by Jennifer Shakeel

Today’s purses are bright and cheerful.  These large hold all, carry all bags are inexpensive and you can buy them anywhere. Stores like Target, and Kohl’s, Wal Mart and Macy’s have rainbows of pouches and purses. Their vinyl, PVC and faux leather surfaces wipe clean with soap and water, they resist spills, and you can have one to match every outfit, and every pair of shoes. These purses have great appeal to young and old. Unfortunately, they are slow killers.

Purses have joined the ranks of toxic consumer products, along with painted toys from China and play jewelry for children.  A recent report from the not for profit Center for Environmental Health states that these bags, when tested, have levels of lead up to ninety times higher than the federal limit for lead in paint. This is a frightening finding for women, and their children. The lead is used to preserve colors and softness in purses and wallets that are sold in many national chain stores. Out of twenty one outlets in California, sixteen had contamination that exceeded the level required for labeling under Proposition 65.  The colors that showed the highest levels of lead are yellow, and yellow tinted colors, such as green and orange. ABC News reports that H&M and New York stores are working to address this problem and pull contaminated purses from their shelves in California.

Although we do not think of purses and billfolds as being something that we put in the mouth, the obvious route of ingestion, lead contamination is being detected in high rates on the clothes these purses rub against, and in things that are carried in the bag, like lunches, and children’s toys.  Lead rubs off of these purses onto the mother’s hands, onto their kids’ hands and the hands go straight to the mouth. Women have dangerous levels of lead showing up in their system, in their bones and in blood tests as well. This is a health hazard for women of all ages and for their families.

Our first concern needs to be for pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. During pregnancy lead has been shown to transfer from the mother to the fetus. When a woman is breastfeeding, due to an increased need for calcium, the woman’s bones can break down. At that point, lead that has been stored in the mother’s bones during her lifetime leaches out to the bloodstream with the calcium. This increases the exposure of the infant brain to lead. The young immune system has no barrier to protect the brain from the lead that it is exposed to during gestation. This exposure can take place during the entire pregnancy, as well as during lactation.  Lead exposure in infants and children has been shown by studies all over the world to cause learning disabilities, violent behavior, and mental retardation. Children have enough difficulties without adding environmental poison.

Adult exposure to lead has been shown to contribute to cognitive disorders, and is destructive to the kidneys and causes increased risk of heart disease. Some scientists believe lead contamination could be linked to other diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS.  Is being fashionable worth these potential health risks? We need to think about how we can avoid lead exposure in our daily lives.

The final word is to avoid vinyl bags. Carry leather or cloth bags. There are many colorful canvas bags on the market in all sizes. If you do carry vinyl bags and wallets, be sure to wash your hands after handling them. Do not give them to your child to hold or play with. Do not carry your lunch in vinyl purses. Hopefully other states will follow the lead of California at removing the bags from the market.

News of this health risk seems to have been reported as early as April 2009. Dianne Sawyer featured a news piece about it on January 22, 2010 on an ABC news program. It is time for all consumers to be made aware of these risks and the measures that they need to take to avoid them. When the demand for these products diminishes, then the supply will be reduced as well. Meanwhile, take the measures that you can to protect yourself.

Biography
Jennifer Shakeel is a writer and former nurse with over 12 years medical experience.  As a mother of two incredible children with one on the way, I am here to share with you what I have learned about parenting and the joys and changes that take place during pregnancy. Together we can laugh and cry and rejoice in the fact that we are moms!

No part of this article may be copied or reproduced in any form without the express permission of More4Kids Inc © and All Rights Reserved

NEW Baby-Naming Software Launched!

NEW Baby-Naming Software Launched!

New Software for Mothers, Removes the Labor from the Baby-naming process.

Infinite Web Solutions announces the availability of the first ever software designed for choosing baby names. Easily accessible, centralized, and with the largest collection of names, it quickly downloads to PC’s and laptops for anytime use. It is the ideal solution for parents.

Atlanta, Ga. – July 2, 2007 – In an effort to optimize the baby-naming process for parents, “Infinite Web Solutions” a Georgia based company, today unveiled the premier software program designed to simplify and change how people will now search for baby names.

The software, “1 STOP BABY NAMES,” uses the latest technology and is being offered in a convenient and easily downloadable format on the company’s website, www.1stopbabynames.com 

The program when downloaded to the computer, installs a safe, encoded package and the user – with just a few clicks – can select, view and even store their favorite names while utilizing multiple search criteria methods including, but not limited to: meaning, gender, and origin. 

Key concepts behind the software’s creation are; personalization and usability. The end user is not redirected to several links, as is the feature of most websites and also the number one complaint voiced by survey participants. Because the usual unwanted chatter found on baby-naming websites is eliminated, the experience has a more intimate, and convenient feel for the user. 

