The Complete Organic Pregnancy [Paperback]

Deirdre Dolan (Author), Alexandra Zissu (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 26, 2006

While being pregnant is thrilling, the responsibility of a growing baby can provoke anxiety about what is and isn't safe. In The Complete Organic Pregnancy, Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu address how you can minimize your exposure to the invisible toxins that surround us—in everything from food, cleaning products, and cosmetics to furniture, rugs, air, and water. Step by step, they tell you where dangerous chemicals are lurking, why it's so important to avoid them when pregnant, and what you can do before, during, and after your pregnancy to protect your child.

In this exhaustively researched book, the authors (calmly) talk parents-to-be through everything from the safest laundry detergent to which crib mattresses contain toxic flame retardants. You'll find out how to choose the right face cream, plastic water bottles, household cleaners, types of fish, and much more—all with an eye toward keeping you and your baby safe and healthy.

The Complete Organic Pregnancy also features a collection of personal diaries from well-known writers and organophiles, including Barbara Kingsolver and Marion Nestle, as well as recipes from organic chefs. Required reading for anyone heading into this exciting stage of life, The Complete Organic Pregnancy is your chance to make a difference for your children, even before they're born.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Deirdre Dolan is a journalist whose writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times Magazine, among other publications. She has written columns for the New York Observer and the National Post, and is the author of Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book.

Alexandra Zissu is a writer and editor who has worked at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, the New York Observer, Details, and Lifetime magazine. She has also written for Vogue, Organic Style, and Health magazines, among other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 1 edition (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060887451
• ISBN-13: 978-0060887452
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Expected more information March 12, 2008

By skd

Format:Paperback

I received the book yesterday and am more than halfway through the book. I was expecting a book with a lot of information on the different kinds of foods and what pollutants are commonly found on them and practical ways to deal with it (in addition to buying organic). And the same for household cleaners and pollutants in the house. I am dissapointed in the book.
I didn't feel I learned anything useful from the personal stories, which are numerous in the book. Also there are alot of "one of my friends" advice, which doesn't seem all that sound. They recommend using chinese herbs a few times, and I dont' know if that is safe. I am chinese and I don't know what is in those herbs and whether they are tested in any way for purity and safety. I am also surprised that in the Omega-3 section they don't mention algae derived DHA pills. DHA is the form of omega-3 that is important for fetal brain development. I'm a vegetarian and the pills are a good alternative to fish as source of DHA since they are mercury free. They do mention flax seed oil as an alternative to fish for Omega-3, but they should know that humans convert only a very small percentage of omega-3 in flax seed oil into DHA, so flax seed is not a good alternative source of DHA. The authors also make it seem like it is difficult to find clean fish pills, but this is not so. My husband buys them from a nutrition chain store found in most malls and he's a toxicologist. I think they should have discussed what questions women should ask when trying to determine if a fish pill is safe. Also what independent testing companies they can contact.

The lack of rigor in this book bothers me, for example, the section on ultrasounds. They mention that there is some "anecdotal debate about their safety". I am willing to bet there is some anecdotal debate about everything under the sun. Do all of them turn out to be true phenomenon? No. Perhaps presenting some research would be helpful instead of just stating this "anecdotal debate" and making people worry. For example is there an increase in probability of miscarriage for women who had ultrasounds at X weeks versus those that didn't? there probably is some research on that from the days when they were first testing ultrasounds for safety.
Perhaps coming from a science research background I was expecting too much.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Too bad this wasn't published earlier! May 14, 2007

By Kitrino

Format:Paperback

When my first child was born in early 2005, I spent months researching information about organic food, plastic toys and bottles, cloth diapers, etc. Now that I'm expecting my 2nd, I'm pleased to find that basically everything I painstakingly researched earlier is now available in one well-written book. In fact, I think the advice outlined in this book is not only valuable for expecting and new parents, but for anyone looking for a healthier lifestyle and home.

This book is organized into three sections--transforming (pre-conception), growing (pregnancy), and living (babyhood). In each section, the authors cover food, home environment, work environment, fitness, play, etc. The text is easy to read and accurate, and broken up by essays written by various journalists. I find these essays to be a pleasure to read, not something to skip over. The perspectives are varied and many of them are quite amusing. There is also an abundance of website recommendations throughout the book--a nice perk in any recently published book.

The best sections are the ones that cover food (which are most important to eat organically and why), your house (why not to remodel when pregnant, lead, mold, water filters, plants that can actually filter your air), beauty products (phthalates, what to toss out now), household cleaning products (what's really in them and why it's dangerous), labor (natural or epidural--a great non-judgmental summary of your options), and plastics (why they're dangerous for you and for baby). Some of the advice may be a bit over the top for the average person (can you really afford an organic mattress for you and for baby?), but their advice is sound and not alarmist at all. I'm surprised by the review "Go, Fear Culture, Go!" If it seems like there is danger lurking around every corner, it's because there probably is, not because the authors are trying to scare their readers. I have read far more alarming books about the environment and our health, and I found this one to be a great balance between telling their readers the truth about what's lurking in their aluminum cans and not making you feel helpless.

There are a few sections that I found disappointingly lacking, but most notable was that on diapers. For a book that tauts organic, healthy, and environmentally friendly living, how can the section on cloth diapers be less than two pages? There are so many great cloth diaper options and the authors really gloss over this topic. It appears that in an attempt to cover as many topics as possible, some leave you wanting more (such as the repeated advice to avoid peanuts--if there are no food allergies in your family, why?)

But I still think that this is one of the most important books you'll read while pregnant. It's the only book on the market that I have seen discuss important issues pertaining to mom and baby's health (seriously, even my own doctor had not heard of phthalates or the dangerous chemicals leaking out of my child's #7 plastic baby bottles). I only wish it had been available sooner!

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars saved our pregnancy fears October 17, 2006

By CRD

Format:Paperback

As a man, there isn't much I can relate to about carrying a baby in my body for 9 months. But I do know that I care as much about the child we are bringing into this world as my wife does. We were very careful from the beginnings of pregnancy, starting at our own lifestyle habits at conception, watching everything we ate and drank. But we knew there had to be more we could do to ensure our baby have the best entry into the world. Lliving in los Angeles we constantly worry about pollution. But until my wife handed me this book, I had no idea we should be worrying about pollutants right in our own home. i think this book has saved us and our baby and will make a tremendous difference in how our baby comes into our lives. we now have made our house easily organic thanks to this book. Not only have our cleaning supplies changed, but I've recently painted with only organic paints, I've gotten rid of cheap synthetic carpets in our mud room and I won't let the exterminators into our house anymore. These were such simple and inexpensive things(cleaning with vinegar and water is really much less expensive!) for us to change that I wouldn't even have thought of without having this great reference book.

I know it might seem strange for a man to be so mesmerized by a pregnancy book, but this has made me be able to feel more a part of a healthy pregnancy for my wife than I could have ever imagined.

Great great guide.