Green Your Pregnancy | Kim Carlson

Going green is all the rage lately and a pregnancy is an ideal time to join the trend. The reason is that... more pregnant women and infants are more susceptible to any kind of environmental toxin or chemical. So starting to green up your act and your home before the baby comes will help to ensure that your entire nest is human-healthy and planet-friendly.

Eat local and organic foods - Being conscious about what you put in your body is one of the best things that you can do for your baby. Choosing organic foods reduces the possibility of ingesting pesticides. You can further boost your green food behavior by buying locally grown too. Becoming a locavore means that less energy was expended to get the food to you. The food also likely contains more critical nutrients because of the shorter time between harvest and your table.

Read labels on personal care products - Pregnancy is also a time to be careful about what you put on your body. Avoid personal care products like lotions, shampoo and bath soaps that contain phthalates (sometimes labeled as "fragrance") and parabens. Both have been linked to disrupting the endocrine system causing reproduction and fertility birth or developmental effects.

Buy non-toxic paint for the nursery. Don't forget that there is more to decisions about paint these days than just pink or blue. Most paint companies sell a non-toxic line of paint that contains few or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are what you smell when you open a can of latex paint and can cause headaches and other health problems that expecting moms nor infants should have to encounter. No and low VOC paint is widely available but often you have to ask for it.

Have an eco baby shower. Extend the green theme with your friends and relatives by asking for an earth-friendly and all natural baby shower. Register for gifts at an earth-friendly neighborhood or online baby gear store. If the mom-to-be already has everything she needs, skip the gifts entirely and go straight for the celebration of the baby's impending arrival. Be sure to serve organic and local foods and drinks.

Buy or borrow 2nd hand baby clothes and furniture. Baby gear is outgrown so quickly, so why buy new? It is far more resource and environmentally responsible to barrow, pass on or buy previously used baby clothes than it is to get outfitted with new. It may feel like you are taking a bullet for the environment but passing on a set of cloth diapers can give you a twofer for the environment: the diapers are reused and hundreds of disposables stay out of the landfill.

Check for hidden home hazards. Many homeowners and apartment dwellers don't think about home hazards until after the baby comes. You will sleep better if you can rule out or fix potential dangers before the baby arrives. Have your home checked for mold and radon. Both are invisible and exposure could put your infant at risk. If you live in an older home, have the paint checked for lead. At the very least, make sure that there are no peeling or cracked painted surfaces in your home. Any certified home inspector can test for these contaminants.