UK Wedding News
05/06/2013
The report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) warns expectant mothers to avoid chemicals found in many common and everyday household products, arguing there isn't enough information about the chemical risks to foetuses.
In the report, pregnant women are advised to avoid paint fumes, or buying new furniture, fabrics, cars and even non-stick frying pans, while they are expecting or breastfeeding.
It added that processed food, cosmetics and perfumes also posed a potential risk, as do garden pesticides and fly sprays, while painkillers should not be taken "unless necessary".
However, some have criticised the report claiming the advice is "unhelpful" and "unrealistic", while the RCOG says its paper on the issue is informing women and filling a void as there has previously been no official advice for pregnant and breastfeeding women to turn to.
The list of what pregnant women should not be doing is lengthy, but there is actually little evidence that any of it can harm the unborn child. The College admits pregnant women are surrounded by a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals in everyday products, most of them unavoidable and low level, but with many mothers worried about the potential effects on their baby, the report claims the right approach is "safety first".
It states: "On present evidence, it is impossible to assess the risk, if any, of such exposures", but argues women should be given information about the uncertainties so they can make informed choices and take "positive action".
Dr Michelle Bellingham, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, and co-author of the paper, explained: "While there is no official advice on this topic available to pregnant women, there is much conflicting anecdotal evidence about environmental chemicals and their potentially adverse effects on developing babies.
"The information in this report is aimed at addressing this problem and should be conveyed routinely in infertility and antenatal clinics so women are made aware of key facts that will allow them to make informed choices regarding lifestyle changes."
However, Professor David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, argued: "These precautionary 'better safe than sorry' recommendations are not necessarily cost-free.
"They may feed anxiety, and detract attention from the known harms of bad diet, smoking and excessive alcohol. And it is unclear how any benefits can ever be assessed."
(JP/CD)
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Criticism Over New Pregnancy Safety Advice
New advice has been issued to pregnant women regarding the dangers from exposure to chemicals.The report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) warns expectant mothers to avoid chemicals found in many common and everyday household products, arguing there isn't enough information about the chemical risks to foetuses.
In the report, pregnant women are advised to avoid paint fumes, or buying new furniture, fabrics, cars and even non-stick frying pans, while they are expecting or breastfeeding.
It added that processed food, cosmetics and perfumes also posed a potential risk, as do garden pesticides and fly sprays, while painkillers should not be taken "unless necessary".
However, some have criticised the report claiming the advice is "unhelpful" and "unrealistic", while the RCOG says its paper on the issue is informing women and filling a void as there has previously been no official advice for pregnant and breastfeeding women to turn to.
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The list of what pregnant women should not be doing is lengthy, but there is actually little evidence that any of it can harm the unborn child. The College admits pregnant women are surrounded by a complex mixture of hundreds of chemicals in everyday products, most of them unavoidable and low level, but with many mothers worried about the potential effects on their baby, the report claims the right approach is "safety first".
It states: "On present evidence, it is impossible to assess the risk, if any, of such exposures", but argues women should be given information about the uncertainties so they can make informed choices and take "positive action".
Dr Michelle Bellingham, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, and co-author of the paper, explained: "While there is no official advice on this topic available to pregnant women, there is much conflicting anecdotal evidence about environmental chemicals and their potentially adverse effects on developing babies.
"The information in this report is aimed at addressing this problem and should be conveyed routinely in infertility and antenatal clinics so women are made aware of key facts that will allow them to make informed choices regarding lifestyle changes."
However, Professor David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge, argued: "These precautionary 'better safe than sorry' recommendations are not necessarily cost-free.
"They may feed anxiety, and detract attention from the known harms of bad diet, smoking and excessive alcohol. And it is unclear how any benefits can ever be assessed."
(JP/CD)
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