1. Take a break and relax (put your feet’s up and read a book or a magazine)
2. Chill Out (try Meditation and positive visualization)
3. Participate in antenatal yoga classes (there you can learn new relaxing techniques and breathing techniques that will help you during labor).
4. Get ready for the birth
5. Enjoy the time with your partner
6. Eat well
7. Exercise as long as it is safe for you and the baby
8. Ask your employer if you can avoid rush ours specially during your commuting
9. Always sit down if you are traveling with public transport
10. Laugh a lot
11. Go for a spa (make sure the spa is adequate for pregnant mothers)
12. If your bump is already to big to cut your toenails – go for regular pedicures
13. Prepare financially for the changes that occur when you have a baby. (It is not necessary to buy everything! Make a list and prioritize. Some items you can borrow from family or friends that have already older children).

The role of a modern woman has become more varied and challenging than, say, 30 years ago. Most women today juggle the demands of a full-time job with their traditional role of home-maker so that they help to sustain a decent standard of living.

As a home-maker, a woman bears the heavy burden of raising children, managing the household and ensuring her family’s overall wellbeing. With this in mind, the least the government should do is ensure the full recovery of a woman’s physical, emotional and mental state after delivering a child.

Many Southeast Asian nations have moved forward along with the Recommendation of the ILO Convention 103 – Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952. The revised Convention 183 of 2000 considered 7 maternity protections;

Sign up now and support the initiative by the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) to increase the existing paid maternity leave from 60 to 90 days.

Sign the petition!!!

As Julie Henderson and her husband were buying their new station wagon, she nearly told the salesman about her pregnancy. A home test had come back positive just a few days earlier. Even before they got the big news, the Hendersons were shopping for a new, bigger car. Now, with a second baby on the way, the timing seemed perfect.

The age difference between her three-year-old son and the new baby would be ideal. She would be off work at the same time as her pregnant friends.

But something held Ms. Henderson back from telling the car salesman, her co-workers, or her closest friends, for that matter. It was so early — she was just four and a half weeks along. And within days of taking a pregnancy test, she was not pregnant any longer. By the time she visited her doctor, she had lost the baby.

“My husband said, ‘You were never really pregnant, were you?” said Ms. Henderson, 32, who asked that her real name not be used because of fear her pregnancy plans will affect her career. “If I wasn’t actively trying to get pregnant, I would have chalked it up to not feeling good.”

This is the other side of the thin blue line. At least one in five pregnancies ends in miscarriage, according to experts.

Years ago, many women miscarried before they knew they were pregnant, but the latest generation of pregnancy tests predict positive outcomes within days of conception.

But those early days are also when most pregnancy losses occur.

The risk of losing a pregnancy also rises as a woman ages. More Canadian women than ever are giving birth to their first children after they reach the age of 30. Women now grapple with the grief and confusion of an unexpected, inexplicable loss that previous generations may not have even registered, thinking their pregnancy losses were simply late periods, or not even noticing at all. The earliest pregnancy losses are often referred to as a chemical pregnancy, a missed miscarriage, or a blighted ovum. Regardless of the terminology, the outcome is the same: Couples who wanted to be pregnant are pregnant no longer. There is no baby to grieve, nothing to bury.

“People have a tendency to forget that this is a real loss. This is not a trivial matter,” said Anne Rosberger, director of the Bereavement and Loss Center of New York.

“These pregnancy losses and the feelings that go with them are certainly felt. People think it’s something that is like a blip on your life’s radar screen, an insignificant blip. But to you, it’s not. You have been waiting for this child. All these ‘unhad’ babies are precious. They are real. They are real to those parents.”

Technology exacerbates the problem. With ultrasounds available for women just a few weeks pregnant, the emotional attachment to a pregnancy can begin almost instantly. Seeing images of the baby developing inside makes the experience seem real, even before a baby’s tiny heartbeat can be detected.

Andrea Colman, an interior designer and mother of four in Holland Landing, Ont., has been pregnant nine times. Her most recent pregnancy loss was two years ago, shortly after she and her current husband began in vitro fertilization treatments. She was only eight weeks along when she miscarried.

With each miscarriage, Ms. Colman says she lost a bit of her soul. When she was in her 20s, her first husband would say they were so young, they should simply try to have another baby. Yet it was not another baby she wanted; she wanted the baby she had lost.

