New Mothers and Mothers-To-Be

Aromatherapy And Kids

By Sharon Hopkins

Aromatherapy is a new approach to emotional well being and healing through the use of essential oils. Oils in aromatherapy have soothing effect on the body, mind and soul.

A gentle hug, smile or a kiss are forms of connection, bonding between the parent and the child. A loving nurturing touch of massage on the feet, arms, hands, back, abdomen and legs is therapeutic for both the child and parent, usually the mother. Babies at six weeks of age can recognize their mother's scent, hence making them extremely sensitive to any kind of fragrance, pleasant or unpleasant. Fragrant essential oils used during the upbringing of your child supports your little one's health, happiness and well being.

Essential oils have distinct composition determining the fragrance, colour, and effect on our body. Before you introduce your child to the aromatic world of fragrances, seek advice from your GP or qualified aroma therapist. If possible, carry out detailed research your self on the oil you plan to use on your infant or child.

Listed below are few commonly used essential oils that are used for kids.

- Lavender oil is excellent home remedy for headaches, earaches and even insect bites.
- Geranium and rose oils act as a good skin softener, toner and natural astringent.
- Chamomile and peppermint oils prevent hair loss.
- Lavender, lemon and curry leaf oils provide relief from dandruff.
- For any bruises and burns, use tea tree and lavender oils.
- Black pepper oil is good for constipation.
- Cedar wood, eucalyptus and tea tree oils alleviate coughs.
- Ginger, lavender and thyme oil works wonders on sore throats.
- Lavender and roman chamomile oil blend allows for restful sleep at night.
- Lemon and grapefruit oils added to a tub of warm water for a bath refreshes the kid.

A word of caution for any parents planning on using aromatherapy oils on their children. Please exercise caution while using essential oils. Its best to stick to mild oils and less is best. Since essential oils are highly concentrated, make sure that they are properly diluted with water or carrier oils. Improper dilution can result in skin irritation for your little ones. Don't let your children be alone while using essential oils.

About the Author: Sharon Hopkins is the Webmaster for Aromatherapies.net, an Online guide to Aromatherapy alternative medicine, essential oils, recipes, synergies, blends, oil profiles and products.

Source: www.isnare.com

Lavender-Scented Baby Powder

This is a lovely, rich powder ideal for keeping infants comfortable. Lavender oil is extremely soothing and has antibacterial properties. This simple powder will keep your baby dry and happy. You can also use the powder yourself after bathing.

Ingredients:

1 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon light oil (almond, sesame, sunflower)

2 drops lavender oil.

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and massage the powder until all the oil is evenly distributed. Pour into a clean, dry container.

Yield: 8 ounces

Childproofing Your Home

To make sure that your home is a safe haven for your children - and you - learn to spot and eliminate hazards throughout the house. This checklist will show you how. Register with ClubMom to customize this checklist by assigning due dates, adding new tasks, scheduling email reminders, and more.

Safety measures for every room:

Install child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.

Keep dangerous chemicals out of children's reach.

For strings and ribbons, follow the six-inch rule.

Always use a safety belt on your baby when she is sitting in a bouncy seat or a swing.

Shorten curtain and blind cords.

Place furniture well away from windows.

Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.

Place houseplants out of children's reach.

Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.

Keep cigarettes, matches, and lighters out of children's reach.

Safeguard heating and gas systems against accidents.

Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and gas appliances are vented properly.

Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.

Install carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning.

Install smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your home.

Remove the plastic end caps on doorstops or replace the stops with a one-piece design to prevent choking.

Consider placing plastic guards along the hinge side of frequently used interior doors to prevent the doors from pinching fingers.

Safety-proof windows and fire exits.

Make a fire evacuation plan and practice fire escape routes at least twice a year.

Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.

Secure unsteady furnishings.

Avoid household water hazards.

Test homes built before 1978 for lead paint.

Learn first aid and CPR.

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Hallways and staircases:

Avoid dark hallways and rugs that slip.

Safety-proof stairs.

If possible, install carpeting on stairways to protect from falls.

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Kids' rooms:

Position your child's crib away from all drapery, electrical cords, and windows.

Make sure the crib meets national safety standards.

