Pregnancy and Perfumes

[MilkOnTap]

My fiance is a greenie and found this article which he thought was interesting. According to the GreenPeace website, perfumes and deodorants can be harmful during pregnancy. Has anyone else heard about this?

Here is a portion of the article;


Analysis of maternal and umbilical cord blood provided by volunteers in the Netherlands, published in a study entitled 'A Present for Life', reveals that known or suspected hazardous substances, present in every day household products are entering babies bodies thorugh the umbilical cord. The chemicals include some which are known to affect physical and mental development in animals.

The chemicals in question are contained in countless items ranging from food tins and electrical goods to pesticides, deodorants and toothpastes. They include artificial musks, used to add scent to perfume and perfumed products and perfluorinated compunds, used in water-repellant coatings and to prepare non-stick surfaces such as teflon. Also found were flame-retardants suspected of causing learning and behavioural problems in animals and the antibacterial agent triclosan used in antibacterial soap.

[Ffrenchstar]

Yeah, have heard about that...though I reckon they're harmful anytime! Best to steer clear IMHO :)

[razzle]

When I was pregnant I couldn't wear any perfume - the smell was too strong or something. Didn't matter which one, they all made me feel queasy. :(

[wattle]

Me too, couldn't stand the smells. Perfume was definitely out. I found scent free deoderant for me and hubby, and insisted he shaved with the bathroom fan on! :p

I lived in an apartment then and had to hold my breath in the lift often because of other women's stinky perfume. :(

[jaydensmum]

No I havent heard about that before. It's very interesting to know that certain things like perfumes can be harmful. I might go and read into this topic more, it would be a very interesting topic to look into to. If I find any more info I'll post it on here for you all.

jaydensmum. :)

[Mischief]

I had heard about that too.....but I have to wear deo or I stink by the end of the day.

I try to limit how much I use though.

As for perfume, I rarely rarely wear it, and I cant stand the smell of it on other people!

I guess everything in moderation!!!!

If you like wearing perfume and you are worried about it, you could always spray a cotton ball with some and place it in your bra or spray a little on your clothing?

[Ffrenchstar]

Have you tried the crystal deoderant sticks - they also have a spray (pump pack) one now. Bicarb is also a deoderant if you want to go there. Essential oils make great perfumes:) (some you cant use in pregnancy but most you can.)

[Honey]

Lots of things we use have some pretty toxic stuff in them. eg I'm even looking into shampoo's, cleansers, and moisturisers, at the moment to find one that is natural and safer.
The worse thing in most deoderants is amuminium but there are a few aluminium free deodorants, I even found one I like in woolworths (that works), or there is the crystal one already mentioned.

Good luck
Honey

Hiya - sorry to edit, but we would appreciate if people didn't provide links to commercial sites on the forum, where possible. We have full listings of companies supplying natural/organic baby and pregnancy products on the following page of our website:


http://www.bubhub.com.au/shopsorganics.shtml (http://www.bubhub.com.au/shopsorganics.shtml)

I didn't have some of the company that you mentioned listed there, but I'll invite them to list free of charge on the site. If I've left the company name there, I'd get grief from the companies that do list on our site. Anybody knows of any companies that we've missed off the site, please just let me know at hilary@bubhub.com.au (hilary@bubhub.com.au). They can all list free of charge on the site if they qualify.

Thanks!
Hilary

[Missus S]

Yes, I've also read how Self Tan lotion has a chemical in it which is absorbed into the blood stream.

I'm a bit bummed with summer coming up that I'll have to get around with my lily white legs :o

If anyone knows of any safe alternatives, I'd really appreciate it if you could message me.