Radiation
week, and offer one more optional one later
in the pregnancy. I think that’s sensible. I am
concerned about the overuse of ultrasound in
pregnancy. The idea that you need to do an ultrasound at every visit, or that the ultrasound
has to be done throughout the pregnancy is
really questionable. And I am appalled at the
commercialization, where you get the 3D
imaging in shopping centers. I think this is
grotesque and a really bad idea. Like a lot of
things we’re doing in technology we are overdoing it.”
Can Wi-Fi harm your baby?
What about all the other sources of EMF’s out
there? Does sitting in Starbucks pose a hidden
menace to your unborn child?
Unfortunately, that’s a question we may never
know the answer to. Practically speaking, we
all now live in a sea of radiation that has never
existed before. And there’s really no way to
test its effects, because we don’t have a control
group of people who are living a similar lifestyle without the radiation.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to err on
the side of caution and limit exposure to
wireless radiation as much as possible. For
instance, we can use landlines and standard
internet connections at home, and reduce our
contact with the highest exposure devices: cell
phones, cordless phones, phone base stations,
and the backs of computer monitors (so if you
work in an office try to avoid sitting against
the back of your colleague’s computer screen.)
Time and distance matter
One important point to remember is that
wireless exposure is an inverse square law.
42
What Every Woman Needs to Know
This means that being twice as far away results in four times less exposure. That’s why
moving a short distance from the source (like
using your phone on speaker setting instead
of holding it to your ear) can make a dramatic
difference in the amount of radiation you
receive.
When using laptops and similar devices,
understand that they’re not approved for use
next to the body. Laptops are tested to be safe
at a distance of 8 inches. So while your pregnant belly may make a beautiful table, save it
for a bowl of popcorn or a paperback. Or, put
your Kindle on airplane mode once you’ve
downloaded your e-book.
Another thing to be aware of when you’re
pregnant is timing. The most sensitive period
for your baby is between the 8th and 15th
weeks of pregnancy. That’s when her brain
and nervous system are developing and growing at the most rapid rate. You’ll want to be
especially careful to protect her during these
weeks.
They’re phones, not bombs
But while it’s important to be prudent, there’s
no need to panic.
“Don’t worry,” says Dr. Davis. “Babies have a
way of getting what they need.”
Her top recommendations?
“Make sure you sleep in the dark. That will let
your body make sufficient amounts of melatonin, which helps fight radiation. Eat your
broccoli. The general emphasis on nutrition is
wonderful. That, and practice safe phones.”
Good advice for anybody.