The Delivery
by Julie Malmberg
A young pregnant gal marched into a bar
With the force and brute of a crammed mail-car.
The barman said with pity and fear, "Excuse me,
Ma'am, we don't serve your kind here."
Friday, October 15, 2010
Deemed "Unsafe" for Pregnancy
All the restrictions that are placed on pregnant women for the sake of "safety" are really starting to chaff my thighs. You can't go near a pregnancy site without walking a way a little more fearful of the potential fetal risks associated with the lunch you just consumed. All this fear-mongering is ridiculous!
You may be interested to know that the government refusal to do studies on herbal supplements contributes to the outlook that ALL herbal supplements are considered not safe during pregnancy. In fact, many of them are essential, but since no tests are done, no definitive statements can be made. Meaning -- THEY DON'T KNOW!!
Yesterday, I was given a Go-Girl energy drink. So, I looked up the "dangerous" ingredients and how bad they really were. Basically it boils down to this:
Taurine (800mg): Oh my! That sounds very dangerous! Actually, Taurine is an amino acid naturally present in our bodies. In fact, taurine is one of the most abundant free amino-acid-like compounds found in the heart, the skeletal muscles and the nervous system. It supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Up to 3,000 milligrams a day of supplemental taurine is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys.
Garcinia Cambogia (200mg): Basically, this is the main ingredient in curry. Since spicy foods are thought to stimulate contractions and labor, the fear-mongers are really raising their heads. But really, curry and other spicy foods will only bring on labor if you are ready for labor. Basically, it's just another wives-tale, but if there is some merit to it, then GC won't affect you until you are 41 weeks and ready to push.
Inositol (100mg): A fine word for Vitamin B8. Found in yeast, most fruits & vegetables, some nuts, as well as many whole-grains. Helps promote functioning of the muscles, nerves, cell membranes, and fat metabolism in the liver. Proven to prevent neural tube defects (in rats).
Caffeine (100mg): Some people say up to 200mg per day, others 300mg. Either way, this is below the "allowed" amount. I'm safe here.
A Word On Sugar Substitutes
Aspartame: EQUAL & NUTRA SWEET; Commonly found in most Diet Soft-Drinks. When eaten, aspartame is metabolized into its original amino acids. (One exception is moms-to-be who have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU. These moms need to avoid aspartame completely because PKU prevents them from breaking down the phenylalanine in their diet.)
Saccharin: SWEET N LOW; It has been shown that saccharine crosses the placenta and takes longer for the baby to process, increasing the risk of bladder problems or even cancer in the baby. This sweetener is not considered to be safe to use during pregnancy. or wait... is it?
Stevia: a plant. That's it, really. It's a group of plants that have "sweet" leaves.
Sucralose: SPLENDA; Made with 95% dextrose and maltodextrin that the body easily processes. The 5% "chlorinated" atoms are extremely stable and would only pose a risk with EXTREME temperatures (that is impossible during normal digestion).
The REAL truth is this:
My take: There are MILLIONS of products and foods that have NOT been tested, therefore cannot be declared 100% safe. It doesn't mean that they are not safe (and in fact, usually are), it just means that a declarative statement cannot be made. Better safe than sorry, is the attitude.
Well, safe yes -- but I'm not going to be running scared adding stress to my body about the ridiculously small chance there might be of harming my baby.
Thank you very much, I'll have my one Go-Girl for the day.
You may be interested to know that the government refusal to do studies on herbal supplements contributes to the outlook that ALL herbal supplements are considered not safe during pregnancy. In fact, many of them are essential, but since no tests are done, no definitive statements can be made. Meaning -- THEY DON'T KNOW!!
Yesterday, I was given a Go-Girl energy drink. So, I looked up the "dangerous" ingredients and how bad they really were. Basically it boils down to this:
Taurine (800mg): Oh my! That sounds very dangerous! Actually, Taurine is an amino acid naturally present in our bodies. In fact, taurine is one of the most abundant free amino-acid-like compounds found in the heart, the skeletal muscles and the nervous system. It supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Up to 3,000 milligrams a day of supplemental taurine is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys.
Garcinia Cambogia (200mg): Basically, this is the main ingredient in curry. Since spicy foods are thought to stimulate contractions and labor, the fear-mongers are really raising their heads. But really, curry and other spicy foods will only bring on labor if you are ready for labor. Basically, it's just another wives-tale, but if there is some merit to it, then GC won't affect you until you are 41 weeks and ready to push.
Inositol (100mg): A fine word for Vitamin B8. Found in yeast, most fruits & vegetables, some nuts, as well as many whole-grains. Helps promote functioning of the muscles, nerves, cell membranes, and fat metabolism in the liver. Proven to prevent neural tube defects (in rats).
