PVC: Quite Possibly The Most Hazardous Toxin in Your Home

Moms, if you haven't researched PVC, you need to.  When I first had Akepa, I went on a rampage removing items in the house that were either questionable or indefinitely contained the toxin.  You should do the same.  It doesn't take long (maybe a little money, however) but in the end, you will feel much better about the home you live in.  (I'll tell you why in the next paragraph).  PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is used in a ton of common household products.  To make it easy, if it's plastic- check it.  I also listed a few of the top offenders.   When checking your house, here's something to remember: if the plastic doesn't say PVC-free or Phthalate-Free, you should probably consider getting rid of it!

• Shower curtains (buy a fabric one instead)
• Plastic tupperware (Buy glass, and please God tell me you don't mircrowave these things) 
• Plastic toys (Phthalates have now been banned in toys but I still try to choose toys made from natural materials when possible)
• Artificial leather upholstery (vinyl) 
• Air fresheners (Just don't use them.. seriously they're obnoxious anyway.)
• Dryer sheets (I live without them. They're really not that necessary.) 
• Baby formula packaging (breastfeeding will eliminate this concern, however if you aren't able to  breastfeed, go for a formula in a metal tin (Earth's Best makes one)
• Cleaning products (choose natural or make your own)
• PVC piping (obviously!)
• Cosmetics (Choose brands like Tarte, Bare Minerals, Zoya, etc.) 

Here's why I made the switch... The side effects of PVC should make you want to make the switch too.  

1. PVC is an endocrine disruptor.  It is also linked to breast cancer & fibroid tumors, reproductive impairment, neurotoxicity, birth defects, and immune system repression.  
2. Read this... I pulled it directly off of the United States' FDA website.  http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotifications/ucm062182.htm
3. "A similarly dangerous compound, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is found in countless items children encounter: backpacks, lunch boxes, raincoats, even the vinyl flooring of your home. Not only has PVC flooring been linked to higher rates of autism, but PVC exposure is also associated with cancer, kidney damage, and development of the reproductive system. Look for products labeled PVC-free, and be wary of the word “vinyl.” "
   Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/17/keeping-children-safe-from-everyday-toxins/#ixzz280yLzqPA
4. "... [There is] direct evidence that the presence of phthalates prolongs the survival of white blood cells, which supports the idea that they are contributing to damage and to inflammation ... phthalates encourage cells to produce hydrogen peroxide, which ... can kill cells and damage tissue." http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/10/phthalates-cause-inflammation-in-atrisk-babies.aspx
5. "As EHHI reported, studies have shown women of childbearing age have significantly higher phthalate exposures than other adults (could this be because they also use the most cosmetics?), and the chemical has been detected in 100 percent of pregnant women tested. It's known that fetal exposure to phthalates is closely related to maternal exposure, according to EHHI, so many, if not all, babies are starting out with exposure in the womb." http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/08/10/phthalates-cause-inflammation-in-atrisk-babies.aspx

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?

I was unpacking boxes yesterday and I found all of the books I read while I was pregnant.  Among these were my vaccination books.  I purchased them because during my child development studies, we touched on the rising rate of Autism and the suggested link between vaccinations & Autism.  The pharmaceutical companies deny any link of course but I think we can all list several instances where pharmaceuticals have gone very wrong.

When I tell people that Akepa is not fully vaccinated, some people look at me like I'm crazy.  (I really could less, but it's just a nice reminder that the majority of people buy into everything their doctors tell them).  When I approached Akepa's pediatrician about only partially vaccinating her, he was surprisingly accepting.  He told me that it was ultimately my decision as the parent and he was especially understanding when I declined the MMR.  He confirmed that the MMR vaccine had indeed received a great deal of controversy and gladly accepted my decision to pass on it.

If you are looking for a new read, looking to have babies, are pregnant now, or just want to educate yourself on vaccinations, take a look at a couple of these books.  One was written by pediatrician Dr. Sears, another by Jenny McCarthy who's son is autistic, and the last is written by Dr. Stephanie Cave, Practitioner and Vaccination Expert.