read full story at Catholic News.Com

Sheryl’s comment:
According to this article, “more than 80,000 new organic synthetic chemicals have been introduced commercially since the 1960s”. The article goes on to say that “No basic toxicity information is publicly available for 43 percent” of those high-volume chemicals and “full information on toxicity is publicly available for only 7 percent,” The article specifically discusses the effect of phthalates (found in your shampoos and personal care items), PCBs and how chemicals such as methymercury can severely damage a fetus’s brain. Your child can be poisoned with Methylmercury while in your womb if you receive RH-negative shots, Flu-vaccines, have dental amalgams, or receive pitocin for a labor induction during childbirth.

This article underscores the dire need to avoid pollutants, chemicals inside and outside of your home, avoid plastics, pesticides, toxic personal care products, and all shots and amalgam related dental work. This is so important if you care about your innocent baby’s brain.

The article specifically addresses the relationship of the use of thimerosol in vaccines to the dramatic rise in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Environmental Illness (EI).

“Effects of mercury on children show susceptibility for prenatal exposure to methylmercury as it passes though the placental barrier to the developing fetus from the mother (Bjornberg et al, 2005). Clarkson (2002) notes mothers with mild symptoms of mercury neurotoxicity often give birth to offspring with severe brain damage, delayed development, and other neurologic abnormalities. There is valid concern over the safety of the amount of additional mercury received in childhood vaccinations.”

read more | digg story

A developing fetus is highly susceptible to outside influences. Most people know for example, that smoking and drinking can have serious adverse effects on a fetus, some permanent. Unfortunately many women are not as aware of the effects of common household chemicals and how they can affect not only their baby but even their great, great grandchildren.

What can affect a fetus? There is very little that a pregnant women consumes, breathes, or slathers on her skin that will not affect her fetus in one way or another. Some chemicals are clearly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. An excellent starting point for a pregnant woman is to consider how natural a substance is. If something grew out of the ground it is quite likely safer than something developed in a lab. There are obviously exceptions to this rule such as poisonous mushrooms and certain herbs but for the most part it holds true.

The hard part is not determining what is safe as much as what is unsafe during pregnancy. Many substances have never been tested on pregnant women and their unborn children so the truth is, you may never know what is safe and what is not. So as a conscientious mother you may choose to err on the side of caution and avoid substances that may potentially be harmful to your baby. This is not feasible all the time but it is certainly worth the attempt.

What is potentially harmful to a fetus?

DRUGS & CHEMICALS
First you should evaluate all drug use including prescription, OTC, and illegal. The FDA has Use-In-Pregnancy ratings for drugs based on their known or unknown dangers. Perinatology.com has a fairly comprehensive list of prescription drugs, vaccines and illegal drugs and includes the class and the potential effects on a fetus or newborn.

What chemicals should you avoid if you are pregnant? Honestly, all of them. Some are clearly more toxic to your fetus than others and some may be totally safe but nobody knows for sure. Some of the dangerous chemicals which are proven to cause miscarriage, birth defects, developmental problems, and stillbirth are:

Pesticides, phthalates (found in some plastics, cosmetics, and bath products), paint, carpet, nail polish, gasoline fumes, routine dental procedures, some household cleaning products, polyurethane foam, hair dyes, and tap water (which can contain fluoride & chlorine). Read Pollution in Newborns by the Environmental Working Group to learn more.

You shuold also research your skin and hair care products at skindeep.org. The almost 15,000 beauty products in the Skin Deep database will tell you not only the safety rating of your products but what questionable chemicals your favorite beauty products contain. Skin Deep provides brand by brand comparisons and safety ratings. Search by product name, product type, brand, or even look up the highest concern brands. They will even give you a personalized shopping list of the safest beauty products.

PRENATAL TESTING (prenatal “scare”)
Additionally, prenatal testing carries inherent risks and potential benefits which must be weighed by each couple. In many cases the testing is totally unnecessary and can even result in miscarriage. What is the answer? Educate yourself. Thoroughly research prenatal tests prior to agreeing to them. The Center for Unhindered Living has a number of articles explaining the pros and cons of Ultrasound, Dopplers, Alpha Fetoprotein Test, Glucose Tolerance Test, Amniocentesis, Chorionic Villus Sampling, and Prenatal Rhogam.

