Should Doctors Warn Pregnant Women about Environmental Risks?
by Jane Kay Dec, 10, 2012
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Source: Scientific American
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Summary: Dr. Darragh Flynn is just one of a few obstetricians and gynecologists that warn their patients of hidden dangers in their everyday life. According to a nationwide survey, about 2,600 obstetricians and gynecologists don't warn their pregnant patients about chemicals in their food, consumer products, and environment that could harm their fetuses and themselves. Some doctors don't inform pregnant women about the the danger of environmental risks, because they don't want them to stress more than what they already are. All women have chemicals intheir bodies that can harm the baby's development. Many of these chemicals can disrupt development of the brain or reproductive systems and cause other diseases, even at low levels of exposure. The sad thing that this information don't reach to most pregnant women, so they are being exposed to these chemicals the most. For example they are exposed to mercury, in the womb has lead to reduced IQs and other effects on developing brains. Even though, fish is a good protein source for women it just depends on what fish you eat. Most doctors aren't being taught about nutrition or contaminatants in school. The middle-to-upper class women have an advantage than the low-income women, because they have access to the doctors and the internet. For those who don't have access to online articles are exposed to chemicals constantly.
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Reflection: After reading this article it made me wonder of how many pregnant women are on earth and that half of them aren't warned about chemicals that can harmed their pregnancy and childbirth(s). What makes me sad is that a lot of doctors aren't tellimg most of their pregnant patients about the dangers of environmental risks that they shpuld be aware of. If we are able to
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