Post by erzulie on Aug 11, 2006 16:54:46 GMT -5
Ok, this is my favorite part of the book I just read. It's all about things you can do to reduce your child's risk of ending up with endometriosis or related disorders. Some people on here who have or plan to have children have asked before about their children's risk so I thought those people and others might really want this information
Preventing Endometriosis
Risk Factors
· Family history of the disease - if you have close family members with it you are 5-9 times more likely to develop it and your pain will likely be more severe
· Environmental exposure to things like endocrine disruptors (such as dioxin) and radiation.
· Family and personal history of allergies and other inflammatory diseases
· Menstrual risk factors – such as getting your first period age 12 or younger, having menstrual cycles shorter than 27 days, heavy bleeding for 5-8 days during periods
· Red hair gene –debated
· Anatomic obstructions that prevent menstrual flow – such as a blocked cervix, absence of the vagina, completely blocked hymen
· IUD use
· Certain surgical or medical procedures like episiotomy, laparotomy, cesarian, tubal ligation, cone biopsy, hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation.
· Time of surgery – for those who already have endometriosis, recurrence is greater when surgery is done near the end of the menstrual cycle (days 22-28).
Ways to reduce your daughter’s risk of developing endometriosis before you conceive
- Eat right
- Reduce toxic exposures – don’t eat fish from the Great Lakes, don’t use pesticides or herbicides, avoid petroleum products, avoid nail polish and dry cleaning, stay away from cigarette smoke, don’t get unnecessary x-rays
- Check your thyroid if you want to conceive – people with endometriosis are more likely to have thyroid problems which make it harder to conceive
- Get dental work done way in advance of conceiving
- Take control of candida and allergy problems if you have them
During pregnancy:
- Vary your diet and avoid things you are allergic to during pregnancy to reduce the baby’s risk of developing allergies
When your child is a baby:
- Introduce one solid food at a time and serve the new food daily for 5 days to test for allergic reaction
- Don’t serve solid foods until your baby is at least 4 months
- Don’t use any chlorine-bleached diapers or clothes
- Don’t use talc
- Clean up dust and pet hair, but don’t use cleaners with harsh chemicals
- Use only bland, simple, all-natural products when washing the baby, and only use them when water won’t do the trick
- Don’t wear perfume around the baby
Throughout the child’s lifetime:
- Use purified water
- Make sure your child gets enough omega-3 fatty acids and not too many omega-6
- Use supplements wisely
- Eat organic
- Stay away from pesticides
- Avoid PVC
- Don’t store food in plastic
- Avoid fast food
- Avoid processed food
- Exercise
- Become an environmental activist
Taken from Endometriosis: The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your Health by Mary Lou Ballweg and the Endometriosis Association
Preventing Endometriosis
Risk Factors
· Family history of the disease - if you have close family members with it you are 5-9 times more likely to develop it and your pain will likely be more severe
· Environmental exposure to things like endocrine disruptors (such as dioxin) and radiation.
· Family and personal history of allergies and other inflammatory diseases
· Menstrual risk factors – such as getting your first period age 12 or younger, having menstrual cycles shorter than 27 days, heavy bleeding for 5-8 days during periods
· Red hair gene –debated
· Anatomic obstructions that prevent menstrual flow – such as a blocked cervix, absence of the vagina, completely blocked hymen
· IUD use
· Certain surgical or medical procedures like episiotomy, laparotomy, cesarian, tubal ligation, cone biopsy, hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation.
· Time of surgery – for those who already have endometriosis, recurrence is greater when surgery is done near the end of the menstrual cycle (days 22-28).
Ways to reduce your daughter’s risk of developing endometriosis before you conceive
- Eat right
- Reduce toxic exposures – don’t eat fish from the Great Lakes, don’t use pesticides or herbicides, avoid petroleum products, avoid nail polish and dry cleaning, stay away from cigarette smoke, don’t get unnecessary x-rays
- Check your thyroid if you want to conceive – people with endometriosis are more likely to have thyroid problems which make it harder to conceive
- Get dental work done way in advance of conceiving
- Take control of candida and allergy problems if you have them
During pregnancy:
- Vary your diet and avoid things you are allergic to during pregnancy to reduce the baby’s risk of developing allergies
When your child is a baby:
- Introduce one solid food at a time and serve the new food daily for 5 days to test for allergic reaction
- Don’t serve solid foods until your baby is at least 4 months
- Don’t use any chlorine-bleached diapers or clothes
- Don’t use talc
- Clean up dust and pet hair, but don’t use cleaners with harsh chemicals
- Use only bland, simple, all-natural products when washing the baby, and only use them when water won’t do the trick
- Don’t wear perfume around the baby
Throughout the child’s lifetime:
- Use purified water
- Make sure your child gets enough omega-3 fatty acids and not too many omega-6
- Use supplements wisely
- Eat organic
- Stay away from pesticides
- Avoid PVC
- Don’t store food in plastic
- Avoid fast food
- Avoid processed food
- Exercise
- Become an environmental activist
Taken from Endometriosis: The Complete Reference for Taking Charge of Your Health by Mary Lou Ballweg and the Endometriosis Association