If the test is not absolutely necessary then you have the right to refuse to have it done because it could potentially jeopardize your unborn child. Only you can decide if a test is necessary or not based on your physician’s advice, your research, and your instincts. Please do not take a “medical professionals” word for it. As a responsible adult do some research first.

Nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Proper nutrition means avoiding processed foods, sugar, commercial meat and dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, among others. Soy, wheat, sugar, and caffeine should be avoided.

There are so many books available about pregnancy nutrition and if you need a bit of guidance then by all means get a book. Dr. William Sears has a great page on prenatal nutrition as well. In addition to avoiding negative food items, you need to accentuate the positive. Certain vitamins and minerals are vital to a healthy pregnancy. The RDA of most vitamins and minerals increases substantially during pregnancy. Folic Acid, calcium, and iron are essential. Organic produce should be your best friend. If this is all new to you then you are probably overwhelmed and confused. If you are committed though, making sensible food choices will be second nature in no time.

Lack of exercise generally will not result in direct harm to your baby but it will make your pregnancy and labor substantially more difficult. The increased blood flow from regular exercise will enhance your child’s development and some studies link prenatal fitness with increased apgar scores and mental development. A walking routine or prenatal yoga course is ideal. You certainly do not want to overdo and many fitness routines need to be modified for pregnancy. The key is to avoid inactivity and increase blood flow. So whatever you do, get off the couch and get moving.

Finally, if you are seeking a natural pregnancy, it is very important to avoid stress. Stress has been linked to miscarriage, autism, and other many other fetal developmental problems. Unfortunately it is unlikely you can quit your job and move to an island for nine months so you need to play the cards you have been dealt. In other word if you are prone to stress you can learn to identify your stress triggers and avoid stressful situations. You can also learn how to handle stressful situations once you are in them.

Both meditation and yoga are proven, fabulous ways of lowering stress levels. Counseling may also help with current stressors in your life. Even a ten minute walk has been proven to reduce stress levels considerably. In any event, please do not resort to drugs or alcohol which don’t reduce stress, they only numb you temporarily and they will certainly cause harm to your child.

You may also want to try other stress reducing techniques include biofeedback, EFT, or a mantra such as “This too will pass”. And never underestimate the value of a good friend or family member that you can call if things get rough.

If you are committed to an organic pregnancy you can certainly do it. Having a partner and family who support your decision will certainly help but even without their help you are certainly capable of trusting your instincts and standing your ground. Your body and your baby will thank you.

Image source: http://flickr.com/photos/jstar/1280611861/

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a typical North American’s red meat based diet is deficient in Omega 3 Fatty Acids. We don’t need a study to tell us that news. Omega 3 Fatty Acids have been all over the news in the last decade. The vast majority of people are aware that they need more Omega 3s in their diet but are not willing to make the trade off from poultry and red meat to fish or other natural sources of Omega 3s.

“The researchers found that the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn’t do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren’t deficient. The results were noticeable as early as two months of age. The study is ongoing as the researchers intend to follow the children’s development until four years of age.

For the study, the researchers recruited 135 pregnant women and randomly assigned them to either a group that took an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or one that took a placebo. All the women continued eating their regular diets. The supplement added the equivalent of two fatty fish meals per week, an amount that the researchers estimated would prevent deficiency.”
Medical News Today

Whether or not you choose to get enough Omega 3s in your diet is naturally a personal choice until you become pregnant. While it is still a personal choice, that choice is now affecting the health, wellbeing and development of your unborn child. If you are like most pregnant women, you know now is the time to stop dinking around with your diet and get serious about nutrition if you want your baby to have the best start in life.

Omega 3s are absolutely vital for the brain and eye development of a developing fetus and breastfed infant. This is one of many reasons that breastfed babies are more intelligent than formula fed babies.

There are a number of great sources of Omega 3. If you are a meat eater, the easiest and first thing you should do is eat more fish. Since mercury and other toxins are also a concern while pregnant, try to obtain Wild Alaskan Salmon which provides all the Omega 3s with none of the heavy metals. A wonderful option is the mom/baby packages available at Vital Choice Seafood which comes with Salmon fillets, burgers, halibut fillets and organic berries. There are also plenty of Omega 3 supplements available and many foods are now fortified with Omega 3s. You can also find Omega 3s in many plant sources if you are vegetarian or vegan such as:

• Flaxseed Oil
• Ground Flaxseeds
• Walnuts
• Hemp Seeds and Oil
• Marine Algaes

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/spcummings/2569503808/

“Some of the common blunders expectant moms make could increase their risk of developing serious consequences like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to the fetus.”- Fit Pregnancy

Author: Susan Hall
The decision to have a baby is a big one. You and your partner have decided the time is right or perhaps you became pregnant unintentionally and now you are trying to come to terms with the reality of pregnancy. Many things will enter your mind, but the one thing you might be overlooking is your own physical condition.

