WARNING -- You're not going to like this post. Especially if you are pregnant or are planning to be pregnant sometime in the future.
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| Photo by Petr Kratochvil |
Exposure to magnetic fields (i.e. microwaves, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, fluorescent lights/CFLs, cell phones and other wireless devices) is a risky business during pregnancy. While you wouldn't even consider lighting up a cigarette or downing a bloody Mary, you wouldn't think twice about propping your laptop across your lap and playing Words with Friends or uploading your vacation pictures to Facebook. Right?
Well, an increased risk for miscarriage is just one of the reasons why you just might want to change your routine. For the safety of your little one, consider cooking your food the conventional way, and, gasp, ditch your cellphone for 9 months or so and pick up an old-fashioned wired phone. I warned you you wouldn't like this post.
In addition to the miscarriage risk, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente reported in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, children exposed to magnetic fields while in the womb have an increased risk of developing asthma.
The above studies may be a bit of old news, but new research by De-Kun Li, a perinatal epidemiologist with the Kaiser Permanente reveals another risk to infants in the womb -- childhood obesity! It appears as though a high EMF exposure can increase your child's chance of obesity by up to 84 percent!! Low to medium exposure results in a 50 percent higher probability. This is not good news for the current crop of youngsters growing up in today's electronic society.
"EMF exposure during pregnancy could impact the fetal development,
including endocrine and metabolic systems, predisposing offspring to
higher risk of obesity," Dr. Li said.
So, all this time we've been blaming McDonald's and sugary drinks... perhaps there's more to it than that. For the health of your future little ones, consider the research and choose wisely.
For more information, check out Scientific Reports, where the study is published.
This is really fascinating. :) Besides the obvious (laptop, cell phone, microwave), what other 'every day' sort of items do we encounter that emit EMF waves?
ReplyDeleteLike I mentioned -- CFLs and other fluorescent lights, hairdryers, vacuum cleaners, etc. This link might help: http://www.safespaceprotection.com/electrostress-from-home-appliances.aspx
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting and all, but there's only so much a person can do in today's world. I don't keep my laptop across my lap, but it is nearby sometimes. I have a cell phone, but I don't keep it on me and I hardly ever use it. I microwave leftovers. I sometimes vacuum. I don't blow dry my hair. Doing the best I can here. My other kids all seem to be doing alright, so I'll leave it in God's hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you wrote about this! I was VERY mindful of avoiding EMF waves while pregnant with both my kids. With my 2nd, I opted out of most ultrasounds, too (I have awesome midwives who let me make most of the decisions about ultrasounds unless the baby's health was at risk). Call me in 15 years - I'll let you know (with my oh-so-scientific sample of 2) - whether or not they are obese. My hunch is they won't be. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be reviewing a new item soon called the Defender Pad. Watch for the review/giveaway. It's a product that protects you from the magnetic fields, etc. from your laptop.
DeleteAdmin, if not okay please remove!
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www.teespring.com/prostate-cancer-research
Thanks