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7 Ways to Protect Your Placenta

Published May 01, 2015

Not many women consider the health of their placenta a top priority when they become pregnant, as many choose to focus solely on the health of the baby. This is by no means a bad choice, but the health of your placenta is just as important to the health of your baby as taking prenatal vitamins, getting enough rest, and avoiding things like caffeine and cigarettes.

Protecting Your Placenta: Things You Can Do

Many women unknowingly endanger their unborn babies by exposing themselves to several substances, sometimes on a daily basis. New studies have suggested that the wrong combinations of bacteria can even lead to premature births. ^[1] Some of these substances include receipt paper, antibacterial soaps, and more.

1. Avoid BPA, and Even BPA-Free Items

All of us, by now, are sure to know about the dangers BPA can cause, but what about those replacements for BPA? ^[2] BPF and BPS, commonly used to replace BPA in BPA-free products, are just as dangerous as BPA, if not more so. They're wrong; both of these are linked with neurodevelopmental issues. Things like BPA, BPS, and BPF can be carried across the placenta to your baby. ^[3] Studies suggest that pregnant women should avoid both plastic and receipts, if at all possible, for the health of their unborn babies.

2. Limit Exposure to Flame Retardants

Many things we use every day contain toxic flame retardants that pose threats to us and our children. Fire safety is always a top priority, but should we value that over near-constant exposure to toxins that affect neurological development? ^[4] With these kinds of threats almost completely ubiquitous in everyday life, taking precaution to safeguard your unborn child against flame retardants is even more important. Common sources of flame retardants are furniture, clothing, and car seats.

3. The Placenta Might Not Protect Against Lyme Disease

By now we know that certain foods and beverages a pregnant mother consumes will be passed onto the baby in some form, but can you really pass along diseases, too? The placenta acts as gateway and all kinds of bacteria are able to traverse that gateway. Unfortunately, we can now add the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to that list. A woman lived with undiagnosed Lyme disease for over three decades and gave birth to her daughter whilst affected by the disease. ^[5] Her daughter has had a host of issues all her life due to this undiagnosed disease she obtained while in the womb of her mother.

4. Antibacterial Soaps Can Harm the Placenta

Some people might be wary of antibacterial soaps because of the fact that they kill bad bacteria, but they also kill the good bacteria, too. Now there is another reason to avoid antibacterial soap: triclosan. Triclosan is an ingredient used in antibacterial soaps that have seen a lot of press in recent years. The FDA had this to say on the matter: "Further, some data suggest that long-term exposure to certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects." ^[6] While they also say that it is "not known to cause hazardous effects," the long-term effects of triclosan exposure could be devastating, especially for a newborn baby.

5. Balance Your Good:Bad Bacteria Ratio

While we're on the subject of bacteria, let's talk about harmful bacteria that can affect your baby if it travels through the placenta. Many studies are now being conducted to discern how much effect the microbiome of the placenta can have on the baby. ^[7] Once thought sterile, new evidence has shed light on the placenta and the bacteria that inhabit it. According to research, the amount of harmful toxins and bacteria pregnant women are exposed to will affect the overall health of the placenta and the overall health of the baby. ^[8] The best thing expectant mothers can do is to balance their good:bad bacteria ratio in their gut by taking a high-quality probiotic. Always consult with your doctor before taking any supplement during pregnancy.

6. Reduce Mercury Exposure

More than half a century ago, Minamata, Japan, was devastatingly affected by a severe mercury leak. ^[9] In 1956, there had been documented cases of a strange illness that befell people and animals in the town. Because of the way it made the cats who contracted it twitch, many called it "The Dancing Disease." It was only later than scientists discovered that the mercury leak caused increases in neurological issues and even many cases of cerebral palsy, especially as a congenital disease for children born in or around 1956 in the town. In order to avoid mercury during pregnancy, don't consume fish or high-fructose corn syrup, and do not receive any mercury amalgams.

7. Be Safe with Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

The final threat the placenta and your baby face are drugs that you take which can affect your baby's overall health. It's known that whatever drugs you have in your system at term or near full term will be transmitted to your baby, but did you know that this also happens with drugs you take as early as your first trimester? Perhaps more than harmful drugs, you must ensure a safe and healthy environment for your baby during the developmental stages. Even though studies have shown that babies were affected in the womb by the mother's drug use, those same studies suggested that, with the proper attention and education, these children would perform regularly in comparison to healthy children. ^[10]

Protect Your Placenta–Protect Your Baby

The health of your unborn baby is at the top of the list for every expecting mother and father, so there's never such a thing as "too careful." Avoid plastics, flame retardants, and high levels of mercury to ensure the health of your baby stays intact. Again, before taking any supplement, including probiotics, be sure to consult with your doctor.

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM