Many beauty products are loaded with chemicals linked to birth defects, carcinogens, and ingredients derived from nonrenewable petroleum. Even sticking to products labeled organic might not be enough, because our government doesn't regulate personal products like it does food. Read the labels carefully. If you don't recognize the name of an ingredient, it's probably something you don't want to be using.

Instead, pamper yourself with organic body scrubs and body butters. Coconut milk is great for the skin, and antioxidants such as argan oil, almond oil, and rosehip seed oil fortify the skin with essential fatty acids. Find out what's really in your cosmetics using a searchable database from Skin Deep.

 

Pesticides.

According to the March of Dimes, some research studies suggest that high levels of exposure to pesticides may contribute to miscarriage, preterm delivery, and birth defects. Pregnant women should avoid pesticides whenever possible to be on the safe side.

Instead of getting out the bug spray, switch to sticky traps and other bait stations. Also, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: Keep surfaces clean of food residue, take trash out regularly, and treat cracks where insects get in with boric acid. For more serious infestations, contact exterminators in your area to ask if they offer a green approach to pest management.

 

Guzzling water is important, but your plastic bottle might be a problem. Some types of plastics contain phthalates. There is still much we don't know about phthalates and the potential damage they may cause to developing fetuses. Initial studies have results like demasculinization, low sperm count, premature breast development in girls, shortened length of pregnancy, and the development of asthma. Gavigan, CEO and executive director of Healthy Child Healthy World.

Instead, choose smart plastics; check the bottom of bottles and use safer plastics (#1, #2, #4, #5) and avoid chasing arrows around #3, #6, and #7. Also, try not to put plastic in the microwave or the dishwasher, and don't reuse plastic bottles.

For more information about choosing better plastics, see The Smart Plastics Guide.

 

Grocery stores are stocking more organic options than ever, but how do you know what's important to get organic and what non-organic foods you can safely eat?

Prioritize your grocery list to allow for the purchase of the most commonly contaminated fruits and veggies, including peaches, apples, strawberries, spinach, bell peppers, celery, and potatoes.

 

The air inside your house is safer than outdoor air, right? Not really. Indoor air pollution is on the rise and can cause many health problems for pregnant women and young children.

A volatile organic compound (VOC) is any organic compound that readily evaporates into the air. Basically, anything that has a synthetic odor should be avoided. This includes new conventional carpet, conventional household cleansers, and new vinyl shower curtains.

Instead, purchase green alternatives or at least air things out before bringing them indoors. Also, avoid using air fresheners, which have been associated with diarrhea and earache in infants and headaches and depression in mothers, according to a study published in the October 2003 Archives of Environmental Health.

 

Phthalates show up in all kinds of health and body products, as fragrance and an oily component that helps to penetrate the skin. The problem is that increasing numbers of doctors are concerned about the negative effects of phthalates. Various members of this family of chemical plasticizers have been shown to cause cancer and birth defects in lab animals.

Phthalates often hide behind the term "fragrance", so pregnant women should avoid perfume. Select organic personal products that are labeled "fragrance-free" or that are scented only with pure essential oils.

 

Long before the nesting urge has you cleaning the house from top to bottom, it's prudent to examine what products you use to clean. Look for signal words and avoid things labeled with [words] stronger than 'caution,' like 'flammable,' 'fatal if swallowed,' and 'hazardous'. Dispose of anything in those categories in a hazardous household waste pickup.

Instead, it's possible to make your own non-toxic cleaners using things you probably already have around the house.

 

Pampering weary feet with a pedicure may seem like a great idea; however, endocrine-disrupting phthalates show up in nail polishes. Known to have caused birth defects in lab animals, especially in the reproductive systems of boys, phthalates should be avoided.

Dr. Sarah Janssen, MD, PhD, MPH, and science fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council says that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has measured breakdown products of phthalates in over 95 percent of US citizens ranging in age from six to over 65. "This indicates there is widespread exposure in vulnerable populations including developing children and women of reproductive age," says Dr. Janssen. So instead of painting on nasty chemicals that could harm you or your baby, forgo the paint, indulging in a foot massage, instead. Or, buy one of the nail polishes that tested phthalate free.

 

Nearly all canned food contains small amounts of a controversial chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA). While there is still some controversy about the risks associated with BPA, many researchers involved in animal tests argue that BPA may mimic the same hormonal response as estrogen, and exposure to BPA in the womb raises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility, and could contribute to childhood behavioral problems such as hyperactivity.

BPA also shows up in polycarbonate water bottles and has been shown to leach into liquids in these bottles, according to Dr. Janssen.

To limit your exposure to BPA, choose soups, milk, and soy milk packaged in cardboard brick cartons, which are made of safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) and are also recyclable.

An even better approach: eat fresh foods in season and save the canned foods for convenience or emergencies. As for the water bottles, Dr. Janssen recommends using an unlined stainless steel water bottle filled with tap water.

 

The nursery needs to be prepared, but you shouldn't be the one doing the work. Enlist your partner or friends to prime and paint the walls. The chemicals and fumes in paint are volatile organic compounds and shouldn't be near you or young children.

Lots of no- or low-VOC paint, stains, and varnishes are on the market. Even when these safer products are used, pregnant women should stay away during renovations.