Caffeine (100mg): Some people say up to 200mg per day, others 300mg. Either way, this is below the "allowed" amount. I'm safe here.
A Word On Sugar Substitutes
Aspartame: EQUAL & NUTRA SWEET; Commonly found in most Diet Soft-Drinks. When eaten, aspartame is metabolized into its original amino acids. (One exception is moms-to-be who have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU. These moms need to avoid aspartame completely because PKU prevents them from breaking down the phenylalanine in their diet.)
Saccharin: SWEET N LOW; It has been shown that saccharine crosses the placenta and takes longer for the baby to process, increasing the risk of bladder problems or even cancer in the baby. This sweetener is not considered to be safe to use during pregnancy. or wait... is it?
Hmm.... who to believe??"Saccharin, one of the first artificial sweeteners, is much less common today than it once was. Saccharin has not been shown to cause birth defects.
Animal studies in the 1970s suggested a possible link to bladder cancer, but larger animal studies in the 1990’s didn't find this, and saccharin was later removed from the list of possible cancer-causing agents by the National Institutes of Health.
The National Cancer Institute says there's no scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer." -- Babycenter.com article by Lori Wolfe, Genetic Councelor
Stevia: a plant. That's it, really. It's a group of plants that have "sweet" leaves.
Sucralose: SPLENDA; Made with 95% dextrose and maltodextrin that the body easily processes. The 5% "chlorinated" atoms are extremely stable and would only pose a risk with EXTREME temperatures (that is impossible during normal digestion).
The REAL truth is this:
"...according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer or other serious health problems. And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women. As a result of the newer studies, the warning label for saccharin was dropped." -- www.mayoclinic.comMost "Truth about..." sites are sponsored by special interest groups (i.e. The Sugar Association, an organization representing sugar beet and sugar cane farmers in the United States) that have a monetary interest in scaring you away from sugar substitutes. They could care less about your health.
My take: There are MILLIONS of products and foods that have NOT been tested, therefore cannot be declared 100% safe. It doesn't mean that they are not safe (and in fact, usually are), it just means that a declarative statement cannot be made. Better safe than sorry, is the attitude.
Well, safe yes -- but I'm not going to be running scared adding stress to my body about the ridiculously small chance there might be of harming my baby.
Thank you very much, I'll have my one Go-Girl for the day.
1st Pregnant Post: Unexpectedly Expecting
Well, I'm finally pregnant! Not that I was trying, of course. But I secretly wanted to be pregnant every-other-day. Unfortunately, I took the test on a day I did not want to see a "pregnant" line on my ClearBlueEasy. It was Saturday afternoon; I was about 3 days "late," but I chalked it up to major stress from school and bickering w/ DH. He urged me to take a test, but the only one we had had expired over 2 years ago! I called my BF Jing to tell her I was up for the exam. Later, she told me that she was sitting in her car and it suddenly hit her intuition that I was indeed preggers. She text me immediately, "btw... your preg." At home, DH was anxiously waiting the result. This CBE test is digital (which is pretty amazing), so while it's measuring it blinks with an hour glass.
He's holding the test and says to me, "What happens when it stops blinking?"
Reply: "Then it's got a reading. Why? WHAT DOES IT SAY???"
I snatched the test out of his hands, and in clear easy English, "PREGNANT." I almost fainted. Actually, I started crying. This can't be happening! I was supposed to have a year to prepare for not drinking and staying up till dawn. We were supposed to go to Oktoberfest in Germany in a year and get pregnant then! This is NOT according to my plans!! (And boy do I always have a plan!) I was hysterical; DH was ecstatic.
I called my BF Jing to confirm her all-knowing suspicions. It was her birthday, and since she's actually been trying to conceive for a little while now, it was very bittersweet. It was also my MIL's birthday, so we gave her the news as a present. Everyone was really happy for us. My mom was out shopping for a stove and said, "Well, gosh. I just can't even think about shopping for a stove now!" My dad was at a party, where he announced it to the whole crowd, "I'm going to be a Grandpa again!" That was probably the best part -- telling everyone that we're expecting a baby and seeing/hearing their delighted expressions.
My other BF Mari had to come over for a congrats hug. She took one look at my face and said with all seriousness, "Hey. It's going to be OK. This is a great thing. I'm here every step of the way." Since she's also been through an unexpected pregnancy, I took this to heart. She comes over to feed our dogs on Monday's when we're at school - and when we got home, there was a vase of beautiful flowers, some sparkling apple juice, and a great "congrats" card. She's a gem.