Make sure the mattress fits snugly.

Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.

If you use a crib bumper, make sure it's firm (not fluffy) and secured tightly with at least six ties.

Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.

Place infants under one year on their backs to sleep.

Never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child or infant.

Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.

Always use a safety belt on your infant when you have her on a changing table, and never leave her unattended.

Provide padding for falls.

Check age labels for appropriate toys.

Be vigilant about choking hazards.

Use side railings for children just getting used to "big kid" beds.

If bedrooms are on second or third stories, be sure to have a fire-escape ladder in each room.

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Bathroom:

Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.

To prevent poisoning, lock away all vitamins and medicines.

Install toilet-lid locks to prevent drowning.

Lower the household water temperature.

Always test the water first before bathing a child.

Make sure bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.

Use electrical appliances carefully.

Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sinks and bathtubs.

Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom.

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Kitchen:

Keep knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.

To avoid fires and burns, never leave cooking food unattended.

If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.

Teach your kids how to respond to fire.

When they're not in use, unplug electrical appliances.

Replace any frayed cords and wires.

Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.

Keep activated charcoal (helps absorb some poisons) and syrup of ipecac (used to induce vomiting) on hand.

Beware of foods that children can choke on.

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Yard:

Store tools, garden, and lawn-care equipment and supplies in a locked closet or shed.

Don't use a power mower to cut the lawn when young children are around.

Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or a pesticide.

Know the types of trees on the property in the event children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.

If you have a swimming pool, install a fence (with an automatic childproof gate) that separates the house from the pool.

When you barbecue outdoors, never leave kids unattended around the grill.

Store propane grills where children cannot reach the knobs.

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Other resources for childproofing your home:

To find outlet covers, cord shorteners, cabinet latches, and toilet-lid locks, check with your local hardware store.

For consumer-product and home-safety information, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For details about child and home safety, contact the National Safe Kids Campaign.

For information about child lead poisoning, read the "Lead Hazard Information" pamphlet from the department of Housing and Urban Development.

For information about safe drinking water, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.

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Baby Balm is a natural alternative to commercial diaper rash ointments that contain harsh synthetic chemicals. Earth Tribe has done it again providing an effective solution for diaper rash, cradle cap or any of the little skin irritants.

An Experienced Mother's Guide to Packing Your Hospital Bag

By Go-To Mom Cathy Curtis, Omaha, NE

When we were expecting our daughter, I read everything I could find, and studied nearly every aspect of the whole birthing process.

One thing I spent weeks consumed with was creating the perfect "hospital bag." I created my list from lots of different sources — books, online, childbirth classes — and was sure I'd get good use of everything I had decided was an absolute necessity to take with me when I went to have my child.

By the morning we went in to have Samantha, my poor husband Greg looked like a pack-mule. And unfortunately I found out that approximately two-thirds of everything I "had" to have when I went to give birth just never got used, or even considered, during our hospital stay.

Now our son is coming this summer, and my list is MUCH shorter. For starters, here are some of the things that have all been nixed from my hospital bag, along with the reasons why:

CD player/music - Labor is intense, and I just wanted quiet to relax and concentrate.

Gown/robe - I was really hot on wearing my own clothes, until I actually got there. The hospital's robes and gowns go into their laundry to be washed, and I was glad for that, once I understood how, well, messy labor is. I'd much rather wear what they provide, during labor anyway

Stopwatch or watch with second hand - I could have cared less how far apart my contractions were at the hospital. If the nurses wanted to know, they used the monitors to see. But we weren't monitored all the time; we walked the halls a lot, and I stood in a hot shower for a long time. During all that time, no one ever asked us how far apart they were.

Read the rest of what you should bring for your hospital stay

Our Bodies, Ourselves A Toxic Stew Threatens Women

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First-World Women Face Unique Environmental Threats

by Melissa Knopper

A typical American woman-let's call her Sara-wakes up to the sound of her toddler crying from the crib. She decides to make coffee and reaches for a paper filter that could leach dioxin. She's heard dioxin causes women's health problems but didn't have time to buy the unbleached kind.

