The buzzwords “all natural” and “natural product” are very appealing to health conscious consumers. This is especially true among pregnant women since medications in the market come with health warnings against use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. During my pregnancy, I resorted to natural plant products such as herbal tea to alleviate pregnancy complaints such as nausea and heartburn.

Unfortunately, not all natural products are safe for pregnant women as research studies show. Researchers at the Univesity of Montreal looked at the type of natural health products pregnant women consume and their possible link to miscarriage and preterm delivery.

The most common products consumed were:

• chamomile 19%
• green tea 17%
• peppered mint 12%
• flaxseed oil 12%

The study tracked 3354 women from Quebec for several years. Many of these women used the above mentioned natural health products before pregnancy. About a third of these stopped taking the products while the rest continued to do so.

Only one product was linked to increased rate of preterm labor – flaxseed oil. In the general population, the rate of preterm delivery is 2 to3%. In women taking flaxseed oil during the last 2 trimesters, the rate is as high as 12%. The strong correlation to premature birth is only true with flax seed oil, not with flax seeds itself.

Flax seed oil is also known as linseed, and comes from the ripe seeds of the flax plant Linum usitatissimum. Flax seed oil is taken as a nutritional supplement because it contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid, considered to be good for cardiovascular health.

Researchers are discovering powerful mind-body connections in health and wellness. With that in mind, not only am I making all the necessary physical preparations to have a successful, drug-free natural childbirth, but I am preparing mentally, as well.

This mental preparation leaves no room for hearing horror stories of labor that went on for hours with intense pain that even drugs couldn’t quell. Unless these stories serve a medical purpose, such as what measures may help avoid this situation, they don’t benefit anyone.

I know there are others like me out there. How do you politely muzzle well-meaning friends and relatives when they begin playing a game of ‘top this,’ as they describe their worst labor experiences? It takes a bit of nerve, but it can be done politely, with a smile, and no one’s feeling should be hurt.

I simply acknowledge their difficulty. ‘I’m sorry you had that experience,’ I say. Then I explain why these tales will not help my frame of mind or enhance my own experience. ‘I’m trying to keep positive thoughts in my mind. There’s no guarantee that will help me avoid complications or difficulties, but combined with good childbirth instruction, a midwife I trust, and my husband’s support, a positive frame of mind certainly can’t hurt!‘ I explain that we are open to, and prepared for, any possibly, but negative stories will only serve to make me more nervous, and anxiety, as it has been shown, leads to higher blood pressure, which can lead to pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Beyond that, going into labor more relaxed will just lead to a more pleasant experience. A friend of mine likes to talk about her 36 hours of labor which led to an emergency c-section. ‘It really wasn’t bad,‘ she said, because she had entered the delivery room with a positive outlook and maintained this disposition throughout. I could listen to these kinds of stories forever!

In most cases, when I politely explain why I don’t want to hear about what a horrible ordeal childbirth is, the women in question hastily assure me that everything will be fine and, in the end, it’s all worth it? Something I knew all along, but you can’t hear positive reinforcement too often!

I’m not advocating that a pregnant woman should live with her head in the clouds. I am using every resource available to educate myself on complications that may arise during delivery, and then promptly replacing those thoughts with images of a positive childbirth experience.

This also means surrounding myself with people who want to share inspiring, beautiful childbirth stories. I understand labor is hard work. Labor hurts. But the happy ending that results from these tales makes it all worth it.

When you’re sharing your labor stories with expectant moms, don’t sugarcoat it, but please do try to accentuate the positive. Have an uplifting childbirth experience to share? Please post it here.

Some mainstream retail chains have decided to do their part in joining in the green movement. Some new lines and promotions are being launched just in time for Earth Day (April 22).

Toys ?R Us has always claimed to be the ?world?s greatest toy store?. It?s a great place to find just about anything your kids see on commercials (and must have). It?s the place to go for well-known brands like Mattel, Hasbro, Parker Brothers, popular action figures, Barbies, character-themed toys (ie: Batman, Power Rangers, My little Pony, Bratz, etc.) and larger items such as bikes, ride-on toys and swing sets.