“When you miscarry before three months, you end up carrying that load by yourself because you didn’t tell anybody about the pregnancy,” she said. “Until you start telling people you’ve had a miscarriage, you don’t realize how many people have had them.”

Research has found valid reasons that parents are reluctant to talk about their losses; their feelings are often unappreciated or misunderstood by friends and family.

A recent study in the journal Women’s Health & Urban Life found the support offered to grieving women varies depending on how far along their pregnancies had progressed.

The researchers quizzed a group of female university students on their perceptions of perinatal losses. They viewed stillbirth as a more significant loss than miscarriage.

“When individuals do not view perinatal loss as a real life loss and instead view it as, for example, a routine procedure or failed conception, it is likely they will not have much empathy for the woman who experienced the loss and, in turn provide little support,” the researchers note. “It is likely that individuals provide varying types and amounts of support based on the meaning they attach to the loss.”

Tina Smith, a hospital worker who lives near Toronto, feels as though she is carrying around a shameful secret. For her, comfort comes from a “forget-me-not” necklace she ordered online. The pendant features a pearl, amethyst and ruby, the birthstones for the months of conception, due date and the pregnancy loss.

It was over by the time Ms. Smith went for her first ultrasound at nine weeks. After having six ultrasounds in the space of a week, Ms. Smith, who was then 39, learned that the baby had died.

“I’d lost the baby five weeks earlier and didn’t know,” said Ms. Smith, who also asked that her real name not be used. “I felt almost stupid, in a way, because I didn’t know, which is ridiculous. How, logically, could I know?”

Many of those pregnancies are still in such early days that women may have not yet revealed their news to anyone other than their spouses, making their grief all the more isolating. It is precisely

the fear of losing a pregnancy that keeps many parents from sharing their news during the first trimester. When Ms. Henderson miscarried, she simply told her boss that she was not feeling well — to have been completely honest would have tipped him to a possible maternity leave in her future.

She turned to an online message board for support, as more and more women are doing. The Internet provides some measure of anonymity, as well as an instant community of people experiencing similar losses. On message boards for parents and boards devoted to young women, the topic is so common that it often has its own category as a conversation thread.

“The thing I learned with what I went through is that from the moment you pee on the stick you’re a mom,” one woman wrote. “When you got that positive you imagined a life and what you’re mourning is not a ‘chemical pregnancy,’ but the loss of the vision you had for how your family was going to evolve.”

Many women say the best therapy for them will be holding a newborn baby in their arms. Despite their losses, they are still trying.

(National Post, March 2010)

Post-pregnancy weight can be one of the most frustrating things for a new mother. While your pre-baby weight may have been perfect, after the baby arrives, it may be difficult to lose those extra pounds. Many people believe that you must gain at least 25 lbs during your pregnancy and that you’re eating for two. And while it’s important to eat healthy and nutritious meals, that much of a weight gain isn’t necessarily needed (especially if you had a few extra pounds to lose in the first place).

But, if you have post pregnancy weight to lose, here are a few guidelines that will help make the transition back to your pre-pregnancy weight, easier.

Have realistic expectations. Recently, celebrities have astonished the world with how quickly they lose their baby weight. Unfortunately, these women are sending the wrong message to women everywhere and creating unrealistic expectations. Not only is it very, very difficult to lose weight that rapidly, but it’s also not healthy. As with any weight loss program, you need to lose the fat/weight properly and healthily.

• Drink plenty of water:  drinking water is healthy, especially, during a post-pregnancy weight loss program.
• Exercise:  creating a healthy exercise program is one of the keys to getting that baby fat off your body. Many experts suggest that walking is one of the best exercises that a new mother can do. Go for walks with your baby. You exercise while your baby get some fresh air. Make sure your baby is dressed properly for the walk and is protected from the sun.  Have in mind that you should avoid strenuous exercise for 6 weeks after the birth of your child.
• Diet. Create a healthy diet for yourself. Eating plenty of vegetables, good carbs and low fat protein is the best thing for post-pregnancy weight loss.
• Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding also helps you to loose weight.

If you’re having trouble conceiving a child, the answer may be as simple as changing your diet and exercising more. Find out how what you eat can affect fertility

Can what you eat truly help your chances of becoming pregnant? Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health say yes. And that’s welcome news to those one in six American women who suffer from infertility.

According to the Harvard study, women who follow a healthy diet and get regular exercise could be almost 70 percent less likely to have ovulation problems – a primary cause of infertility.

