Chemical exposure during pregnancy

Whether you're a first time mom - or an experienced pro - it never hurts to make changes to your lifestyle during your pregnancy. There are simple and effective ways to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible while you are pregnant. Here are some ideas that can help you to get started right away.

When you come to think with it, we are exposed to several chemicals each day, from food and beverages, cleaning products and even wellness and beauty items. This may not normally be a concern for most people but when you are pregnant, you will start to ponder if these chemicals will not cause complications on your pregnancy.

Fortunately, exposure to chemicals that may pose risk to pregnancy can be avoided. Only a minimal of our household items could be avoided without affecting our daily lives and some of these are cosmetics and makeup items, cleaning products, pesticides and herbicides and mercury-positive items.

Cosmetics and makeup items. Pregnancy makes most women feel that they are less pretty than they use to be with bulges everywhere in the body, not to mention having stretch marks, darkening of the underarm and the neck and some women may also suffer from oily faces. All of this sufferings will only end after the 9-month period of pregnancy. In order to make women feel better, some would resort into indulging themselves with cosmetics and makeup items. However, some may not be aware that while these items may save the day to make you look good and feel good, these can pose danger to pregnancy. Some cosmetic items contain Parabens, Phthalates, and other Parfum identities that can cause premature birth, miscarriages and sperm damage. In addition, allergies may also manifest while using these.

Cleaning items. Whether a pregnant woman is in the house or not, maintaining cleanliness is important in the household. This is why cleaning items should never be missed when you went to the grocery and replenish your stocks for the house. However, it is crucial that when you are expecting, you should avoid as much as possible any contact with cleaning items. While you may not be aware, some cleaning products may contain Triclosan, alkylphenol ethoxylates, volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Xylenes and Tuolene are examples of VOC that can result to retarded growth, birth defects, developmental and neurological problems to the baby while inside the womb. Meanwhile, alkylphenol ethoxylates are known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with, mimic or block human hormones. This chemical can be found on hair colors, spot removers and other hair care products.

Paints. Most paints that have been manufactured before 1970s contains lead. Pregnant women must refrain from peeling off paints that may contain lead. Also there are paints that may have presence of mercury.

Mercury exposure. Mercury is a type of metal that can exist in various forms. It exists in thermometer, in dental fillings, latex paints and batteries. Pregnant women should avoid being exposed to this. Moreover, there are foods that have high risk of mercury exposure and some are mackerel and tuna. Eating this foods should be done to minimal so as to avoid possible pregnancy complications.

There's nothing more important to your baby than a healthy mom! So be sure to make it a priority to concentrate on making the best choices to benefit both your baby and yourself especially during pregnancy. There is no substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, but the information above can give you some good ideas for keeping you and baby healthy.