Sara pops a clear plastic bottle into the microwave, adding a little bisphenol A-another hormone-disrupting chemical-into her daughter's milk. She knows it's not safe to microwave many plastics, but couldn't find any glass baby bottles at the store. Next, Sara packs a tuna sandwich to eat for lunch later at work. She spots a newspaper article about canned tuna, mercury and fetal brain damage. Since Sara is trying to get pregnant again, she tosses the sandwich.

After handing the baby over to her husband, Sara takes a shower. She worries about all of these scary chemicals while brushing her teeth. She spots a grey hair in the mirror. Her favorite hair dye has cancer-causing chemicals on the label, but right now she's more worried about dark roots. Then she rolls on some aluminum-filled antiperspirant, wondering if it will give her a nasty case of Alzheimer's disease.

Sara is late for work, so she hurries to get dressed before the babysitter arrives. Maybe she's hormonal-or maybe she's just normal-but all of these toxic threats are giving her a panic attack. Instead of reaching for her briefcase and hopping on the bus, Sara crawls underneath the bed and hides there, curled up in the fetal position.

Women under Assault

For modern American women, dealing with these uniquely female environmental health issues can be overwhelming. In her recent report, Confronting Toxic Contamination in Our Communities: Women's Health and California's Future, Tina Eshaghpour, program officer for the Women's Foundation of California, outlines many examples of toxic exposures that have a disproportionate impact on women in California, and across the country.

Most pregnant women know that they shouldn't smoke or drink too much alcohol, but are they aware of other chemical threats?

Eshaghpour, a new mother, admits all of this information can be frightening. “The issue gets magnified when you think about how your body could accumulate all of these toxins and now you are passing them on to your child,” she says. The good news is women have a lot of power when they control their consumer choices. “Whether it's shampoos, cleaning products or the diapers you use for your child, there are a lot of good alternatives out there,” Eshaghpour says.

Until recently, government regulators and toxicologists conducted tests on men only, and assumed chemicals affected men and women in the same way. But now scientists are becoming more aware of the biological differences between the sexes. “We're starting to question whether the models used to test chemicals are appropriate for interpreting sex differences,” says Dr. Sherry Marts, vice president for scientific affairs at the Society for Women's Health Research. “Nobody has ever asked that question before.” The society recently convened a scientific roundtable discussion on sex differences in environmental health.

With the rise of this new field, researchers are discovering hundreds of chemicals that affect women's health differently than men. Often, these differences are driven by the natural fluctuations of female hormones. Based on those cycles, women and girls may react differently to chemicals at puberty, during their monthly menstrual cycles, and as they enter menopause.

The Autoimmune Connection

Autoimmune diseases offer one of the most dramatic examples of the conditions that affect women in greater numbers than men. For example, women are 50 times more likely to develop hypothyroidism and 10 times more likely to develop lupus. Overall, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association ranks these disorders as the fourth-leading cause of disability for American working women.

Female hormones seem to play a role in those figures. For example, women with rheumatoid arthritis go into a mysterious remission when they become pregnant. And estrogen hormone replacement therapy reduces the relapse rate for multiple sclerosis.

Researchers also believe hormone-like chemicals may be part of the equation. Hormones affect the development and function of immune cells, says Dr. Allen Silverstone, an immunologist from SUNY Syracuse. “So if you're exposed to something like PCBs, which can mimic estrogen, you can disturb the regulation of the immune system.”

Some women's health advocates are sounding the alarm about potentially toxic chemicals in a host of everyday products, like nail polish.

In other situations, job-related chemicals are to blame. Dr. Glinda Cooper, a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences epidemiologist, studied women who inhale silica dust while working in ceramics factories and on construction sites. Those workers developed lupus more frequently than women in other occupations. Female farmworkers also tend to have higher rates of lupus, Cooper says.

“It's still a mystery why women get autoimmune diseases more than men,” Cooper adds. “It can't be explained entirely by genetics-there are a lot of other things happening on the environmental side as well.”

The Menace of Mercury

Mercury, shown here in pure form, is a highly toxic environmental pollutant that poses a particularly serious threat to pregnant women.

