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PRENATALENVIRONMENTALHEALTHASSESSMENT-WISCONSINENVIRONMENTALHEALTHNETWORK Before,during,andafterpregnancy,womenareexposedtomanychemicalsthatmayaffectthegrowingfetus. FOODandWATER INFORMATION&ADVICE Freshfruitsandvegetablesareimportantforahealthydiet.When possible,buyorganicandantibiotic-freefruits,veggies,dairyandmeat. Pesticidescancauseproblemswithyourabilitytohaveababy, Fruitsandvegetables specificallymiscarriage&somebirthdefects. Fishishealthyforyou;trytoeatupto2mealsperweekthatarelowin mercury,suchasPollock,tilapia,andsalmon.Buylighttuna,not albacore.Somefish(shark,swordfish,kingmackerelortilefish)arevery highinmercury,whichcancauseproblemswithyourbaby’sbrain Fish development. Useglassforstorageandmicrowavingwhenpossible.Trytobuy fresh/frozenfoodsinsteadofcanned.Breastfeedbabieswhenpossible. CannedfoodlinersandsomeplasticscontainBPA.BPAisachemical Cookingandstoringinplastic thatinterfereswithhormonesinthebody.Donotmicrowaveinplastic, Cannedfood orwashindishwasher.Don’treusedisposableplastic. Importedpotteryorceramics–alsoclay,dirt,andpaintchips–may containlead.Leadcandamagethebrainandnerves,andincreasethe riskofmiscarriage,stillbirthandlowbirthweight.Eatfoodsrichiniron (leanredmeats,chicken),calcium(dairyandleafygreenveggies),and vitaminC(oranges,grapefruits,tomatoes,andgreenpeppers). UsecastironcookwareinsteadofTeflon.Teflonismadefroma chemical(PFOA)thathasbeenlinkedtoinabilitytohaveababy. Wellwatershouldbetestedfornitratesandbacteria,whichcanmake pregnantwomenandbabiessick. Cookwareanddishes Wellwater PERSONAL Smokingandvaping INFORMATION&ADVICE Talktoyourdoctoraboutquittingsmoking.Smokechemicalscanharm thegrowingbaby:lowbirthweight,asthma,and/orlearningproblems. Useregularsoaporhandgels.Avoidantibacterialproductsthatcontain triclosan,whichpromotes"superbacteria"andhashormonaleffects. Antibacterial Personalhygiene Clothingandlinens Toxichomeremedies Artificialfragrancesandotherchemicalsinsoaps,lotions,shampoosand otherpersonalproductsarelinkedtoreproductiveproblems,asthma, skinirritation,andcancer.Buynaturalorchemical-freewhenyoucan. Washnewclothing,towelsandsheetsbeforeusingthem.Usegreendry cleanerswhenpossible,oravoiddrycleaningclothes.Chemicalson theseitemsmayreduceyourabilitytohaveababy,causeearlydelivery orstillbirth,affectyournerves,andincreaseyourriskforcancer. Donotusetheseremedies.Askyourdoctoraboutalternativesto azarcon,gretaorpay-loo-ah,andremediesthatcontainmercuryor mercurio.Theseitemsmaycontainheavymetalssuchasleador mercury.Leadcancausedamagetothebrainandnerves,italso increasestheriskofmiscarriage,stillbirthandlowbirthweight. HOMEandWORK Smokesafety Pesticidesinsideandout Olderhomesand homeimprovements Cleaningsupplies Airfresheners Plastic Mercury INFORMATION&ADVICE Getadetectorforbothsmokeandcarbonmonoxide,oraskyourlandlord. Makesuregasstovesandfireplacesareworkingproperlyandarewell ventilated.Smokedetectorsareveryimportantforpreventingsmoke inhalationandburns.Carbonmonoxideisaninvisiblegasthatisvery harmful. Pesticidesaredangerousforwomen,babies,andchildren.Theycanmake ithardtohaveababy;causemiscarriage,birthdefects,learning disabilities,andevencancers. Pipesandpaintinsomeolderhomesmaincontainlead,leadcancause damagetothebrainandnerves.Italsoincreasestheriskofmiscarriage, stillbirthandlowbirthweight. Dustfrompaintandbuildingmaterialscancontainleadandothertoxins thatcancausebreathingproblems.Chooselow-VOCpaints. Radonisacancer-causinggasthatcanbefoundinbasements.Youcan purchaseatestkitatahardwarestore. Strongcleaningchemicals,andotherproductswithstrongscentslikeair fresheners,oftencontainphthalatesthatcancausehealthproblems,such asthyroidproblems,cancer,lowbirthweightandinfertility.Avoidstrong smellingchemicalsandusealternativestoairfresheners. ChoosePVC-freeplasticmaterialswhenyoucan,orusealternativessuch ascloth.PVCplastic(showercurtains,windowclings,sometoysand teethingrings)mightcontaincertainchemicalsthatcancausecancerand birthdefects. UseLEDlightswhenpossible.Takecautionwhencleaningupabroken mercurylightbulboraskyourlandlordtodoit.Useelectronic thermometerswhenpossible.Mercuryexposurecancauseproblemswith howthebaby’sbrainandnervesdevelop.Compactfluorescentlightbulbs containmercury. Formoreinformationandresources,gotoWEHNonline.org/prenatal andtalktoyourhealthcareprofessional