3 posts tagged “uk”

Spelt Snake Maternity Pillows and Breastfeeding Moons

Pregnancy is a joyous time but can also be physically demanding! As your baby grows, your posture will inevitably change to compensate for the baby’s weight. Getting out of bed, picking things up, doing exercise and getting some sleep all need to be renegotiated. Clever organic pillows can be a world of help, doubling up to snuggle baby in later.

Pillows are a must for support during pregnancy. Organic maternity pillows are versatile and practical without being pumped full of petrochemical synthetic products to keep their shape. The spelt fillings sound and smell naturally therapeutic too. Women used to sleeping on their backs before pregnancy will suddenly find that it’s not such a good idea to lie on their back for long periods as it will restrict blood flow and may end up causing faintness. The best position to be in is on your side (as this increases the blood flow to your placenta) with a pillow or two placed between your knees and another under your bump. Alternatively you can use a sausage shaped organic maternity pillow from Made in Water, which means you only need one pillow to reposition, making it easier to turn over. The Spelt Snake organic Maternity Pillow will also support you whilst sitting in bed when the hollow of your back will need support. The uses don’t stop there, as it can be rolled into a baby nest with a clever lambswool cover on for making a soft a cosy pod for baby to lie in - all in all a very versatile pillow!

Breastfeeding can also put a strain on your back. Without adequate support behind your back and under baby, you can end up unduly hunched over especially if you are tired and feeding through the night. If you are feeding baby lying down in the night the spelt snake organic maternity pillow can be used to prevent baby from rolling off the bed (although it’s not advised for baby to sleep in bed with you, it can be used as a temporary precaution). If you prefer to breastfeed whilst sitting up, then organic pillows such as the moon shaped Lambswool Nursing Pillow will help you to sit up straight whilst feeding, preventing backstrain. The moon shaped pillow is not as bulky as the maternity pillows and shapes around your body easily. By placing baby on the pillow to breastfeed, baby will be raised to meet your breast so you don’t have to hunch.

Back care should continue after pregnancy. Ligaments are more pliable during pregnancy so heavy lifting should be avoided. Toddlers don’t always understand this! Neither do we all have a butler to carry home our shopping! Get toddlers to climb onto a chair or sofa before you pick them up and divide your groceries into even weights for carrying one bag in each hand. If you do need to lift something the ideal lift position is to bend from the knees into a squatting position (without twisting and not from the back) and hold the object being lifted close to you as you then stand and straighten up.

Regular exercise during pregnancy can help you maintain fitness and strengthen back and pelvic muscles ready for childbirth. Gentle swimming, walking, cycling, aqua natal classes, pilates and yoga classes are excellent choices. Yoga and pilates will help calm everyday stresses and strengthen core muscle groups. Yoga especially will help you bond with baby and teaches useful birthing techniques. Try reputable and specifically trained organisations such as Birthlight yoga for classes in your area. With all forms of exercise, make sure your teacher is qualified and has experience.

After pregnancy all these forms of exercises can help get your body back into shape without causing undue strain. It takes time for the body to recover after childbirth, although in Western cultures many women are up and about immediately, usually due to lack of help and support. In Eastern traditions, women are encouraged to let their body heal properly before they take on undue strain. Mothers are also encouraged to eat pure traditional mixes of foods that are considered warming for the body, such as dates, gram flour, raisins, cardamoms and nuts. Cleaning and household chores are handed to other family members, which also avoids unnecessary exposure to chemicals during lactation. Body massage is also considered an important part of healing, whilst gentle yoga helps mother’s body return to full strength.

All products available at www.buyOrganics.co.uk The Organic Lifestyle Store for Shopping as it Should be!

The last fifty years have seen a massive explosion in the introduction of toxic chemicals into our environment. These chemicals were originally intended to enhance our lifestyles. Why then are we left wondering if instead of enhancing our lives, we have actually been polluting our bodies, our reproductive health, as well as our children's health rather than enhancing it?

Just looking back to my mothers childhood brings home how recent all the synthetic chemical revolution really is. My mother grew up with traditional medicines and home remedies, natural and organic skin care without the need for parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals and such. I myself remember being a teenager and being marketed to that all that stuff was old fashioned and that the new latest products were best for our skin. ! It is to my mother that I now turn again, to learn the secrets of time tested effective recipes to dye my hair, to treat dry skin and go back to a simpler healthier way of living.

The truth is that, today, more than 70,000 synthetic chemicals are used commercially and approximately a thousand more new chemicals are introduced into our environment each year. It's hard to know exactly how many of these chemicals are actually harmful environmental toxins that may damage our general and reproductive health, and the health of our children. This is especially true when we consider the fact that only a handful of these potential environmental toxins have been adequately tested to determine their effect on humans and other forms of life.

