Toxic chemicals finding their way into the womb

CNN ^ | 6-3-10 | Stephanie Smith

[mlizzy]

Five years ago Molly and Zachery Gray were in the midst of a dark, lonely spiral. It began with Molly's first miscarriage. "It was a really emotional process of being so joyful and so happy and ready to make that step into parenthood and that being pulled away from you," said Molly, 32. "[The pregnancy is] happening and all of a sudden it's gone. It's really hard." After a second miscarriage the Grays were on a desperate hunt for answers. After Molly got pregnant a third time, she heard about a small study to test the blood of pregnant women for chemicals. She signed up. The Grays wondered, as many do, if chemicals in the environment could be to blame. The science on this matter cannot yet give them an answer. A growing number of studies are finding hundreds of toxic chemicals in mothers' and, subsequently, their babies' bodies when they are born. While there is no science yet that demonstrates conclusive cause and effect between this mix of toxic chemicals children are born with and particular health problems, a range of studies are finding associations between elevated levels of chemicals in a baby's body and their development.

[mlizzy]

While studies continue about potential health risks to children from chemicals, experts suggest ways to protect them from potential toxics, ranging from incorporating organic food into their diet, to keeping the home relatively dust-free (many toxic chemicals are conveyed in dust), to avoiding using toxic chemicals found in common household products.

[Buckeye McFrog]

yeah, they are being injected in there by abortionists

[Spudx7]

After my oldest was born, I started using less chemicals to clean with and more of the natural personal care items (as our budget allows). This is just anecdotal...but my oldest is the only one to suffer from any medical conditions and it's more than one. He is allergic to almost everything—trees, grasses, weeds, molds, cats and dogs. When they did the patch test on his back, he had a strong reaction to 30 of the 36 allergens, poor kid. He also has asthma and mild ADD. Our other kids haven't been to the doctor in years. Sometimes I wonder if I did something wrong while pregnant with my oldest, life is just harder for him in many ways. There is no way of knowing, but a mother's feelings of guilt don't require any proof!

[Obadiah]

Not sure what to make of all this. There does seem to be a skyrocketing number of kids with autism and allergies to common foods, all of which was scarcely heard of as I was growing up. Not sure if this envirmentalist/CDC type scare, whether people are too clean and germ free, or whether it’s all unrelated.

My wife grew up on a farm and I recall being somewhat astonished by her childhood home. Despite great efforts to keep a clean home they nonetheless endured lots of flies in their house and tracked up floors (think dirt, manure, etc.) My wife even tells me on cold winter nights they’d bring small farm animals into the house for care. All this and, thankfully, we have three healthy children.

Anecdotal? Yes, hence the confusing nature of what meaning any environmental impact has on us and our children.

[mlizzy]

I hear you!! I consumed a plentitude of sugar with my first, and with my second too, until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. At that point, I did a turnaround in my diet, but both sons had some difficulty in school with hyperactivity/attention/allergy issues. We went on to have two more children, but my diet was pristine at the onset (concerned over the diabetes), and they are honor students, excelling in most sports they play. They also are extroverted (overly social?!). Did my diet have anything to do with it? To me, I think it may have. My diet now is “organic” (when possible), and as a family we’ve dumped most ALL the chemicals via cleaning products, shampoos, etc. and our kids have picked up on these positives (our 2nd is now an extreme health-nut), but our first still battles that “sugar-jones” I passed along to him. Our family now sees holistic physicians first, before going to our family doctor if necessary, and I use acupuncture (with great success!) for the guilt *smiles* ...

[mlizzy]

Good story. I had a friend whose house always either smelled like bleach, 409, Fantastic, Sparkle, Windex, toilet bowl cleaner, and/or that dreaded Bounce fabric softener. The place was gorgeous, but just about made me gag (I was having issues with toxin build-up at the time). She would remark that our kids weren’t as sick as hers in general. I joked that her house was too clean, but when I think about it now, it was probably all those chemicals ...

[goat granny]

There are several commercials for cleaners on TV that how all kinds of imaginary bugs and worms crawling on the phone and all over the house, just use our product and they will all go away....yikes, no wonder women use chemicals all over the house, look at what the commericial tell you is on everything in the home....gross you out, but all just so much pap and lies to sell a product..