If you were to consider running a marathon you would ask yourself, “Can I run 26 miles? Unless you are already an athlete the answer will be a resounding, No! Marathon runners train constantly to stay fit enough to take part in a 26 mile 3-4 hour event. Pregnancy is like entering a marathon that takes 9 months to complete.

In an ideal situation you would go into training for pregnancy to ensure that you are fit enough to take on this wonderful marathon. Few people tackle pregnancy in such a manner. One very important thing to remember is to keep your weight within certain parameters. Underweight women may experience weight related infertility, as will those classified as obese. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) of between 20-25. Smoking has an even greater effect and can severely reduce your fertility. One vitally important measure you should take prior to and during pregnancy is to increase your daily intake of folic acid. The normal healthy diet will provide 200 micrograms, which should be increased to 600 micrograms with supplements. If taken prior to and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy it will reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida.

The prospective father should also “go into training” by sticking to a health balanced diet and reducing his alcohol intake to aid his fertility. It has been found that a zinc deficiency can result in reduced male fertility, which can be caused by high levels of alcohol consumption. Selenium is also a very important nutrient for male fertility and is found in cereals, seafood, meat, mushrooms and Brazil nuts.

Being overweight during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and child with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes being just two of the problems encountered. If you have any consideration for the health and development of your child then you absolutely must stop smoking, along with the consumption of alcohol and the reduction of caffeine intake, which reduces the body’s ability to absorb iron and other nutrients. Ideally you will stop these vices prior to conception but many pregnancies are unplanned so simply stop as soon as you confirm you are pregnant.

“…by doing exercises that strengthen the muscles supporting the uterus, women stand to experience fewer complications like backaches, ankle swelling and fatigue during pregnancy, and their bodies will be better prepared for the rigors of childbirth, too.” -WebMD.com

Weight gain during pregnancy is perfectly natural, but never use the excuse “I’m eating for two.” A total weight gain of 27 lbs during the term of pregnancy is considered ideal. Increases above this figure will not necessarily increase the baby’s birth weight but will add additional fat to your body that you may find exceptionally difficult to take off after your pregnancy.

A healthy balanced diet is essential, and your daily intake should include high fiber in the form of fruit, vegetables, grains and pasta. You can also consider dairy products including milk, yogurt and cheese for the calcium but keep in mind that many people have difficulty digesting pasteurized dairy products (including your fetus and newborn). Dairy products are not the only source of calcium so do not feel obligated to eat dairy just because you are pregnant. You could be working on a terrible case of colic after the birth.

Oily fish should be eaten twice a week, including Salmon, Mackerel, Trout and Sardines. Try to stick with certified mercury free fish such as Wild Alaskan Salmon due to the fact that mercury is a potent neurotoxin and is implicated in autism among other childhood neurological disorders. Foods to avoid or seriously reduce include sugar rich and high saturated fat baked and processed foods like cakes, biscuits, carbonated beverages and chocolate.

One benefit of the increased fiber intake of a produce rich diet is reducing the problem of constipation that is often suffered during pregnancy. Do not forget to offset any increases of fiber in your diet by proportional increase in fluid intake in the form of water and natural fruit drinks.

“I see a lot of women who feel like they have a license to eat anything and everything when they become pregnant, but doing so can cause complications for the mother and the baby.” Dr. Trester, Iparenting.com

If a balanced diet is followed some believe that it is not necessary to take any other vitamin supplements, but it is extremely difficult to meet your nutritional requirements through food sources alone even when you are not pregnant, so using a food based prenatal vitamin is essential during pregnancy. Although vitamin A is generally good for you, pregnant women should avoid too much synthetic vitamin A, which is why we always recommend a food-based prenatal vitamin. Synthetic vitamin A can build up in the mother’s liver and affect the fetus.

