WHAT EVERY PREGNANT WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS( SOAPS,COSMETICS,ETC.)

The cosmetics and personal care product choices that woman make during pregnancy are important to not only them, but to the health of their developing child,as well.It has become increasing clear that some of the behavioral and health problems that we see in children and adults today are the result of prenatal exposure to chemical toxins. These effects may show up rather soon in the child's life,(such as childhood cancer,hyperactivity,to name a few),but may also show up years later when they enter adulthood,(As with testicular or prostate cancer or benign enlarged prostate).If you are pregnant or about to become pregnant, this info is critical.

Recently,medical researchers from Denmark and the United Kingdom,have reported that some of the most common detergents,wetting agents,and preservatives used in cosmetics and household cleaning products act much like the female hormone estrogen once in the human body;these chemicals,known as xenoestrogens,are strongly suspected of disrupting the normal hormonal processes of both sexes.In young boys, who are exposed to these chemicals before puberty, they may cause a statistically marked increased risk for birth defects and reproductive abnormalities.It is also suspected that these same feminizing chemicals ultimately may be related to the proliferation of mature men's sexual problems,particularly enlarged prostate syndrome,infertility, and testicular cancer.

The Danish study was intially met with skepticism,but researchers in Belgium, France, and Scotland have obtained similar results.Pediatricians are increasingly reporting appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in young female babies, as young as two,including growth of pubic hair and devolpement of ovarian cysts.The average age now for the onset of menarche,menstruation,is 13.In the 18'th century it was 17.

The implications of these studies is important.Greater estrogen exposure mean an increased lifetime risk for women of reproductive cancers,including those of the breasts,ovaries,and uterus.Cosmetic and personal care products with xenoestrogens that are used during pregnancy may be partially responsible to these disturbing reproductive abnormalities in both sexes.The most influential or toxic exposures to these chemicals occur prenatally when the developing child's cell growth is rapid and cells are extremely sensitive to even minute alterations of the hormonal environment.They can also become imprinted,hypersensitized, to future estrogenic exposures.

You may not suspect that such chemicals are routinely added to cosmetics.But they are.For example,commonly used perservatives called PARABENS,(NAMELY,METHYL,ETHYL,PROPYL,and BUTYLPARABEN),have been idenitified as xenoestrogens.
Another one which is widely used as an antioxidant preservative in foundations and other personal care products is BUTYLATED HYDROXYANISOLE,(BHA).A close relative of BHA,used far more extensively,is BHT(BUTYLATED HYDROXYTLUENE).
OTHER DANGEROUS CHEMICALS TO STAY AWAY FROM ARE: DIMETHYL,DIETHYL,and DIBUTYL PHTHALATES.All are used in cosmetics as plasticizers,solvents,and perfume fixatives. Many are also used in your everyday soaps and household cleaners. In studies, they were linked to reduction in daily sperm count and reduction in mean testicular size.For females, it can cause premature breast devolpement.

So, the safest thing to do is avoid cosmetics during pregnancy,but if you just have to wear make-up, purchase it at a reliable health food store.But, Read the Labels! Sometimes even the health food stores are not completely aware of everthing that goes into the products that they order.I shockingly found BHT in a "supposedly" natural soap product.Educate Yourselves!Your Health, and the health of your children, is your responsibility!

You might also want to check out my page(s) on "Infertility" and "What's in Your Soap and Bath Products".
They contain very important info for a "Mother" and/or "Mother-to-be".