A Guide to Personal Care Products & Pregnancy
Whilst there is an abundance of information regarding foods to avoid during pregnancy, there lot of confusion around what women should be using on their bodies. This is equally important given we can absorb approximately 60% of what we put on our skin and given the placenta is not the barrier we once thought.
Over 287 chemicals have been found in the umbilical cords of babies, associated with chemicals being used by mum either in her personal care or household cleaning products. Women can use an average of 168 chemicals including reproductive and developmental toxins and they are found in the average of 12 personal care products women use daily. Many women will use a lot more than the average of 12 products!
Some of the documented effects associated with toxins absorbed my mum during pregnancy include pre-term birth, low birth weight, developmental delays and altered gene expression.
Whilst clinical evidence regarding the effects of various personal care ingredients on developing foetuses is lacking, I always advice that women err on the side of caution to choose the safer option when it comes to personal care products. After all, making a few sacrifices for nine months is not at all a burden if the reward is a healthy and happy baby. Furthermore, we are fortunate to have so many beautiful natural and toxin-free products available to us.
Use the below as a guide to making healthy personal care product choices for you and your bubba.
Anna Mitsios
Anna is a certified naturopath and nutritionist and founder of leading Australian natural skincare and wellness company, Edible Beauty Australia. Anna has been featured in various publications including Mind Body Green, Women’s Health and Allure. She is committed to the natural transformation of her client’s skin using proven botanicals, nutrients and herbal formulations, both on the inside and out.
Anna’s career began in the corporate sector, where she specialised in corporate finance and private banking for over ten years working in Sydney and New York for a large Australian bank. Anna’s career change was sparked by her own health journey, following a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at 18 years of age. Her diagnosis triggered her intense study of botanicals and nutrition to manage auto-immune condition and assist others in attaining optimal health. Anna’s naturopathy career has included working as a naturopath within a reputable natural fertility clinic in Sydney, within a pharmacy and health food store and running her own naturopathy practice.
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