“1 STOP BABY NAMES,” surpasses current website capabilities and presents more options to the user by: offering over 40,000 names and their meanings, 100+ origins, and the top 100 baby names for the past five years. The distinct feature of the software’s portability allows for easy storage and use in a centralized location without distraction.

“We really think 1 Stop Baby Names is a significant advancement and a more viable option, since the initial creation of baby-naming websites,” cited Shad Hill, CEO of Infinite Web Solutions. 



“After looking at the marketplace and through extensive research with expectant and current mothers, our company is confident with the solution we have created.”

Current users of the 1 Stop Baby Name software also express their satisfaction with the product through testimonials on the company’s website.

The downloadable version is offered with very useful bonuses and free lifetime upgrades.

The new software will also be available in most major retail outlets later this year.

Company Profile
Infinite Web Solutions is a consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in Web Design and Internet Marketing. The company’s CEO, Shad Hill has a degree in Business Information Systems and over eight years experience in marketing. The company’s clients range from small to medium size businesses seeking ways of optimizing company growth by minimizing expenses and maximizing profits through precise business expertise.

Contact:
1 Stop Baby Names
1-800-655-9791
www.1stopbabynames.com
info@1stopbabynames.com

Hi everyone, I just found this video moms-to-be might want to see, and to look forward to! During pregnancy there are many bodily changes, and some are obvious to everyone. Enjoy! Julie

Posting Search Tags: Pregnancy

Congratulations Patricia from everyone at More4kids on the birth of your new son!

C Section Recovery by Patricia Hughes

If you have a c section, or are planning to deliver your baby with a c section for medical reasons, you may be surprised at the amount of time needed to recover. I found this out with the birth of my fourth child a few weeks ago. He was my first c section delivery. I went into labor eight days past my due date. After about 12 hours of labor, I was fully dilated. The problem in my case was that the baby’s head wouldn’t come down far enough to be born vaginally. No matter what we did, he just wouldn’t budge. Soon his heart rate began to drop and it was off to the operating room.  

The surgery went well and the baby was born healthy. I wasn’t in good shape at all. Being in the operating room with my arms strapped down was very scary. I was worried about the surgery. I was worried about the baby and the changes in his heart rate. Most of all, I was disappointed in the experience and upset at not holding him immediately after the birth. As I soon learned, a c section is major surgery and time is needed to heal. 

Recovery in the Hospital  

After the birth, you will be given pain medication. This will first be done through the epidural and then with injectable medications. These may have you feeling groggy, but you won’t be in pain. After the first day, you will be given pills to manage the pain. Take the pills when they are offered. When they begin to wear off, ask for more. Don’t try to brave the pain. Trust me, it only gets worse. It’s better to take the medication on schedule than to suffer through the pain.

The nurses will get you up and moving on the day after the surgery. You won’t want to get up, but do it anyway. Moving actually will help you heal. Use a pillow held against your abdomen when getting up. This helps support your abdomen and makes the pain less intense. 

You will experience pain from the incision as well as gas pains. Tell the nurse if these pains are bad or you aren’t passing the gas. They can give you medication to help. I was given chewable Mylicon tablets for gas pains. Constipation is another problem that many women experience after a c section. The nurses can give you medication to help with this problem as well. I was given Colace and told to drink lots of water. Even with these measures, it took me a week to get back to normal.
Recovery at Home 

When you are discharged from the hospital, you will be given a prescription for pain medication to take at home. Take the medication as prescribed to help with the pain. Remember you are still recovering from major surgery. Eventually, the pain will get better and you will do fine with over the counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen.

Take care of yourself after you get home with the baby. You need to focus on healing and caring for your baby. Don’t worry about the housework or cooking. Rest when the baby sleeps. You will be losing sleep at night. Make up for this loss of sleep by napping with the baby during the day.

You will need help when you get home. Have your spouse take advantage of any leave or vacation time he has available to lend a hand with the baby. Your mother, sister or friend may be able to lend a hand as well. My husband was home for the first week and a half. Then he had to go back to work. Since I have three other children, I was definitely not ready to be on my own. My mother took a week’s vacation to be here to help with the older girls.

Your doctor will probably tell you that you won’t be able to drive for three or four weeks after the birth of your baby. This can be difficult, since you won’t be able to get around on your own. You will have to depend on someone else to do the shopping and run errands. My husband had to take over the grocery shopping after my c section. I had to learn to let go and trust him to get what we need, even when he didn’t buy the brand I usually buy. 

Emotional Recovery from a C Section 

Some women find they need to heal emotionally as well as physically after a c section. You may feel disappointed at not having a vaginal birth. Other women get upset at the longer recovery time that is needed after a c section. Don’t be too hard on yourself. The most important thing is that both you and the baby are healthy. How the baby got here isn’t what matters most, that he’s here and healthy is what matters.

Posting Search Tags: Pregnancy Birth C Section