The study involved 17,544 married women who were all trying to conceive. The team assigned a “fertility diet” score of one to five points for each of several diet and lifestyle factors. The risk of infertility decreased with every added strategy.

If you are struggling to get pregnant and have ruled out physical problems (such as blocked fallopian tubes), consider the following nutrition tips. At the very least, you will improve your eating and exercise habits, which will only benefit you in the long run.

1. Eat more whole-food carbs

Carbs affect your blood sugar and insulin levels. Abnormal levels of blood sugar or insulin can cause an imbalance in hormones related to pregnancy.

Increase:

• Whole-food, high-fiber carbs that are low on the glycemic index
• Brown rice, whole-grain breads and cereals, whole-wheat pasta, sweet potatoes, barley, vegetables

Decrease:

• Processed carbs: white flour (white breads, cold breakfast cereals), white rice, white potatoes
• Doughnuts, cookies, soda, sweets

2. Eat fewer trans fats

Different types of fats have an effect on your weight, hormones and overall health.

Increase:

• Heart-healthy fats, such as olives, avocado, olive oil, trans-fat-free margarine, fatty fish, nuts and seeds

Decrease:

• Trans fats, which are found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, chips, cookies, snack foods, fries, doughnuts or any food made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils.

3. Eat more plant versus animal protein

Increase:

• Beans, peas, tofu or soybeans, nuts, seeds

Decrease:

• Red meat, chicken, turkey

Neutral:

• Fish and eggs. Use to substitute for meat and poultry.

4. Increase dairy fat

Removing fat from milk changes the balance of sex hormones in a way that could tip the scales against fertility.

Increase: (one to two servings a day)

• Whole milk
• Ice cream (keep to 1/2 cup serving one to two times a week)
• Full fat yogurt and 4 percent cottage cheese

Decrease:

• Low-fat and nonfat yogurt, skim and low-fat milk, low-fat cottage cheese, sherbet

If you include more fat from dairy, cut back on other sources of saturated fats, like red meats and butter. After the pregnancy, go back to low-fat dairy. It’s clearly more beneficial for weight, heart disease and cancer.

5. Take a multivitamin and increase iron

• Take a prenatal multi-vitamin and iron supplement.
• Choose foods rich in non-heme (plant sources) of iron, such as green leafy vegetables and beans/legumes.

6. Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI)

Women who are underweight or overweight will have more trouble with fertility than those in the mid-range. Ideally, aim for a BMI of 20 to 24.

Women who are very lean may have too little body fat, which often halts their menstrual cycles. Just a 5- or 10-pound gain can often bring back ovulation.

Overweight women may have fertility success by losing 5 percent to 10 percent of their current weight.

7. Get regular exercise

For most women, this means getting at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise every day. Aim for a mix of flexibility and strength training, plus aerobic exercise. Increased physical activity will also help:

• Control weight
• Control insulin levels and blood sugar
• Relieve stress
• Improve flexibility and strength

Check with your doctor before you increase your activity.

(MyOptumHealth March 2010)

Using certain types of birth control may delay your return of fertility. Find out how long it may take you to get pregnant after stopping hormonal birth control.

For years the goal was to prevent pregnancy. Now it’s time to toss the pill, have the intrauterine device (IUD) removed or stop getting the birth control shot. You’re ready to conceive. But is your body? Could using hormonal birth control in the past affect how long it will take to see a “plus sign” on a pregnancy test now?

Your return to fertility
Your ability to get pregnant after stopping birth control depends on:

• The birth control method you were using
• Possibly on how long you were using birth control
• Health conditions
• Your age
• How often you have sex

Respect “Mother Nature”
Every woman’s body is different. Some women get pregnant right after stopping birth control, while it takes others much longer. Most women get pregnant within six months of trying to conceive and 85%  are pregnant within one year.

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than one year without success, see your doctor. If you’re over 35, see your gynecologist after trying for six months.

Birth control methods
All hormonal contraceptives –  birth control pills, shot, implant, IUD, skin patch and vaginal ring – arereversible methods of birth control. This means when you stop using them, your ability to get pregnant should return. Any delays in getting pregnant as a result of birth control will be temporary.

Keep in mind if you had irregular menstrual cycles before going on birth control, they will likely be irregular again once you stop using it.