One victim of mercury poisoning, Marie (not her real name), says her health started to go downhill soon after she received mercury fillings in her teeth. “I was very dizzy, disoriented and confused,” she says. “I could hardly remember anything….I could not concentrate or get anything accomplished. I was just so tired. I felt like my whole body had just been shut down.” She started feeling better only after the fillings were removed by a sympathetic dentist.

Dr. Ellen Silbergeld, a John's Hopkins University public health professor, says early exposure to mercury can increase the severity of autoimmune symptoms. Mercury also can speed up the onset of diseases like lupus. “At very low levels, mercury doesn't do a lot by itself,” Silbergeld explains. “But if you encounter an environmental trigger, you may come down with mercury-related autoimmune disease, or possibly even autism.” In the meantime, activists at Greenpeace are encouraging everyone-especially women who plan to become pregnant-to watch the amount of mercury-laden fish in their diet. Studies show pregnant and nursing mothers who eat a lot of seafood give birth to a higher percentage of learning-disabled kids. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate one in eight American children is born with unsafe levels of mercury in his or her blood.

Most women realize they should avoid swordfish and tuna steaks if they are trying to have a baby because of the high mercury content of these fish. But new evidence shows canned tuna also is harmful: In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a warning that pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children should eat only one six-ounce can of albacore tuna (or no more than 12 ounces of light tuna) per week. But many environmental health advocates say those guidelines aren't strict enough.

To be on the safe side, experts from the Center for Science in the Public Interest encourage women to avoid canned tuna altogether for six months to a year before trying to conceive. For women who are no longer of childbearing age, Greenpeace says it's ok to eat canned tuna once a month or less. The Environmental Working Group has compiled a list of less-toxic fish, such as wild salmon.

If women are worried about their mercury levels, they can submit a hair sample to find out if they, and their future children, are at risk. Greenpeace is making the test kits available for $25. The project is part of the group's campaign against a Bush administration proposal that would allow coal-fired power plants to release more mercury pollution into the air.

“Forty percent of mercury contamination comes from unregulated coal-burning power plants,” says John Coequyt, a Greenpeace energy policy specialist. “This mercury issue highlights why we need more renewable energy.” Other sources of mercury include municipal garbage incineration, some older batteries and medical waste.

Dioxin Dangers

Endometriosis is another women's disease with strong ties to toxic chemicals that mess with our ability to reproduce. Studies show the chlorine byproduct dioxin-yet another chemical that acts like estrogen-makes endometriosis worse. This painful uterine tissue disorder affects nearly six million women in the United States and Canada. Almost half of those six million women struggle with infertility.

Endometriosis Association researchers say women with this disease tend to feel better when they eliminate all sources of dioxin-such as bleached paper, vinyl plastic and high-fat dairy products-from their daily lives. Dioxin occurs in the chlorine-treated rayon fibers that are contained in some brands of tampons (see sidebar), and it plays a factor in Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). For Jamie Cash a 13-year-old in the Bahamas, TSS proved nearly fatal, and side effects have continued to plague her for years after the initial exposure.

Like mercury, dioxin has a greater impact on women because it collects in the fat cells they have in greater quantity than men. Dioxin gets into the environment through PVC plastic and paper manufacturing, garbage incineration and the use of certain pesticides.

Risks at Home

Endocrine disrupters are especially troubling because they have a big impact on babies in the womb at very small doses. Some of the most cutting-edge research in this area focuses on bisphenol A. “It's in products we are exposed to every day,” said Theo Colborn, a senior fellow at World Wildlife Fund and co-author of Our Stolen Future. “It's in plastics, cosmetics and computers.” Even baby bottles made of clear polycarbonate plastic contain bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A is another estrogen mimic. Since excess estrogen can cause breast cancer, scientists are concerned about prenatal exposure to bisphenol A. Now, there is significant new evidence bisphenol A acts on the thyroid gland and affects the onset of puberty in mammals. The chemical also may put infants at a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease. “It affects how tissue develops in the brain and how it changes as you get older,” Colborn says.

So far, the FDA has claimed bisphenol A is safe. But new studies are showing the chemical causes damage at lower levels than previously believed. Until government regulations catch up with the science, Colborn says it's best to avoid plastic food and beverage containers-especially rigid, clear polycarbonate ones. Instead, look for tempered-glass baby bottles (Evenflo makes a set).

