WEEK 15! We are in the process of moving to our beautiful new apartment so the picture of my belly might be delayed. =)

Hello everyone. As you know, I am pretty strict about the food I eat (as much organic as possible) and the kinds of clothes I wear as well as the products I buy for cleaning, as well as shampoo's, soaps and body lotions (ALL NATURAL & Organic). I am careful about these things with good reason, not because I am a bit eccentric, but because I know the dangers of the ingredients of many products out there. What many people don't realize about the products they use everyday is that they are probably made of dangerous chemicals or have toxic ingredients, and these things that can easily be avoided. It is a scary fact that studies show these products to be hazardous to our human health and they can potentially cause cancers or worse. My lovelies, I hope that you will take a second look at the ingredients in your cleaning, bath and body products etc. you are using, and perhaps your children are using everyday. It is too important not too. It's so sad that as a nation we are not more informed about what companies are exposing consumers too in thier products, so as consumers we have to take some time to educate ourselves of these hidden dangers. Also keep in mind that babies are children are that much more succeptable to the dangers posed by so many of these products/ingredients! This is all the more reason we want to have all natural/organics for our child....and for ourselves. =) Below is a short list of ingredients to look out for, please take a moment to read through this list of "hidden carcinogens".

- The largest group of hidden carcinogens includes dozens
of wetting agents or detergents, particularly PEGs,
Laureths, and Ceteareths, all of which are contaminated with
the potent and volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and
dioxane. These carcinogens could readily be stripped off
during ingredient manufacture, if the industry just made the
effort to do so. Another hidden carcinogenic ingredient is
lanolin, derived from sheep's wool, most samples of which
are contaminated with DDT-like pesticides.

-- The second group includes another detergent,
Triethanolamine (TEA) which, following interaction with
nitrite, is a precursor of a highly potent nitrosamine
carcinogen.

-- The third group includes Quaterniums and Diazolidinyl urea
preservatives which break down in the product or skin to
release the carcinogenic formaldehyde.

-Of additional concern is another group of common
preservatives, known as Parabens. Numerous studies over the
last decade have shown that these are weakly estrogenic.
They produce abnormal hormonal effects following application
to the skin of infant rodents, particularly male, resulting
in decreased testosterone levels, and urogenital
abnormalities. Parabens have also been found to accumulate
in the breasts of women with breast cancer.

Thier is a full article about these carcinogens HERE

I hope that you will take atleast some of this to heart. There is much more info out there about the hidden dangers of everyday products too. As I progress in my pregnany I think about everyday products (cleaning, soaps etc.) more and more, and the more I learn about the dangers of lets say "Name Brand" advertised products the more upset I get that so many people are using these items, and it scares me that so many people are probably unkowing of what they exposing themselves and thier children too. The positive thing is that there are natural, non-toxic alternatives out there, and the cost of them is comparable if not less sometimes. Not only are natural non-toxic products better for humans, they are better for the environment.

e-

Ok so this is Matt, posting for the very first time here on the VBODW. First off I have to say that the title of this blog might be a little misleading because I don't necessarily know if the the baby will be of the vegan only persuasion, that's still a discussion in the works. So I been feeling very nervous about having a baby. I mean i'm really excited, extremely joyous, wonderfully uplifted, but..... i'm really nervous. Yeah. For example, i got nervous last night when Erin wasn't home when I got home even though she left the restaurant that we ate at the same time i did and I had a longer walk to my car. Seems odd, but I just started thinking about all the things that could have been happening, turns out she just stopped at Stop and Shop, stoppin, at Shopping, stop, shop. OK moving on. So I have made a video about the babies beat. Link to it here

HEAR THE BABY BEAT JAM

Ok the end.

M

This was some of the worst writing i've ever performed. Sorry, first time babaay blogging jitters.

P.S. YOU MUST REGISTER TO MAKE COMMENTS ON OUR BLOG. MANY LUDE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP ON THE BLOG AND WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT CRAP!

Here's why I only want to eat Organic, and feed our child Organic foods when the time comes....please take the time to read this article.

CHILDREN'S CHEMICAL & PESTICIDE EXPOSURE VIA FOOD PRODUCTS

"The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that one of the main sources of pesticide exposure for U.S. children comes from the food they eat." If that does not scare the crap out of you, and make you sick.......that is SCAREY STUFF!

Not only do pesticides an bio-engineered food effect the health and well being of children, but they effect ALL HUMANS who consume these foods. For some reason, our society chooses to not really care where thier foods come from. This is really a scary thought, since so much of the foods in this country are "factory farm" raised.....seeds, fruits, vegetables and farm animals alike. As a society we need to realize that eating these foods is unhealthy! Organics are more nutritious and pesticide free!

"Over 300 synthetic food additives are allowed by the FDA in conventional foods. None of these are allowed in foods that are USDA certified organic." GO ORGANIC!

The other scary thing about non-organics is that scientists do not know the long term effects of consuming these foods, i.e. cancers, disease etc. Think before you eat!

PLEASE READ THIS TOO!!! OCA & Cancer Prevention Coalition Warn of Hidden Carcinogens in Baby Care

TOXIC THREATS TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT

there are many more important and interesting articles here

Ok Ya'll, here is week 13 in all my belly's glory! Babe's first video coming soon (soon as Matt gets it done and up on the inter-nets)

THIS IS AN IMAGE OF A 13 Week old fetus.....no it's not our fetus!

We've got a strong one my lovelies!