Birth control shots are most likely to temporarily affect your fertility. You may not be able to get pregnant for nine months to a year after your last shot. One study found that women who took the birth control shot for more than two years had a longer delay in return to fertility. But ninety percent of women can become pregnant within 18 months of stopping the shot.

Birth control pills. Most women are able to get pregnant right after they stop birth control pills. But it takes some women a few months for their period (and ovulation) to return after taking their last pill.

Some studies have found that using the pill may slightly delay your ability to get pregnant. Yet, other studies have not found this to be true. If there is any delay, it will likely only last a few months:

• One study found that women who used the combination pill (containing both estrogen and progestin) for more than two years took about three months longer to conceive than women who used condoms. (There was no difference for women who used the pill for less than two years.) Women who used progestin-only pills had no delay in the return to fertility. 70% of women in this study were pregnant within six months of stopping the pill. After one year, 84% were pregnant.
• Another study found that women who used continuous birth control pills (packs of 91 pills) had no impact on fertility. 86% of women were pregnant within 13 months of stopping the pill.

IUDs (hormonal and copper) and birth control implants have no long-term affect on fertility. Your ability to get pregnant will return once the IUD or implant is removed by your gynecologist.

Consider backup birth control
Your gynecologist may suggest using a backup method of birth control for the first couple of cycles you’re off hormonal birth control. This is so a pregnancy can be dated accurately. If you stop using birth control and get pregnant before you have a period, it can be hard to determine your baby’s date of conception and due date. Gestational age is calculated based on the date of your last menstrual period.

Get your body ready
Make an appointment with your doctor for a preconception checkup before you start trying to conceive. For a healthy pregnancy and baby, it’s best to have good habits well before you conceive:

• Don’t smoke or drink alcohol. If you do, quit.
• Reach or maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly. Check with your doctor first before you start an exercise program.
• Eat healthy. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein and nonfat and low-fat dairy. Limit foods high in saturated and trans fats, sodium and added sugar.
• Take a  prenatal vitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid.
• Get plenty of sleep. Aim for eight hours each night.
• Try not to stress.

(MyOptumHealth, Feb 2010)

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Being an older mother significantly increases the risk of having a child with autism, but being an older father only increases the risk when the mother is under the age of 30, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

They found that a 40-year-old woman’s risk of having a child later diagnosed with autism was 50 percent greater than that of a woman between 25 and 29.

But being an older father — 40 or older — only contributes significantly to autism risk when the mother is under 30.

“The older the mother, the more the risk that the child will develop autism, regardless of whether the father is young or old,” said Irva Hertz-Picciotto of the University of California Davis MIND Institute, who worked on the study published in the journal Autism Research.

The findings contradict a 2006 study of children born in Israel that suggested paternal age played a much larger role.

“There has been a debate over whether it is maternal or paternal risk. A lot of people were thinking it’s not really mom’s age,” Hertz-Picciotto said in a telephone interview.

Researchers and policymakers are increasingly looking for causes to explain the growing numbers of children diagnosed with autism, which affects 1 percent of U.S. children.

There is no cure for autism, a spectrum of diseases ranging from severe and profound inability to communicate and mental retardation to relatively mild symptoms such as with Asperger’s syndrome.

The current study, which incorporates data on 4.9 million births and 12,159 autism cases in California, helps to clarify the contribution of age from both parents.

“We have such a very large database we were really able to disentangle the mother’s age very well,” Hertz-Picciotto said. This can be a challenge because older mothers and fathers tend to have children together.

“We found it does vary for the father, but not for the mother,” she said.

For example, among babies born to mothers under 25, children whose father was over 40 were twice as likely to develop autism as those whose father was between 25 and 29.

This could be because when both parents are older, the risk conferred by the father is outweighed by the risk from the mother, Hertz-Picciotto said.

OLDER PARENTS

She said the point of the study is not to blame parents, but to gain clues about what is going on in older parents that could increase a child’s risk of developing autism.

Older parents, for example, are more likely to have infertility problems and have used fertility treatments; the mothers are more likely to have autoimmune conditions, including gestational diabetes; and both have accumulated more toxins over their lifetimes, so the sperm and egg are more likely to have some changes that could increase risk.

“We see these age findings as clues for where to look next,” Hertz-Picciotto said.

Autism researchers are looking at a broad range of potential environmental factors, including household products, medical treatments, diet, food supplements and infections.