Another ubiquitous, but relatively unknown set of chemicals that poses a greater threat to women and their babies is perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These compounds, which industry prizes for their ability to repel water and stains, show up in everything from rugs and furniture treated with Scotchguard to Teflon pans, Goretex camping gear and certain types of dental floss. Responding to health concerns, 3M stopped using PFOS in 2000, but DuPont still manufactures PFOA at a plant in West Virginia.

Colborn estimated that 90 percent of Americans have these chemicals in their blood. They are of special concern because women and girls accumulate them at much higher levels than men. PFOS affects the thyroid gland and causes early onset of puberty in animals. It also causes birth defects and high infant death rates in rats.

Bird lovers are already wary of these compounds because their feathery pets tend to fall over dead when someone burns a nonstick pan on the stove. (For more on this, visit www.exoticbird.com/teflon.html).Colborn says PFOS and PFOA are perhaps the most persistent chemicals ever found in the environment.

Phthalates, chemicals used to soften plastic, received a lot of media attention after lab tests found these potential carcinogens in baby toys and teethers. Most children's toy manufacturers quit using them. But phthalates are still alive and well in women's beauty products. A 2000 CDC study shows women of childbearing age have concentrations of phthalates in their bodies that were 20 times higher than the rest of the population. Those levels also exceed the federal safety standard for phthalates.

An Environmental Working Group report entitled “Skin Deep” offers a list of lotions, creams and polishes that contain phthalates. Health experts encourage women to print this list and consult it before shopping for beauty products.

Since companies are not required to list phthalates on product labels, many women do not realize they are slathering them onto their skin and hair every day. Manufacturers like phthalates because they cling to the skin and nails to give perfumes, hair gel and nail polish more staying power. Some beauty products, including hairsprays and dark hair dyes used mainly by women, pose a unique cancer threat. Even tampons have trace levels of dioxin, studies show. Given these risks, health experts like Colborn says it's better to shop around for organic alternatives.

Cleaning products also put women at risk, especially if they stay at home all day. Even if they work outside of the home, most women do the majority of cleaning. Handy gadgets like the Swiffer send solvent fumes into the air. Potent stain removers add chlorine gas. Ant traps and bug spray waft pesticide residue around the house.

Natural Healthy Home Cleaning Tips

So it pays to learn about the riskiest cleaners and steer clear. The natural products company Seventh Generation, which offers a nontoxic line, created a helpful online glossary of common household chemicals and their health effects. Other experts, like Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Clean and Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic Environmentally Safe Housekeeping, show you how to create healthier alternatives with simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.

The Great Divide

Women face the most lethal environmental risks on the job. Women who work in certain occupations, such as house painting, dry cleaning and computer manufacturing have a greater cancer risk. And environmental justice studies show poor women and women of color are exposed to hazardous chemicals in disproportionate amounts-both at home and at work.

“Often, low-income families have limited access to health care and lack information about toxins in their midst,” says Eshaghpour. The Women's Foundation of California report highlights Latino farmworkers in the Fresno area who frequently experience symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning (dizziness, headaches, blurred vision). As the report points out, exposure to certain pesticides, such as atrazine, also may increase their risk of developing breast cancer.

A group of women who work and live on dairy farms in rural Tulare County, California documented a link between nitrates, pesticides and antibiotics in the local water and an elevated risk of bladder cancer and birth defects. They launched an education campaign to prevent others from drinking the contaminated water.

Another group of immigrant women from Mexico, who work as housecleaners in the Bay Area, got tired of dealing with health problems caused by chemical cleaning solutions. Instead, they formed their own cooperative using less-toxic products.

In her book, All Our Relations, Native American activist Winona LaDuke highlights several examples of indigenous women who have been affected by severe pollution in their communities. For example, Inuit women in the Arctic Circle, who rely on fish as their main protein source, discovered they have extremely high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their breast milk. When researchers traced the pollution to a garbage incinerator in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, environmental activists sued. They forced the facility's owner, Excel Energy, to spend $14 million to halt toxic emissions.

