One more thing to watch out for while pregnant: cell phones. If you like to clip it to your belt or sleep with it close to your belly, beware! Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that exposure to radiation from cell phones can affect the brain development of your baby, which can potentially lead to hyperactivity and memory problems. ¡Ay, Dios mio!
Although further testing is needed in humans since the study, published in Scientific Reports Thursday, was carried out with mice, the researchers say it's still a good idea to keep cell phones away from your baby bump since "f__etuses' developing brains are fragile and more vulnerable than adults__," according to Dr. Hugh Taylor, the study's author.
I remember worrying about cellphones and microwaves during both my pregnancies, but I'm not sure I did everything in my power to not be exposed to either one of them all the time. I mean, I tried to be careful, but I'm sure I forgot and stood right in front of the microwave many times while I heated my daughter's milk and I was pregnant with my son. Plus, the truth is that, when I was pregnant, it always felt like I was being bombarded with all kinds of different studies about what I should do and shouldn't do and sometimes it got just a tad bit too much.
The problem is that while there isn't a ton of absolute proof about the effects of radiation exposure from cellphones during pregnancy, what if we do find out later on that the effects are real? In an era when most people simply can't live without their cellphones that's a pretty scary thought, especially when you consider, what these potential effects are.
"We have shown that behavioral problems in mice that resemble ADHD are caused by cell phone exposure in the womb," said Taylor. "The rise in behavioral disorders in human children may be in part due to fetal cellular telephone irradiation exposure."
Since it's always better to be safe than sorry, the best thing is for you to make sure your cellphone is turned off if it's going to be anywhere near your belly!
What do you think about studies like this one? Have you changed your cell phone using habits during pregnancy?
Image via d:space/flickr
