Friday, May 17, 2013

Toxins of all kinds and your surroundings.

There was a study that was mentioned in the Bradley class that was conducted be measuring the toxin levels of the blood in a baby's umbilical cord. They found an average of more than 20 different kinds of toxins, and more than 250 toxins in the umbilical cord. What kinds of toxins am I  talking about? They can vary. Here are some examples:

  • heavy metal toxicities
  • soaps
  • cleaning supplies
  • bleach
  • chlorox
  • food coloring toxicities
  • preservatives
  • pesticides
  • things from aerosol cans- spray paint, hair spray, dyes, etc.
  • varnish
  • building supplies
  • From pollution and the air
  • car exhaust.. 
  • medicines
  • drugs- even over-the-counter drugs
  • vaccinations 
  • ultrasounds??
The list can really continue on. So many of the products that we have and use on a daily basis are actually toxic to the body, and especially the body of the fetus. They can impair brain development, be one of the causes of autism, and cause speech and mental impairment. Anything we put on our body's can impact a pregnancy. It may seem overwhelming. The best thing to do is to determine a couple changes you can make to create a less toxic environment for you and you baby. 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nutrition during Pregnancy

My husband and I taking the Bradley Method classes, whichis husband coaching and other various things about pregnancy, health , and labor. We've only been to 3 classes, but we have learned so much so far. I am a pretty healthy eater, but here are some great websites for a diet a pregnant woman should be eating. What is great about the Dr. Brewer diet is that the focus of the foods that we eat can help to prevent pregnancy complications! Things from premature labor, pre-eclampsia, to HELLP. It supports my own beliefs that the foods we put in our bodies have a direct impact on our health, and if your pregnant, the fetus. One thing I appreciate about this diet is that it focuses on unrestricted weight gain. The average weight gain a pregnant woman gains is about 35-45 lbs. It makes me feel better, because then I can just focus on eating a healthy diet, which will lower my risk of pregnancy complications.
http://pregnant.livejournal.com/9425709.html
http://mamasandbabies.blogspot.com/2010/04/preeclampsia-and-toximia-preventable.html
http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/

I had a research topic, which was on High fructose Corn Syrup, also known as corn sugar. This is a chemically modified sugar, which is higher in fructose and can only be broken down in the liver. It is one of the number one foods a anyone, but especially one who is pregnant should avoid. It causes the blood sugar to spike quickly, which can cause one to be insulin resistant, increasing chances of gestational diabetes. It is in almost everything! I'm not kidding. It's in breads, condiments, salad dressings, processed foods, pasta sauces, snack foods. Its cheaper to use compared to real sugar. It can affect the fetus's development as well. You can reduce your intake of it by reading labels and avoiding HFCS. It can change a child's taste buds as well, so that it makes it harder for them to eat healthy, which can shape their whole life. So please be aware of the ingredients that you are putting in your body and your child's bodies. Make small changes and improve the health of your family today!