The effect of toxins in our environment on men, women and children

Dioxins are a part of a group of 219 chemicals. Exposure to them is a key factor in the development of many cancers and other reproductive health problems such as endometriosis and fertility problems. Reproductive health problems for women seem to be increasing and more prevalent than before. Birth defects in newborns can often be traced to the mother's environment during pregnancy. Our children therefore are left to face enormous health risks because of the toxins that pregnant and pre – pregnant men and women face in their environment. Women and children are not the only ones at risk. Men’s fertility and reproductive health is also greatly at risk due to toxins in our environment.

• The incidence of endometriosis is at almost epidemic proportions in some places. This may be due to exposure of women to ovarian steroids, dioxins and chlorinated phenols. Research is underway to further understand how dioxins act as endocrine disruptors.
• Breast and ovarian cancer rates have increased.
• Women whose work exposes them to solvents experience a higher than normal rate of spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.
• Maternal exposure to toluene (used in glues, coatings, inks, and paint) causes birth defects.
• Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be responsible for a 400 percent increase in ectopic or tubal pregnancies between the years of 1970 and 1987 alone
• Adolescents many times experience a delay in the onset of puberty due to the influence of exposure to environmental toxins.
• Men have experienced a 50 percent reduction in sperm count during the last fifty years.
• Studies of the umbilical cords of newborns revealed the presence of approximately 100 synthetic chemicals.
• Heart palpitations, insomnia, night sweats, and hormonal imbalances are signs of exposure to environmental toxins.
• Excessive fatigue and other unexplained flu-like symptoms can be triggered by toxic chemicals in our environment.
• People who are prone to headaches may find the root of their headaches is exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Unusual skin rashes, swollen glands, digestive problems, nausea, and diarrhoea may be related to toxic poisoning.
• The incidence of illness with symptoms of muscle and joint pain such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia) has increased.
• Several chemicals contribute to the development of heart disease.
• Irritability, aggression, learning disabilities, and behaviour disorders occur at alarming rates and may be related to chemical exposure during pregnancy, as well as after birth.
• Impaired memory and concentration, auditory and visual perception, in some cases, is linked to excessive exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Onset of allergies, asthma, food, chemical, and noise intolerance can be traced to acute or chronic exposure to poisons.
• A child complaining of stinging pain in their stomach is often a complaint due to exposure to environmental toxins.
• General increase of the symptoms of any existing conditions could be related to toxic exposures.

The Unavoidable Truth

Environmental toxins are present in our lives everyday in a variety of ways that depend on several factors; where we live and our everyday exposure to toxic landfills, overhead power cables, and noxious air from incineration plants. They are in the air you breathe, the food you eat, water, buildings, pesticides, and consumer products such as skin care and household cleaning products. They are also the by products of industry such as the incineration of municipal, medical, and industrial waste; chlorine-bleaching processes for paper; pesticide production; metal smelting methods; and the manufacture of other household and industrial chemicals.
Plastics contain xenoestrogens which can have devastating effects on your body's oestrogen receptors. Plastic containers, plastic food wrap, plastic soda bottles, and other plastics such as Styrofoam and vinyl products, can release chemical toxins into your food merely by the fact that the plastic has touched the food, or by microwaving in containers that have not been produced to withstand the extreme heat of a microwave oven. Never reuse butter or margarine containers, or containers that other foods such as non-dairy whipped toppings come in to microwave foods. These containers are not manufactured to withstand the high heats of microwaving. Microwaving in such containers causes a chemical breakdown and releases toxic chemicals into your food.

How Can you Protect Yourself?

Not everyone responds to each of these chemicals in the same way. Various factors play a key role in determining who is adversely affected, and which of us are not susceptible to the consequences caused by environmental toxins. These factors include age, gender, our location, and the overall state of our health. A few guidelines to follow are:
• Limit your exposure to toxic chemicals by knowing what is in the products you buy for yourself and family. Avoid products with phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, triclosan, phenols, dioxins and such. Read up more on what to avoid at buyOrganics quick info page on organic skin care
• Buy organic fruits and vegetables, meats, and dairy products as much as possible.
• Limit your use of products (toilet paper, tampons, and other paper products) which have been through a chlorine process to whiten the product. Use non chlorine bleached where possible. Use Natracare sanitary products as available from buyOrganics which are intimately closer to your skin and hence safer.
• Limit your exposure to plastic products.
• Use organic pesticides and encourage your neighbours to do the same.
• Use toxin free products in your home, such as environmentally friendly non toxic cleaning products such as Ecover, Method, Bio-d etc
• Use organic skincare and body care products wherever possible such as Spiezia, Miessence, Green People, Earthbound, Eselle, Ecosoapia and Essential Care, all of which are available at buyOrganics
• Switch to an organic underarm deodorant.
• The above is especially true if you are pregnant or planning on starting a family.
• Fit a good quality whole house water filter in your home
• Buy natural home furnishings rather than chipboards and nylon carpets which may contain an array of chemicals that we are not even aware of.
• When decorating use low solvent paints such as Auro paints available at buyOrganics
• When buying a mattress, consider buying an organic mattress by Abaca or Prolana, which will instantly remove your exposure to harmful chemicals exposed to when you and your children are sleeping. These are also available at buyOrganics
• Empty out your makeup bag and throw away all your old makeup. Red lipsticks may contain lead and some mascara has been found to contain mercury. Switch to organic brands such as Miessence sold by buyOrganics and approved by www.safecosmetics.co.uk . Or Nvey Eco, buyOrganics latest brand is a professional range of makeup equivalent to top high street brands.