Katsi Cook, a Mohawk midwife in upstate New York, discovered the same problem in her community, Akwesasne: Women had contaminated breast milk due to pollution from industrial plants in the Great Lakes basin. Cook started the Mohawk Mother's Milk project to teach local women how to reduce their exposure.

“Realizing that mother's milk contains an alphabet soup of toxic chemicals is discouraging stuff,” writes Cook in an essay entitled “Women are the First Environment.” By carrying future generations in their wombs, some activists say, women also have more of a responsibility to educate themselves and protect the environment.

Breast Cancer

No matter where they live or what type of economic background they came from, all women worry about breast cancer. The late Karen Holly, an African-American who grew up in a housing project, contracted breast cancer at 34 after a lifetime of exposure, including proximity to a chemical plant, and use of hair straighteners and pest and rodent control chemicals in the home. “Is poverty a carcinogen?” she asked. Since 1960, a woman's risk of developing breast cancer has increased from one in 30 to one in eight. Scientists are questioning why the breast cancer rate is rising in developed nations. Many believe environmental factors are key.

Diet is the best way for women to control their breast cancer risk, says Dr. Samuel Epstein, president of the Chicago-based Cancer Prevention Coalition. Epstein believes women should opt for organic milk instead of conventional dairy milk that contains the synthetic hormone rBGH. This substance, which mimics estrogen, could add too much hormone load to a women's body and increase her breast cancer risk.

Epstein also warns against meat from animals treated with estrogen-like chemicals that make the product more tender. A better alternative is to add more vegetarian meals and shop for organic, grass-fed beef or free-range chicken.

In general, women would be wise to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet, says Dr. Mary Wolff, a professor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Department of Community Prevention. Fresh produce adds antioxidants and vitamins with cancer prevention power. They also add fiber, which flushes excess estrogen out of the body.

Since too much estrogen can lead to trouble, Wolff also suggests avoiding hormone replacement therapy and long-term use of birth control pills. Other doctors are looking at antiperspirants, which block lymph ducts located in the armpit, which may prevent the release of estrogen waste products. A variety of chemical-free deodorants, including crystal products, is available on the natural health market from companies like Weleda and Jason.

Ovarian and Uterine Cancer

Ovarian cancer is another uniquely female health concern, but it has been less well studied than breast cancer. Scientists do know that women who use talcum powder after their daily shower or bath have a higher rate of ovarian cancer. As infertility rates climb, women must contend with another risk factor: Recent studies show a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who used the fertility drug clomiphene. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer for women because it evades early detection.

Ironically, tamoxifen-a drug used to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer-has the side effect of causing uterine cancer. So women taking tamoxifen for one type of cancer have to worry about screening for another one.

The Risk of Aging

Alzheimer's disease is another condition that affects women in greater numbers. In fact, women are three times more likely to get Alzheimer's than men. New research shows estrogen may play a role in this disparity. In this case, estrogen appears to have a protective effect. Studies show most women develop Alzheimer's after menopause, when estrogen levels in the body begin to sharply drop. Estrogen levels in men, however, start to rise late in life because their bodies convert testosterone to estrogen.

But something in the environment might be part of the equation. Researchers have long believed aluminum is a factor. A 1991 Lancet study showed women with aluminum contamination in their drinking water had a 46 percent higher risk for developing Alzheimer's.

Women are exposed to aluminum in everything from cookware and baking powder to antiperspirants. Older women living in nursing homes with indoor air pollution caused by mold also may experience more severe symptoms. Studies show certain types of mold can worsen memory loss.

Women with osteoporosis may also want to check out their water supply. There's evidence that heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can make osteoporosis worse. According to the NIEHS, exposure to heavy metals can have a direct affect on bone tissue, making it weak and brittle. As bone breaks down, it releases lead into the bloodstream, which can also aggravate dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms.

Pollution and Politics

For some women, taking political action can be a healing step when dealing with harmful health impacts. The Women's Foundation of California report highlights a group of Laotian grandmothers who formed an environmental group in Contra Costa County after 200 people in their community got sick because they didn't understand government warnings about a toxic explosion at a nearby oil refinery. Officials urged people to stay indoors, but the message was broadcast only in English. Now, the grandmas work closely with health officials to send out warnings in four Laotian languages.

