Pregnancy today: A lesson in toxics <http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/pregnancy-today-a-tough-lesson-in-environmentalism.html>http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/02/pregnancy-today-a-tough-lesson-in-environmentalism.html
By Lisa Frack February 17, 2009 665946582_5c7098d94e_m.jpg When I was pregnant for the first time, I was all about prenatal yoga, checking my baby's amazing developing body <http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy>online, and comparing symptoms with friends. As it should be. What I wasn't doing was avoiding traffic pollution because I knew it could <http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/02/16/prenatal-exposure-to-traffic-pollution-may-lead.html>cause genetic changes that led to asthma, as a recent study shows. And really, how can you? Nor did I weigh the fish I ate to <http://www.ewg.org/safefishlist>minimize my baby's mercury exposure. And I happily accepted hand-me-down baby bottles (reuse! save money!), which I later learned (after years of use) contained <http://www.ewg.org/node/20944>BPA. Nope. I ate too much, slept a lot, and ultimately gave birth to a (thankfully) healthy, full-term baby boy. It wasn't until my second pregnancy that I read Sandra Steingraber's excellent book, <http://www.steingraber.com/>Having Faith: An ecologist's journey to motherhood. In beautiful prose, she weaves the story of her own pregnancy into a scientific report on <http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/prenatal.criticalwindows.overview.php>the critical moments of those nine months, when developing fetuses are most sensitive to chemical exposures. And I've never looked back. Not that I regret reading the book. I don't. Or awakening to the toxic world we live in. It's better that my head is squarely out of the sand. But, I do regret that modern pregnancy is such a toxic minefield, a time when fetal chemical exposures can cause significant adverse health effects. In the U.S., we are lucky to have advanced maternal care, eliminating many of the health concerns that can be associated with pregnancy and childbirth. So it is disheartening that the list of don'ts for expectant mothers is impossibly long - and seemingly longer every day as <http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/>science reveals more and more links between chemicals and our children's health. So what's a pregnant woman to do? It's complicated, and we're not doctors. But if you're interested in taking some personal steps toward an environmentally healthy pregnancy, take a look at <http://www.ewg.org/healthyhome>our Healthy Home Tips for Parents. Our public health researchers created it to be highly effective but very do-able. And if you're like me, you'll get all riled up about this and get political. Because really, is this what pregnancy should be? A time to worry whether your neighborhood, your food, your air, your water, your everything could harm your baby because it's toxic? No! Of course not. It's a time of wonder and joy, a slow but exciting journey into parenthood - and chocolate desserts (ok, I'm not totally forgetting sleeping sitting up or the swollen ankles). So let's change this. Sign <http://www.kidsafechemicals.org>The Declaration and join our campaign to pass the <http://www.ewg.org/kidsafe>Kid-Safe Chemicals Act. Because a strong national chemical policy like Kid-Safe would systematically assess the chemical soup we live in, elevating human health right to the top of the evaluation criteria. Where it should be. [belly photo courtesy of c<http://www.cafemama.com/>afemama] <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}><<*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "The fruit of abortion is nuclear war" - Bl. Mother Teresa + <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}><<*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "The fruit of abortion is nuclear war" - Bl. Mother Teresa + --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
