Garden Organically if Expecting

Pregnant women, babies, and children are among the most susceptible groups to the harmful toxins found in pesticides.

When I was expecting, I found it difficult to balance my cravings for sweets with my body’s need for healthy fruits and vegetables to nurture my growing fetuses. (The plural isn’t a typo; my first pregnancy was with twins). However, a choice that was never questionable for me was whether to grow or buy organic produce. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, but I felt that I couldn’t knowingly ingest foods contaminated with toxins.

In their book The Complete Organic Pregnancy, Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu describe some of the toxic effects of pesticides in frightening detail. For example, they share that, “permethrin, an insecticide, is a suspected carcinogen, endocrine toxicant, neurotoxicant, and reproductive toxicant.” No, thank you. I didn’t care to introduce these to my body or the vulnerable bodies of my developing fetuses.

In the winter, when locally grown produce items are scarce, it’s easy to consume an even wider range of pesticides that aren’t as strictly regulated in the countries our fruit is imported from. The next time you’re shopping at the grocery store, notice if the fruit you’re putting in your cart originates from another country. Perhaps you can’t change your entire produce lineup in one shopping trip. Instead, pledge to switch at least one conventionally grown produce item for the organically grown choice. In addition, if you’re an organic gardener, grow that item in your garden this year. You can freeze or can your harvest to enjoy your own locally grown, pesticide-free produce next winter.