It is important to engage in regular, gentle exercise during your pregnancy such as prenatal yoga, pilates and daily walking. With the correct guidance you can stay in shape, produce a health baby, enjoy a shorter labor and quickly regain your body tone. Following these guidelines you should enjoy a fit not fat pregnancy. If you would like to learn more about your exercise and dietary needs before, during and after childbirth, feel free to visit my web page for further advice. Susan Hall

About the author:
Susan Hall is a UK based freelance article writer. Her main areas of interest are health and the internet. http://www.usemyinfo.com/pregnant

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/haskins/524173124/

There are a couple of points in the video that I do not agree with. I would never ingest Nutrasweet, Splenda or any other artificial sweetener while pregnant or otherwise. It is a man made, chemical that your body responds to as such. Don’t touch it while pregnant.

In addition, it is not necessary to consume cow milk to build a healthy baby. In fact, many believe that pasteurized milk is a very unnatural, harmful product to put in your body, which explains why so many people are intolerant to it. If you still feel compelled to drink milk, at a minimum only consume organic animal products while pregnant. An even better option would be to find a local, raw, organic cow or goat milk source. If you cannot find a local source for raw milk, you can purchase online from Organic Pastures. Learn more about raw milk. Sick milk comes from sick, commercially raised cows and needs to be pasteurized. Healthy milk comes from healthy, grass fed cows. Seek it out.

Lastly, be very careful eating any amount of canned tuna during pregnancy. Mercury is a neurotoxin and can cause irreversible damage to your fetus. Is that tuna sandwich really worth the risk of autism? Either get fish that is guaranteed mercury free such as Wild Alaskan Salmon or get your Omega 3 from Flaxseeds and walnuts.

Stress management during pregnancy is not just a woman’s issue. It can also be stressful for your partner just to you getting stressed out. It is only mental stress for the man, however, while you have to deal with physical and mental stress combined! Yours is a sweet, peculiar type of stress, full of anxiety and aspirations.

You are undergoing one of the life-changing, primal experiences of your life. Your body has given solace to the creative force of Nature which is working through you. At this time, what you need is support, understanding and love.

Your husband or partner should give you the utmost at this time, although they don’t always do so. It can be a great psychological boost for you when you have the full support of your husband. If this is a first pregnancy or if your other deliveries were traumatic, then you probably have anxieties about the level of pain during the delivery.

If the pregnancy is at an advanced stage, your anxiety may increase by each passing day. You need to be strong physically as well as emotionally to face the final part of the pregnancy leading to the birth of the child. From a psychological point of view, family support during this time is desperately needed by the woman. If you are a single mother or do not have supportive family, then look to friends or support groups.

Many women to attend “birth classes”. Attending such classes can give you a psychological boost by giving you confidence in the birthing process and your ability to handle it. The birthing coach will help your spouse with matters related to pregnancy and delivery.

Even before the third month of pregnancy, some couples begin attending such classes. You will be taught the advantages of the better blood flow with oxygen and how the growing baby can get more nutrients. The company of classmates can help to raise your confidence level. At some stage of the classes, you will be taught the relaxation techniques.

Eating well can help to manage your stress while pregnant. Avoid processed foods, such as chips and french fries. Not only will they make you feel less than optimal physically, but they will also pack on the guilt for feeding your baby such poor food choices. Stick with fruits, steamed veggies, mercury-free fish such as wild alaskan salmon, nuts (Walnuts), seeds (Flaxseeds) and huge salads.

The last thing you can do to manage your stress levels while pregnant is to practice deep breathing, yoga and/or meditation. Try to get time to yourself for a bath, a cup of tea or sitting in lovely cafe watching the world go by. Try to avoid TV, movies and violent, graphic, disturbing images. Enjoy your beautiful pregnancy because you will never be quite this close to your precious child again.

About the author:
Many Stress Management articles are available at for StressManagement.

Buy the Pregnancy Relaxation CD
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/kelvin255/2498430427/

by Sheryl Lyon

Are you trying to go organic during your pregnancy? You might be eating organic but what about the products you put on your skin? Just because they say natural or even organic, it certainly does not mean they are safe for you, much less for your tiny fetus. Personal care products are not regulated the same way that food items are. Please do not be naive. These products contain ingredients linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, developmentive and reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity, allergies, endocrine disruption, biochemical and cellular changes and more. The Environmental Working Group has put together a database of cosmetics, skin, hair and nail products with scores based on the toxicity of the ingredients with zero being the safest and ten the most hazardous.