Today was our 2nd midwife appointment, at 12 1/2 just about 13 weeks. Our midwife today was Anne (remember we have 6, or is it 7 midwives). Anyways, she used the little fetal doppler and whaddyaknow.... WE HEARD OUR BABY'S HEARTBEAT! WOW! IT WAS UNBELIEVABLY EXCITING!!!!!!! Matt brought along a video camera, so we have the sound on video, I will be working towards getting the sound extracted and onto a webpage so you all can hear to! That is my plan for this evening...=)
It was so incredible to hear the sound.....swoosh swoosh swoosh! Matt is so incerdibly sensitive and sweet, I saw his eyes well up with joy. I looked at him and saw what his eyes were doing and that made me lauph....not at him but with happiness! So, I had to not look at Matt so that we could continue to hear the heartbeat. Hearing our baby's heart this morning made my day....how beautiful the sound. Anne the midwife said that the babies heartbeat is deffinately very strong......a wonderful thing! Our next appointment we will probably listen again...I cannot wait! Now that we have heard our baby's heart beating inside of me I really feel different. I truely feel connected to this little person growing inside my womb. AMAZING!

A PHOTO SHOOT BY MACY AND ME...

Ok.Ok.Ok.............EVERYTHING IS OK! So it was really hard not to get totally upset yesterday from the letter we got from MassHealth. So, I called our Midwifery place today and spoke with the woman there who talks directly to MassHealth all the time. I told her what happened, what the letter said...she asked for my social sec. and checked in the MassHealth system. According to the system I am covered for pre-natal and labor and delivery! I was like, uh ok but what about the letter we got? She suggested to give MassHealth a call, so I did and I am glad that I did because it totally has changed everything since I had not been working. With only Matt's income we have made the "cut" for my getting pre-natal and labor and delivery by $50 dollars! Now, I had been told by the woman that helped me to fill out the paper work for MassHealth that she would let them know I was not working. Obviously that never happened. No worries though, all I had to do was what I did today; call MassHealth and tell them I have not been working. So thats that. Disaster and stress headaches averted. So, we will be going to the midwife appointment on friday. All is well.

Also, Liz thank you so much for the email you sent to Matt. You always have a wonderful way of thinking logically and calmly about situations. I love that photo of you and Lucy on the party boat! We ALL deffinately have to get together in Milwaukee again and arrange for a party boat!

Ok, so that last post was a bit harsh. But you know what it is super stressful knowing that our income (mine is none right now) is not above the 200 percentile that you need to be below to get MassHealth. When I filled out the paperwork at a local Health Center that assists women in doing so, the women told me that the income gap had gone up July 1st, and that we were deffinately going to be covered at least for the pre-natal. Well, something got messed up because now the state won't even help me with pre-natal care. So, I am going to be on the phone all day tomarrow probably trying to see what happened...because it's just not right. We were also told by another woman at our midwifery place that deals with MassHealth all the time that we would be covered no problem! So, WHAT THE FRUITCAKE HAPPENED! I am also looking into alternatives that I was looking at even when I was covered by pre-natal: 1. Matt's health insurance...which might be super expensive and have a waiting period 2. A local group of Midwives called River Valley Midwives (they are 2 women who are nurse midwives) who do and all the pre-natal care and homebirthing, I am going to see if they might be interested in doing a partial trade....they have no website and maybe I can design them one for free. I am not totally sure about the last alternative, I had been in touch with a local Doula who is super nice and she has worked with local nurse midwives who offer care to low income people who can't afford health insurance. So, we shall see, but this is more stress than I want to have in my mind and body right now. I started crying this afternoon to myself over this....and Macy was so sweet, she immediately got up and came over and proceeded to get in the chair I was sitting in and gave me kisses and a hug. What a good girl she is!

Please excuse my being so blunt but......MASS HEALTH CAN SUCK A FART! I have just found out that I lost my pre-natal and any MassHealth care that I had....and that we have to pay a deductible, for what I have NO CLUE! Thank you Massachusetts Government....thank you US government! You all rule!

Have I told you lately that I love ARTICHOKES! YUMmmmmmmMMMM! I do really like artichokes, but for some strange reason, I CRAVE them at certain times, or on certain days! So here are some photos that I took today, while at home with Macy. Also the belly photo on this post is the week 12 belly photo dujour! Oh, and I got a job! Its a part time webmaster job at my old school, Greenfield Community College. I am not entirely sure why they hired me, as I am a little underqualified....but I am a quick learner so well see. Yeah, now Matt and I can go to IKEA at the end of the month and buy furniture and organizational wares to make our new place lovely for the baby!

SO.....hi there.

Yet another week in the life of a pregnant me has gone by. We had a lovely time going to the Berkshires for a few days last week, and then to Rhode Island for a few more days. I would love to share photos of that, but I haven't had the film processed just yet. So, this coming week is week 12 for me and friday we are going to the Midwife again for our 2nd appointment. I am really hopeful to be able to hear the baby's heartbeat this time! I weighed myself today, and I am up to 124 lbs! I have not weighed that much since I was in high school! Gaining is good...I have to keep reminding myself of this. Hopefully this week we can get signed up for the local YMCA that will be very close to where we are moving at the end of the month. I am excited to lift some weights (light one's of course) and to go swimming everyday! I am also going to see about signing up for pre-natal yoga...for some reason those classes are few and far between around here. =( Our friend Liz, who had her baby last summer reccomended pre-nantal yoga very highly. She told me that it was really nice be do the different stretches and etc. but also that it was so nice to be around other pregnant mommies. We will try to get a belly photo for this week...please stand by. =)

erin