Eco Pregnancy and Baby

We love our Teflon coated pans for their nonstick convenience. The problem is their coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) which in older pans can disintegrate into your food or gas off into the air around you. The manufacturers have created newer coated cookware made with more durable PTFE, but does that mean it’s safe — even [...]

If you’re pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or just had a baby and are breastfeeding, no doubt you’re concerned about the mercury in fish (or you should be). As both a health writer and eco-writer, I can tell you the decision you have to make about whether or not to eat fish when you’re pregnant [...]

Cultivating a garden is a delight to many, whether it’s outdoors or on your windowsill, but not when you’re breathing in chemical fertilizers and pesticides. “There’s no question that pesticide exposure to the mother means exposure to the fetus,” says Miller. “Pesticides are designed to kill living organisms, so it’s not something you want to [...]

Obstetricians consistently stress the importance of drinking fluids during pregnancy. But concerns about lead, mercury and other potential contaminants lurking in your water may have you thinking twice before reaching for the tap. Of particular concern is lead, which can cause premature birth, low birth weight and permanent damage to a baby’s developing nervous system. [...]