use during pregnancy because they contain substances such as alcohol, ammonia, parabens, triclosan, chlorine, and glycol, all of which can harm a developing fetus. Avoid using oven cleaner—it can be hazardous to your health, especially in the tight quarters of your oven. Further information about understanding the ingredients in household cleaning products may be found here. Consider using plant-based cleaning solutions or substances such as baking soda, vinegar, and lemon. Enzymes are used in these products to break down stains and smell. In reality, baking soda and water combined in a DIY solution can erase many stains.
12. Test For Toxins: A Hair Mineral Examination is a good technique to assess whether your body is retaining heavy metals and how efficiently it is detoxifying. Uranium, Arsenic, Beryllium, Mercury, Cadmium, Lead, and Aluminum were among the heavy metals analyzed.
While it is impossible to avoid all dangerous chemicals while pregnant, you may limit your frequent exposure to these chemicals with a few simple swaps. If you want to get pregnant, boosting your body’s detoxification process will help you get rid of toxins faster, so take care of your liver with these seven recommendations
Overall, by implementing these strategies and remaining mindful of potential sources of toxic exposure, mothers can help ensure a healthier and safer pregnancy for themselves and their baby.
References:1. EWG. 10 Tips for a Less Toxic Pregnancy.
2. American Pregnancy Association. Pesticides and Pregnancy.