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or lactating then go into your bathroom right now, grab every item that you use on your face, body or hair, bring them to your computer and go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com Type in each and every brand name and you will see exactly what you are putting into your body and your baby through your skin. Unless you are using items that you are making in your own kitchen, then the results are sure to shock you.

So here it is, the winners and losers, safest and most hazardous. You can click on any ingredient name for full details of the dangers you are exposing yourself and your baby to. If you are interested in purchasing any of the top ten you can click the product name to go directly to Amazon or visit our Natural Pregnancy Store.

The winner: Zenmomma Belly and Body Oil Mist
Score: Zero (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Almond, Jojoba and Sunflower Oils (all of which are zero concern). Also contains TOCOPHEROL

The loser: Vitabath Moisturizing Dry Oil
Score: 8 (High Hazard)
What it contains: Contains ingredients that are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity and more. Ingredients of concern: FRAGRANCE, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), D & C VIOLET 2, and BHT

Make your own: Many women simply rub straight olive, almond, jojoba or other nut/seed oil directly on their growing tummy. You know you won’t be harming your precious baby and it is much less expensive than commercially prepared products.

The winner: There is no winner in this category, only losers. The lowest score in the entire category is a six and you should not expose your fetus to more than a zero or 1.

The biggest loser: Mustela Special Maternity Lotion, Stretch Marks Intensive Action
Score: 7 (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, persistence and bioaccumulation, biochemical and cellular changes and more. Some of the ingredients of concern: CETEARETH-33, FRAGRANCE, TRIETHANOLAMINE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN and more.

Make your own: Many experts claim that there is absolutely nothing you can do about stretch marks. They happen from the inside due to stress on the skin and they are actually inside out scars. It does not hurt to try to battle these pregnancy war wounds (unless you are using commercially prepared stretch mark cream). Try unrefined cocoa butter, vitamin E capsules, shea butter and wheat germ oil. Keep your skin healthy from the inside by drinking tons of water and getting plenty of E, C and Zinc from your diet as well as your prenatal vitamin.

The winner: UV Natural Sport SPF 30+
Score: 0 (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Zinc Oxide, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Sesame, Safflower and Macadamia Nut Oils.

The loser: Coppertone Sunblock Lotion, UVA/UVB Protection, SPF15, Waterproof
Score: 7 - (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and non-reproductive organ system toxicity (among other things) OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE), OXYBENZO (BENZOPHENONE-3) and FRAGRANCE

Make your own:
Many natural health advocates including Dr. Mercola and Mike Adams, are loud and adamant detractors of sunscreen. They believe (and I agree) that the entire market is fabricated on nonsense and rather than preventing cancer, the chemicals contained in sunscreen actually cause cancer. While pregnant, please avoid putting commercial sunscreens on your skin at all costs. Yes of course you want to avoid getting sunburned but there are plenty of non-chemical ways to do that. Try wearing hats and long sleeve shirts and seeking shade. Do not spend hours baking in the sun.

Still want to use sunscreen? Check out Environmental Working Groups Best and Worst Sunscreen Lists.

The winner: Crystal Body Deodorant Spray Mist
Score: Zero(Low Hazard)
What it contains: Potassium Alum and Water

The loser: Suave Silky Smooth Antiperspirant Deodorant Invisible Solid Silk Blossom
Score: 6 (Moderate Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients are linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity and more. Ingredients of concern are: ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TRICHLOROHYDREX GLY, FRAGRANCE, BHT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-8 DISTEARATE

Make your own: Sweating is healthy and totally normal! Anything that blocks your sweat glands or inhibits this natural detoxing action is very unhealthy. Additionally, the aluminum contained in antiperspirants has been linked to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer among other things. Therefore please avoid anti persperspirants at all costs while pregnant. Being stinky does not bring a health benefit however, but there are much more natural ways to remain clean and fresh without the use of dangerous chemicals on your skin. Some people swear that a raw/vegan diet keeps them so clean they do not need deodorant or shampoo. Other people only use soap and water and never complain of body odor. In addition you can try baking soda or deodorant crystals. If you really want a stick or spray, then check out these sites for some homemade deodorant recipes. recipes 1 and recipes 2

The winner: Aubrey Organics Evening Primrose and Lavender Skin Care Bar
Score: Zero (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Lavender Oil, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Coconut Acid and Evening Primrose Oil

The loser: The Body Shop White Musk Bath and Shower Gel
Score: 9 (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients that are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity. Contains too many harmful ingredients to list, but some of top are: EUGENOL, FRAGRANCE, ISOEUGENOL, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), BENZYL ALCOHOL, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, D&C VIOLET 2, LINALOOL, GERANIOL, LIMONENE, COUMARIN, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, BUTYLPARABEN

Make your own: Mix oatmeal and yogurt, apply and rinse off for a gentle cleanser. Mix oatmeal and brown sugar for a body scrub. Try just using plain water and a washcloth every other shower unless you are playing in the mud. Visit www.pioneerthinking.com for more recipes.