Of course, that weekend we went out and bought 4 pregnancy books, pre-natal vitamins, and I just couldn't get off the internet. I suddenly felt like all the knowledge I had previously read, I couldn't remember any more. This sudden fear that I have no idea what I'm doing is intense.
Then Tuesday rolled around after a weekend of blur and non-focus. My BF Jing was having some similar "symptoms" which she chalked up to PMS. She's never had a regular cycle since I've known her, so we weren't too excited when she was 4 days late. I really pushed her to take a test that night saying how things come in 3's: My co-worker, Me, and her all preg. She kept saying she didn't believe it... but then I got the text: "well, the picture won't send... but that makes 3." I called and screamed through the roof!!! Nothing could make me happier at that moment than hearing that we are BOTH pregnant! We check her "charts" and realize that we are pregnant within ONE DAY of each other. So the Pals are going to have babies at the same time!
So, here we are: Today marks the end of week 5. Our little miracles are growing so fast!
Cute preg thing: Driving home from work I was singing Elton John's "Rocket Man" along with the radio and realized that one day very soon my little baby will be able hear me singing! Totally started to cry.
I thought I knew what I wanted out of life. But it wasn't until now that I see this is really what I wanted. I think the most amazing part right now is realizing that no matter what happens this baby is MINE. Everything could collapse around me and this one thing would never change: I'm this baby's mama. Dear God, Don't let me fuck up.
He's holding the test and says to me, "What happens when it stops blinking?"
Reply: "Then it's got a reading. Why? WHAT DOES IT SAY???"
I snatched the test out of his hands, and in clear easy English, "PREGNANT." I almost fainted. Actually, I started crying. This can't be happening! I was supposed to have a year to prepare for not drinking and staying up till dawn. We were supposed to go to Oktoberfest in Germany in a year and get pregnant then! This is NOT according to my plans!! (And boy do I always have a plan!) I was hysterical; DH was ecstatic.
I called my BF Jing to confirm her all-knowing suspicions. It was her birthday, and since she's actually been trying to conceive for a little while now, it was very bittersweet. It was also my MIL's birthday, so we gave her the news as a present. Everyone was really happy for us. My mom was out shopping for a stove and said, "Well, gosh. I just can't even think about shopping for a stove now!" My dad was at a party, where he announced it to the whole crowd, "I'm going to be a Grandpa again!" That was probably the best part -- telling everyone that we're expecting a baby and seeing/hearing their delighted expressions.
My other BF Mari had to come over for a congrats hug. She took one look at my face and said with all seriousness, "Hey. It's going to be OK. This is a great thing. I'm here every step of the way." Since she's also been through an unexpected pregnancy, I took this to heart. She comes over to feed our dogs on Monday's when we're at school - and when we got home, there was a vase of beautiful flowers, some sparkling apple juice, and a great "congrats" card. She's a gem.
Of course, that weekend we went out and bought 4 pregnancy books, pre-natal vitamins, and I just couldn't get off the internet. I suddenly felt like all the knowledge I had previously read, I couldn't remember any more. This sudden fear that I have no idea what I'm doing is intense.
Then Tuesday rolled around after a weekend of blur and non-focus. My BF Jing was having some similar "symptoms" which she chalked up to PMS. She's never had a regular cycle since I've known her, so we weren't too excited when she was 4 days late. I really pushed her to take a test that night saying how things come in 3's: My co-worker, Me, and her all preg. She kept saying she didn't believe it... but then I got the text: "well, the picture won't send... but that makes 3." I called and screamed through the roof!!! Nothing could make me happier at that moment than hearing that we are BOTH pregnant! We check her "charts" and realize that we are pregnant within ONE DAY of each other. So the Pals are going to have babies at the same time!
So, here we are: Today marks the end of week 5. Our little miracles are growing so fast!
"The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.We're not experiencing morning sickness yet... but I'm sure that will be coming along shortly. I am however feeling that impulsive rage that some women get. It takes NOTHING to set me off. Last night at the grocery store, a small family was walking down the same aisle as me and their kids were all over the place. Two of the girls practically walked into me - definitely walked too close - and I couldn't stop myself from glaring at them. DH just shook his head. I'm sure there is more of this to come... *ho hum*
His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.
The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job." -- From BabyCenter.com
Cute preg thing: Driving home from work I was singing Elton John's "Rocket Man" along with the radio and realized that one day very soon my little baby will be able hear me singing! Totally started to cry.
I thought I knew what I wanted out of life. But it wasn't until now that I see this is really what I wanted. I think the most amazing part right now is realizing that no matter what happens this baby is MINE. Everything could collapse around me and this one thing would never change: I'm this baby's mama. Dear God, Don't let me fuck up.
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