Find out what environmental hazardous waste producers operate in your area. If you feel that the amount of hazardous waste exposure in your area is unacceptable, take action by writing to your local mp and demanding that the practice of releasing hazardous wastes into your environment stop.
buyOrganics stock a wide range of safe personal care products such as organic skin care and body care, non toxic underarm deodorant, Natracare products, and organic cotton clothing and maternity wear that means that the most intimate layers next to your body and your children’s bodies are safe.

www.buyOrganics.co.uk. The Organic Lifestyle Store

Well Christmas is over and expecting parents will have nothing more on their mind than preparing their home and creating a safe, friendly and inviting nursery for baby. Increasingly for many people the choices that will top the list are natural and organic products and accessories.

In fact statistics show that most people turn to green and eco friendly products, organic foods, and organic and natural cosmetics and toiletries during pregnancy. It is the time that your child is most vulnerable and needs the greatest care from all the toxins that surround us.

From organic cot mattresses to green natural paint, this is the time when buyOrganics finds that most people are buying organic paints and bed linens, organic cot mattresses and natural paints for their much awaited babys' nursery. So here’s a little low down on what to buy.

The Organic verses Non Organic Cot Mattress debate

The biggest must have is an organic cot mattress! The reason to buy an Organic cot mattress for your new baby is Chemicals! Some of the materials used to make synthetic mattresses include: Bromulated flame retardants, polyurethane, foam, polyester, plastic, and formaldehyde. Most of these are petrochemical based. Alan Greene, author of 'Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care', stresses that your baby will sleep on their mattress for more than 12 hours a day "The first thing I would choose is an organic cot mattress because a baby's face is so close to the mattress all day." It’s a must have item.

Abaca’s Organic cot mattresses are not only free of chemicals, but also certified organic by the Soil Association and made in Wales, thereby keeping travelling miles down to a minimum. The Abaca cot mattress is buyOrganics best selling cot mattress and the best choice for baby and are completely fire safety approved.

Organic cotton bedding, blankets, and sheets are preferable again as babies face and body is often closest to the bedding also. Organic cotton bedding will not carry any pesticide residues and any Azo dyes which may cause allergies.

Decor

Greene also suggests using low volatile oil paints or something that doesn’t have a lot of solvents in it. Organic paint is a near impossible creation, however buy Organics recommends using Auro natural paints. Auro natural paints are based on natural ingredients and plant and mineral pigments. Their use of natural and plant based ingredients means that allergy sufferers and people who are chemically sensitive are more able to tolerate Auro products. Greene suggests

"If there's construction going on in your house, mothers-to-be should probably move out during that time," he said. "Also, use low-volatile oil content paints. The paint doesn't have as much solvents, it's easy to find, and it’s only about five percent more expensive than regular paint."

buyOrganics sell the complete range of Auro colours for whatever shade you wish to paint babies room.

Furnishings

Many flat pack ranges of furniture tend to have high levels of Formaldehyde within them due to the bonding process used to create the panels. Wherever possible choose real wood furniture opposed to flat pack chipboard type stuff. Thankfully most baby furniture is made of wood. Also watch out for the FSC trade mark which is a popular symbol indicating that the wood is from sustainable sources.

Carpet can harbour a lot of nasties. Although it may make the room feel nice and cosy, the truth is it is a safe house for the dust mite and other mites increasing the chance of allergies. If you must have carpet go for a pure wool one not a nylon or propylene based one which is 100% synthetic and made of nothing but chemicals. Wood floors, preferably FSC approved are the best choice followed by natural fibres.

Finally grab a cup of Peppermint tea (to get rid of that quesy tummy)...and relax and wait!!

www.buyorganics.co.uk - Think Organic...buyOrganics. The Organic Lifestyle Store.