The Winner: Perfect Organics Hazelnut Coffee Shea Butter
Score: Zero (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Organic Shea Butter, organic hazelnut and coffee extracts

The Loser: Neutrogena Skin Smoothing Body Lotion
Score: 10 (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, persistence and bioaccumulation, organ system toxicity, biochemical or cellular level changes. To make matters worse, they test on animals and using this product increases your risk of sunburn. Ingredients of concern: ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, FRAGRANCE, SALICYLIC ACID, OXYBENZONE (BENZOPHENONE-3), BHT, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE), DISODIUM EDTA, and SODIUM HYDROXIDE (among others).

Make your own: Just like the belly oils and stretch mark cream, you can easily make your own with any combination of vegetable or nut oils and butters. If you are laying off the toxic cleansers and other personal care products then your body should retain its natural oils and you should not need as much moisturizer.

The Winner: Toms of Maine Natural Baking Soda Toothpaste with Propolis and Myrrh
Score: 1 (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Myrrh, Water, Propolis, a Calcium Carbonate Base and Glycerin (which bumped the score to a one)

The Loser: Rembrandt Dazzling White Mint
Score: 5 - (Moderate Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients have been linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, organ system toxicity, biochemical or cellular changes (among other things). Ingredients of concern: ALUMINA, METHYLPARABEN, PAPAIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL,

Make your own: Brush your teeth with a plain brush, or dip your brush in any combination of baking soda, salt and/or hydrogen peroxide. If you really need to use a paste you can easily make your own with items available at any drugstore.

8. SHAMPOO

The Winner: Molton Brown Cassia Energy Hair and Body Wash
Score: Zero (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Calcium Oxide, Cassia (Cinnamon scent), Rosemary Oil, Lemon
Bonus: Its a combination product (shampoo and body cleanser) - so you also get to use a zero product on your body.

Winner #2: Korres Sunflower Extract and Vitamin F Shampoo
Score: Zero (Low Hazard)
Bonus: Sunflower extract is a natural color protector
What it contains: Provitamin B5, Sunflower Extract, Vitamin F, Wheat Proteins

The loser: Redken Extreme Shampoo
Score: 9- (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, persisitence and bioaccumulation, biochemical or cellular level changes and they test on animals. Ingredients of concern: FRAGRANCE, SALICYLIC ACID, LECITHIN, COCAMIDE DEA, LACTIC ACID, OLETH-10, BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZOIC ACID, TAURINE

Make your own: Believe it or not some people forego shampoo altogether. Seriously. Check it out by Googling “no poo”. Make a paste of baking soda and water and massage it into your scalp with your fingertips. Rinse with water then apple cider vinegar. You could also try rinsing with lemon juice or plain water. As with the deodorant, the closer to a raw/vegan diet you have, the less you will need chemicals to clean off the toxins that your body eliminates. You can also rinse your hair with beer or use a number of other items from your kitchen

9. CONDITIONER

The winner: Aubrey Organics- BGA Protein + Strengthening Creme Rinse
Score: 1 (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Vitamin A, TOCOPHEROL, Aloe Vera, Vitamin C, Lavender Oil, Milk Thistle Extract, Citrus Seed Extract, Coconut Acid, Almond Protein, Rosewater and Organic BlueGreen Algae.

The Loser: Matrix Biolage Daily Leave in Tonic
Score: 8 (High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, persisitence and bioaccumulation, biochemical or cellular level changes and they test on animals. Ingredients of concern: DMDM HYDANTOIN, FRAGRANCE, POLYQUATERNIUM-11, TRIETHANOLAMINE, BUTYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, OLETH-5, OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE), DISODIUM EDTA and more.

