Baby armor
Workaholic and gadget monster moms, listen up. Drop your phone. Now. Or read this.
Which kind of preggy mom are you? A. Workaholic. You’re one of those who are always with their gadgets anywhere, anytime. No judgment. You’re only six months pregnant. A simple email convo with your boss wouldn’t hurt, right? B. Bored. You’ve taken your maternity leave (or you’re a housewife) but because there’s nothing worthwhile to do, you surf the net. C. Social media addict. You just can’t last a minute without commenting on FB, updating Twitter, or posting on Instagram.
Whichever mom you are, you are holding and working with your gadget. But while you think you’re not doing any strenuous activity that can harm your baby, checking your phone or updating your Instagram can. It turns out that everyday radiation or non-ionizing radiation emitted by smartphones, laptops, MP3 players, TVs, and other portable media devices has a biological impact on babies and it’s not positive.
Studies show that radiation affects the way cells grow, DNA replicates, and brain cells function. A 2010 study of 29,000 children by researchers from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that by age seven, there would be a 50 percent increase in behavioral problems—hyperactivity, attention disorders, and social issues—among children with “regular exposure” to mobile phones in the womb and during early childhood. Similar findings came out of an early study of 13,000 Danish children. According to these studies, the more frequently a mother used a mobile phone while pregnant, the greater the risk that her child would have behavioral problems. Besides behavior and development, magnetic exposure can also cause miscarriage, infertility, and cancer.
But with gadgets so much part of people’s lives, especially working moms who need to stay connected, it’ll be next to impossible to get them to leave their phones at home, lock their laptops inside a cabinet, and swear off Internet. Aileen Chen, cofounder of Belly Armor, didn’t want to do that, so she devised a way to protect her unborn child instead. Belly Armor is a line of maternity accessories like blankets, belly bands, and nursing covers that protect unborn children from radiation.
“Like most expectant mothers, I researched extensively on how to give my child the best start in life. All sources advised pregnant women to eat healthy, exercise, and avoid toxins like alcohol and certain chemicals, all of which I did diligently. But one obvious component in my everyday life that concerned me, about which there was little advice, was the radiation-emitting devices that surrounded me at home and at work. Did they have an impact? I researched more into ‘everyday radiation’ exposure, and was shocked at what I discovered. Radiation does have an effect,” says Aileen.
And it’s not just on the unborn child but on very young children as well. According to Geraldyn Perez, president of Crescom Biomics, local distributor of Belly Armor, babies are disproportionately impacted by all environmental exposures, including mobile phone radiation. And based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer, when used by children, the average radiation frequency energy deposition is two times higher in the brain and 10 times higher in the skull’s bone marrow compared to adults.”
Belly Armor products use radia-shield fabric, a conductive silver textile that neutralizes incoming electromagnetic waves, cancels ambient radiation, and thus reduces exposure. The silver fibers in the fabric works in a similar way with a metal sheet, which is the same approach being utilized in industrial and military contracts, but is safe, easy to use, and convenient. There is no “over-wearing” the armor. It does not use toxic dyes, give off common allergens, or contain harmful materials. So go ahead, wear it anytime, anywhere. After all, you cannot drop that phone right now.
5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM EVERYDAY RADIATION
1. Keep your distance
Have you read your iPhone’s fine print? Most manufacturers have warned consumers to always be an inch away from your gadget. How do you do this? Use earphones and speaker phones (but be sure to keep the phone away from your pregnant belly as well). Never put laptops or tablets directly on your body, especially on your pregnant belly. If you must, use a pillow between the device and your body. Never carry your mobile phone right next to your body. Put it in your bag instead. If you don’t have a bag and have to put it in your pocket, let the front face you so the radiation is directed away from you or put it on airplane mode. Never sleep with your phone under your pillow or close to you.
2. Plane Mode
Put your device on airplane mode to turn off the cellular and wireless signals. It will also save your battery life.
3. Limit Use
Put your gadget down. Limit the time you use your cell phone and other devices.
4. Smart buy
Did you know that not all cellular phones are equal when it comes to radiation? Radiation emitted varies significantly. Mobile phone manufacturers are required by the law to list a measure of specific absorption rate (SAR) of the phone, which is a measure of the radiation absorbed by the user. CNET, Environmental Working Group, and other groups keep up-to-date compilations of the best and worst phones for radiation emission. Google “cell phone SAR ratings.”
5. Protect
While pregnant or even while trying to conceive, shield yourself from radiation-emitting devices.
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