At the federal level, activists from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Society for Women's Health Research in Washington, D.C. want the government to require industries to test every chemical for more than just potential cancer risk. They also should be looking for hormone-disrupting effects and potential for different health impacts on men and women. “It's not just about women's health,” says Sherry A. Marts of the Society for Women's Health Research. “We're going to figure out new things about men by studying women.”

Some progress has been made in the past decade, says Colborn, but we still have a long way to go. For one thing, many of the sensitive tests needed to analyze some of the more elusive endocrine disrupters do not even exist yet.

Even if the right testing tools were available, scientists would face a huge backlog. There are 80,000 chemicals that still need to be evaluated for health risks, Marts estimates-and 2,000 new ones enter the market each year.

Given the situation, it makes sense for women to get involved in environmental health issues-whether they operate as individual consumers or as legislative activists, Marts says. “Women tend to be more concerned about their own health, but also about their family's health,” she says. “Women are the health-care gatekeepers.”

Melissa Knopper is a Colorado-based journalist specializing in health and science reporting.

Important Information for Your Babysitter

Whether you occasionally hire a sitter to watch your children or you have full-time in-home childcare, this checklist covers everything a caregiver needs to know so she can keep your kids happy and safe when you're not around. Before you go out, fill it in, print it out, post it on the fridge, and rest easy as you head for the door. Register with ClubMom to customize this checklist by assigning due dates, adding new tasks, scheduling email reminders, and more.

General Information:

Our names:

Our home address:

Our home telephone number:

The name, phone number, and location of where we'll be:

The time we plan to return home:

House key is kept:

Car key is kept:

First-aid supplies are kept:

Medications are kept:

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When to contact us:

If a child has been crying for more than 20 or 30 minutes and you can't figure out what's wrong.

If a child develops a fever, vomits, or is injured (more than a superficial scrape).

Anytime a situation develops that you feel you can't handle without help.

Mom's work and/or cell phone numbers:

Dad's work and/or cell phone numbers:

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In an emergency, if we can't be reached, here's who to contact:

(Input name, relationship, address, and telephone)

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Emergency help numbers to call:

Poison control:

Police department:

Fire department:

Hospital or urgent care:

Pediatrician's name and number:

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What to do in case of a fire:

In the case of a small, contained fire (on the stove, for example), the fire extinguisher can be used if you already know how to operate one. Our fire extinguisher is located:

In the event of a larger fire, gather all the children immediately and usher them out of the house via the nearest door or window.

Test doors before you open them. Kneel down, reach up as high as you can, and touch the door with the back of your hand--at the knob and around the frame. If there's a fire on the other side, it will feel warm on the knob and around the cracks.

If the door is warm, try another escape route.

Exits are located:

Take the kids and go straight to a neighbor's house--preferably one who is on the "in case of emergency" list--and call 911 from there.

Call us, or one of the above alternate contacts if we are not reachable.

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Health insurance information you may need:

Insurance company:

Group/policy number:

Policy holder's name:

Policy holder's identification number:

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Details about our children:

(Input child's full name, age, weight, height, nap and/or bed times, plus special instructions--food allergies, medical condition(s), names of medication(s) and dosages, special instructions)

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House rules and routines:

Television programs and movies that are acceptable or unacceptable:

Foods that are acceptable or unacceptable:

Guidelines for outside play:

Guidelines for company:

Bedtime routine:

Special considerations:

Our discipline philosophy:

Never leave children unattended with food.

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Special requests:
Please write down details about your day/night with our children.

What and when did they eat?

What time did they nap/go to bed for the night?

Were they well-behaved?

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Follow general safety rules:

Avoid giving: raisins, hot dogs, raw carrots, celery, grapes, nuts, hard candy, gum, popcorn, raw pears and apples to children under age four years. For ages four to six years, be sure to peel and cut apples, pears, and carrots.

Never drink or eat anything hot while holding a baby or young child.

Never leave a child unattended with food. Make sure any food given to children under age four years is cut into tiny pieces (about the size of a fingertip).

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