And the National Institute of Mental Health, one of the National Institutes of Health, is looking at potential genetic causes of autism and has plans to sequence the entire genomes of hundreds of children and their parents to gain a better understanding of the role genes play.

(Reuters, Feb 2010)

If you experience any of these 12 warning signs during pregnancy, call your doctor right away.

Most women can expect to have a healthy pregnancy. But knowing that might not stop you from fretting about every twinge and discomfort you have. While most symptoms are usually nothing to worry about, some signal a problem that needs attention.

“Red flags” are symptoms that may signal a problem with you or your unborn baby. Some deserve an immediate call to your doctor. Learn what these warning signs are so you know when to act.

“Better safe than sorry”
Some symptoms, such as a backache or headache, may or may not be serious. When in doubt, call your doctor. He or she will likely examine you to check for problems. It’s better to be safe and call your doctor too much, than to be sorry you didn’t contact him or her soon enough.

Warning signs

Prompt medical care is crucial in some situations. If you experience any of these 12 symptoms during your pregnancy, call your doctor right away:

1. Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking from your vagina. One out of every four women may have vaginal bleeding at some point during pregnancy. It may not be serious. Or, it could be a sign of a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or a problem with the placenta. Call your doctor right away to find out the cause. Call 999 if you have vaginal bleeding with any of the following:

• Very heavy bleeding
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fainting or lightheadedness
• Your baby is moving much less or has sudden violent movements

Leaking clear fluid could mean your “water broke” and labor is imminent.

2. Changes in vision. Blurry vision during pregnancy could be a sign of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or preeclampsia. This is a serious condition marked by high blood pressure and protein in you urine. Let your doctor know at once about any changes in vision. Call 999 if you have double vision or suddenly have trouble seeing.

3. Severe abdominal or back pain could mean you have an ectopic pregnancy, a problem with the placenta or preterm labor. Seek emergency medical help.

4. Frequent, painful headaches can be a symptom of preeclampsia. They may also be due to the change in hormones, increased blood circulation or other causes. Let your doctor know if you are having frequent headaches. Go to the emergency room (after notifying your doctor) if you have a severe headache along with nausea or vomiting.

5. Contractions may signal labor. Follow the guidelines that your doctor or midwife has given you if you are at full term. The following are signs that delivery may be very imminent, or that there is a serious life-threatening problem. Call 999 if:

• The contractions are intense
• You feel like you have to push or have a bowel movement
• You have heavy vaginal bleeding
• Your water has broken and you see the umbilical cord protruding from the vagina or it feels like there is something in the vagina
• Your water has broken and it is thick, yellow, green or brown
• Your baby has stopped moving or has violent movements
• If you feel like you may pass out

Get to the hospital if your water has broken or if your contractions are intense and three minutes apart (five minutes if you have delivered before). Call your doctor right away if you are having any contractions and are not full term.

6. Decrease or sharp increase in the baby’s movements. If your unborn baby usually moves around and you notice less action, it could be a sign of fetal distress. Sudden violent movements of the baby can also be a sign that he is in distress. Seek immediate medical help.

7. Vomiting and diarrhea. If you have these symptoms, you may have an infection. An infection can harm your unborn baby if left untreated. If you can’t keep foods and liquids down, your baby will not be getting the nourishment he or she needs to grow. And you could become dehydrated, which is also dangerous. Seek prompt medical help if you have diabetes, are dehydrated, or if you have a fever, severe abdominal pain or a severe headache along with the vomiting and nausea.

8. Fever or chills could be a sign of infection. These are also symptoms of the flu. During pregnancy, you are more likely to have complications from the flu and other infections, so it’s important to seek care right away.

9. Pain or burning when urinating may mean you have a urinary tract infection. Get prompt treatment because some vaginal infections are linked to preterm birth and low birth-weight babies.

10. Swelling of your hands, face or feet could signal preeclampsia.

11. Dizziness or convulsions are other symptoms of preeclampsia. They could also be symptoms of the more dangerous condition, eclampsia, which can lead to organ damage. Call 999 if you are dizzy, pass out or have a seizure.

12. Have thoughts of harming yourself or your unborn baby. Call 999 at once if you have thoughts of harming yourself or your unborn baby. If you have symptoms of depression, let your doctor know. Many treatment options, including some medications, are safe for pregnant women.

(MyOptumHealth)

Studies show that Bisphenol A (BPA) used in plastic baby bottles and other products may be harmful. Here you can find some information about what is BPA, where it is found and how you can safeguard your family.

