A Handy Health Checklist For Pregnancy

When a woman is pregnant she must not only care for the new baby’s well-being, she must be aware that she too is vulnerable to the harmful chemicals in the world. There are many toxins that are increasingly making their way into women’s bodies, wombs and breast milk. But the good news is that the mom can take care of herself and her new little one by practicing just a few steps, which will ensure a good beginning.

1. Eat organic – Eating more organic will minimize the risk of exposure to pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, nitrites and more. Switching to all natural will also provide the needed nutrients that can help reduce cancer risks and boost your overall health. Babies en utero can also develop a fondness to the foods you eat, so you are developing healthy eating habits for your little one early on. Although eating organic may be costly, it may be easier to purchase items that are usually laden with pesticides. Some of these include fruits and vegetables such as peaches, apples, strawberries, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. A good idea would be to replace one item from your list with its organic counterpart each time you go grocery shopping, so as not to feel the pain in your wallet.
2. Cotton to Organic Cotton – Conventional cotton accounts for 10 percent of the world’s pesticide use and 25 percent of insecticide use, which them makes cotton one of the most toxic crops on the earth. You can avoid this by purchasing organic cotton, linens, towels, mattress pads and mattresses. Another solution would be to wash conventional linens in non-toxic laundry solutions. Organic sheets make sense for newborns, considering they sleep at least 12 hours per day and have their little faces in close content to the sheets and beddings in their crib.
3. Natural Beauty – Choose natural or organic personal care products. Conventional brands of cosmetics and lotions contain noxious chemicals like phthalates, which have been connected to birth defects. A simple alternative would be to stay away from products that list fragrances as part of their ingredients. Instead of applying large amounts of make-up, go natural and avoid all the unnatural chemical contained in many cosmetic products. Let the natural mother-to-be glow be your make-up alternative.
4. Avoid Mercury – It is important to avoid eating fish that contain high levels of mercury. Mercury contains a potent neurotoxin that has been linked to developmental and health problems in fetuses and children under the age of 6. Some common fish that contain high levels of mercury are marlin, king mackerel, swordfish, tuna, orange roughy and tilefish. You should limit your consumption of yellowfin tuna, grouper, bluefish, canned albacore tuna and Chilean sea bass. Sushi should also be avoided while pregnant. Some of the safer fishes are shrimp, salmon, pollock and catfish. Fish contains high levels of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, so they are important, just consume in moderation.
5. Old Rules still apply – These are rules that never go out of fashion and are a must during your pregnancy. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, use illegal drugs, drink caffeinated beverages and avoid cleaning the litter box. Cat feces can contain an organism called toxoplasm, which is hazardous to pregnant women and in some cases can cause problems to the fetus. Ask others to clean the kitty box or wear rubber gloves if you must do it.
6. Renovate later – Pregnancy seems to be the perfect time to renovate your house but it is not. You must try to avoid all the toxic fumes that come from gluing, scrapping and painting. Most of today’s commercial paints still may contain hazardous volatile organic compounds although you can purchase with fewer or no volatile organic compounds are available. It is wise to leave the renovating for after the baby arrives.
7. Stay away from the weeds - While pregnant it is important to stay away from pesticides and insecticides, so as much as you want to pull those nasty weeds, stay away or have someone else do it for you. Pesticides are linked to cancer reproductive problems and a host of other problems. Avoid the weeding if you can or use natural alternatives to remove the weeds, like using your hands.
8. If it smells, stay away – If something smells horrible it usually is not good for us either. The nose knows when to stay away. Common toxins are cigarette and cigar smoke, solvents, paints, some household cleaners, bleaches, paint thinners, glue, oven cleaners, and air fresheners. It is fine to be unapologetically picky in making healthy choices. You must think of yourself and your baby and if it smells terrible, stay away.

Dr. Daisy (aka Dr. Mommy) is a Doctor of Chiropractic by profession, wife to a loving and supporting husband and home school mom to 5 beautiful children. She is a speaker, blogger and freelance writer that devotes her time to educate the public on the importance of nutrition and their health.

For more insight on her love of health and nutrition you can visit her Healthy Nutrition Hints Blog. http://healthynutritionhints.com

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