Make your own: Use any combination of raw egg, mayonnaise, avocado, olive oil, banana, coconut oil, honey, any vegetable or nut oil Visit www.pioneerthinking.com for more recipes.

The winner: Lyphazome Inside Tan
Score: 2 - (Low Hazard)
What it contains: Jojoba Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, and Shea Butter which pregnant skin loves, but it also contains a few items of concern such as LECITHIN, DIHYDROXYACETONE, DIMETHICONE,

The loser: Banana Boat Instant Sunless Tanning Lotion (Dark)
Score: 10-(High Hazard)
What it contains: Ingredients linked to cancer, developmentive/reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, biochemical or cellular level changes. Ingredients of concern: FRAGRANCE, DIHYDROXYACETONE, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM EDTA among others.

Make your own: Get 10-20 minutes of sun a day, you will feel better and get some crucial vitamin D. Pregnancy is the most important time to give up extraneous chemicals and sunless tanner is not necessary when you have that beautiful pregnancy glow. OK, maybe you don’t feel very glowy without your tanner, but is nine short months really that long to go without sunless tanner if it maintains optimal fetal development? Your baby is too precious to risk his or her health for a fake tan.

Thanks for reading! Drop a comment if you have your own recipe to recommend or a low hazard product that you just love! Maybe we will include it in the next list. Visit the Non-toxic personal care department of our Natural Pregnancy Store if you are interested in purchasing any of the items on the list.

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It is a well known fact that women must avoid drugs during their pregnancy. There are many medicines that women take which can affect the birth characteristics of the new born baby. These drugs can be common nausea drugs, antihistamines, skin medicines, and even laxatives. These drugs can cause remarkable defects in humans as well as animals. Antibiotic drugs cause many types of harmful effects in the fetus especially drugs which contain a large quantity of sulfur which can cause neo-natal jaundice. Sedatives like sleeping pills and painkillers can cause birth deficiency and buff the fetus. Antacids, if taken regularly, can cause muscle problems in the baby and edema in the mother. The different and innumerable problems that a women encounters during pregnancy can be best avoided by some herbal medicines which are safe and can be made easily.

Here are some common natural herbs that you can rely on during your pregnancy.

Seaweeds are one of the best allies for women during their pregnancy. Seaweed is rich in minerals which is known to directly counter birth defects. Align or alignic acid, which is found in abundance in many types of seaweed, has the property to absorb radioactive neucleotides and heavy metals such as mercury. When eaten by the expectant mother it reduces the probability of cancer and protects the fetus from faulty genes. Seaweed is one of the most nutritious plants known.

Red Raspberry leaves nourish pregnant women and relieve difficulties during pregnancy and birth. These benefits are related to the general well being of the expectant mother like astringent, strengthening, and nourishing powers. Raspberry leaves contain tannins which provide toning to the pelvic muscles and most importantly the uterus muscles. They also contain nourishing vitamins and minerals. The leaves contain a whole lot of vitamins like A, C, E, and B plus liberal quantity of calcium, iron, phosphorous, and potassium salts.

Stinging Nettle leaves prevent varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It is also known to ease the cramps and backaches, and increases the quantity of breast milk. A simple cup of tea made out of nettle leaves supplies amazing amounts of energy as well as huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, D, C, B and K. It averts anemia and iron deficiency. It also helps in proper digestion and acts as a strengthener to the lungs, maintains the proper functioning of the kidneys and acts as a curative to the hair and skin.

Red Clover was initially introduced as a herb to increase goats’ fertility and their milk supply. Later on it was tried on humans as well. The leaves of Red clover contain sufficient amounts of minerals, protein, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens. It actually helps the entire reproductive system. Most prominent are the total of vitamin E and the existence of selenium and zinc.

Natural and purely grown herbs have the finest supply of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are needed during pregnancy. They can be also be used for other ailments that are common during pregnancy.It is even better if the mother can do a little bit of slow motion exercise like a daily walk and some amount of stretching (prenatal yoga). Apart from all this, pure water, air and clean surroundings are also important. Loving and respectful relationships, beauty and harmony in the daily life should be a part of the life of the pregnant woman so that pregnancy is a happy moment and not a stressful time!

About the author:
Dr. Parveen Gupta writes articles on Natural Remedies, Ayurvedic Cures, Health & Beauty tips. For details, please visit his site at www.Nature-Ally.com or for any other feedback, feel free to write to him at doctor@nature-ally.com

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