All over the globe, worried parents are tossing plastic baby bottles and sippy cups made from polycarbonate plastic. Some parents and other groups want a chemical called BPA banned from all children’s products. Manufacturers are starting to offer BPA-free products, and some retailers are pulling plastics with BPA from shelves.

What are they upset about? What is BPA? Should you be worried, too?

What is BPA?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is chemical used to make a tough, clear, lightweight type of plastic called polycarbonate. It’s also used in epoxy resins.

BPA is often found in:

• Refillable hard plastic bottles, including baby bottles and some reusable water bottles
• Plastic plates, cups and utensils
• Food storage containers
• Food and beverage can linings (including soda pop) and bottle caps
• Compact discs
• Safety equipment such as goggles and helmets
• Medical equipment
• Some older dental sealants

Our main exposure to BPA seems to be through diet. BPA can leach into food and beverages from plastic containers and lined cans. Heating polycarbonate seems to increase the amount of BPA it releases.

BPA would less of a concern if it were not so widespread. A 2003-2004 health survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found more than 92 percent of people age 6 and older had detectable levels of BPA in their urine.

Why is BPA a concern?
It’s not yet clear if BPA is harmful to humans, but there may be reason to worry. Previous testing had indicated that BPA was safe at the current low levels of exposure. Recent animal studies, though, have found subtle effects from low doses of BPA.

Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Toxicology Program have expressed concern about BPA’s potential effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children. These agencies are doing in-depth studies to learn more about the possible effects of BPA on humans, especially children. The results are expected in 2011 or early 2012.

While those studies are under way, the FDA is supporting industry efforts to stop including BPA in baby bottles and cups. It is also seeking more oversight of BPA so it can respond quickly if needed when more evidence is available.

In the U.S., a few states and cities have already banned the use of BPA in products meant for children. Canada has banned polycarbonate baby bottles and taken steps to limit BPA in the environment.

What can I do?
Until we have better answers about the risks of BPA, you can take steps to reduce your family’s exposure to this potentially harmful chemical:

• Use glass or “BPA-free” plastic baby bottles. These are now widely available.
• Breast-feed your baby for the first 12 months if you can. Breast milk is the best food for your baby, and experts recommend breastfeeding for at least the first year of life if possible.
• Don’t microwave or put very hot liquids in polycarbonate containers. Heating them can cause more BPA to be released into your food.
• Discard scratched polycarbonate bottles or containers. Worn surfaces may harbor bacteria and release more BPA.
• Use stainless steel, porcelain or glass food dishes and containers.
• Use less canned food. Choose fresh or frozen foods or foods packed in shelf-stable aseptic boxes.
• Look for BPA-free products. Nalgene makes BPA-free water bottles, and some stores carry BPA-free children’s products.

(MyOptumHealth.com, Jan 2010)

Flame-retardant chemicals that are present in many household consumer products may reduce fertility in women, University of California-Berkeley researchers reported Tuesday.

The study links each 10-fold increase in the blood concentration of four PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) chemicals to a 30% decrease in the odds of becoming pregnant eachmonth.

These chemicals are used in foam furniture, electronics, fabrics, carpets, plastics and other items. They became common decades ago in the United States when fire safety standards were adopted. They are being phased out nationwide but some are still found in products made before 2004.

The research joins other animal and human studies that show health effects from PBDE exposure and that 97% of U.S. residents have detectable  levels of the chemicals in their blood.

“This latest paper is the first to address the impact on human fertility, and the results are surprisingly strong,” says lead author Kim Harley, associate director of the Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research at the University of California-Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

Harley says the chemicals leach into our environment. She says Californians have particularly high levels of PBDEs, most likely because of the state’s relatively strict flammability laws.

Even though the chemicals are being phased out, Harley remains concerned. “We know even less about the newer flame retardant chemicals that are coming out,” she says in a university press release. “We just don’t have the human studies yet to show that they are safe.”

In the study, published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Harley and other researchers measured PBDE levels in blood samples from 223 pregnant women, many of them young Mexican immigrants in an agricultural community. Their analysis takes into consideration exposure to pesticides and other factors that could affect fertility.

The study says it’s not entirely clear how PBDEs  impact fertility.  Animal studies have found that the chemicals can impair neurodevelopment, reduce thyroid hormones and alter levels of sex hormones.