Most aisles are loaded with brightly colored, often plastic, toys. Just in time for Earth Day, though, the mega chain is launching their new non-toxic, organic line of toys. Many of the items are made of natural, recycled materials and are dye- and chemical-free. The line includes wooden and plush toys. This new line is also in response to the recent alarming recalls of unsafe toys made in China.

Wal-Mart, never one of my favorite stores, has gained a bit of respect in my eyes, now that I?ve learned of their efforts to be environmentally friendly. On Saturday, April 19th, the chain will give away a million custom-made, reusable shopping bags, made from recycled materials. They normally sell these bags for $1. A recent ad they ran stated that plastic bags can take as long as 1,000 years to degrade: convincing evidence that we should all opt for fabric totes when we shop!

Wal-Mart recently published an insert in parenting magazines, listing several of their green, yet affordable products, including some for parents and babies. Their own brand of baby wipes, Parent?s Choice, are made with organic cotton and natural fibers, which make them gentler for baby and the environment. I was very surprised to learn that they are 100% biodegradable in 30 days. The store is even selling Horizon organic milk these days. A recent ad stated that this brand of milk is made with the help of 450 certified organic farms and that Horizon Organic is working with and helping even more farms to transition to organic methods.

Other earth-friendly, Fair Trade and certified organic items at Wal-Mart include coffee, cleaning products, some lines of clothing and some gardening/planting materials.

It?s still cool to support small, local businesses but now you can also do some good by shopping at mega-chains…go figure!

To take a peek at the new Toys ?R Us natural toy line, go to www.toysrus.com and click on ?natural toys?.

For more information on Wal-Mart?s green products, visit www.walmart.com/green.

The day I found out I was pregnant, the lead story on CNN.com was ‘the dangers of caffeine for pregnant women.’ Ah, the Universe loves irony.

A few years ago, I sported a pin on my jacket that read, ‘Give me coffee and no one gets hurt!’ In the past year, I’d ‘cut back’ to about three or four (8 oz.) cups a day. And green tea in between.

I love everything about coffee. The taste, the aroma, the positive memory-associations of sipping a good latte after a great meal. Even as I write this, my heart is pounding in anticipation of a cup of the good dark stuff. In my first job as magazine editor, when things got rough at the office, I’d head to Starbucks for a ‘grande soy latte.’

The evening after I found out I’m pregnant, I went to my sister’s house to tell her. I noticed the fresh pot of after-dinner coffee brewing. ‘Do you want a cup?’ she asked.

‘More than anything,’ I said wistfully.

She gave me a funny look and then she remembered the news I’d just shared; and the study. ‘It’s okay. One cup won’t hurt. I drank coffee through both my pregnancies.’

‘Thanks, Mom, nice to know you cared about me!’ my niece interjected.

‘And they’re both fine,’ she concluded.

When I started experiencing the first signs of morning sickness, oh, about 2 days after the pregnancy test showed up positive, coffee lost its appeal. By the third day, my stomach turned at the scent of coffee brewing.

But the brain forgets quickly, and after a week, I was jones-ing again. By now, the caffeine headaches have gone away, and it’s pure psychological addiction.

The other night, after a particularly good dinner, I brewed myself a cup of decaf. I couldn’t even bring myself to drink it. I don’t know whether it was psychological (I’d always swore I’d never drink decaf) or if the nauseated feelings coffee brought on earlier had ruined it for me.

I’m on a quest for ‘coffee substitutes.’ I still miss the ritual of sitting down with my morning cup, checking my e-mail and preparing for the day. And I still miss everything about coffee; including, especially, the almost-instant energy perk.

It’s almost an identity crisis. Not only do I miss coffee? I miss everything it represents.

I recently tried herbal tea with ginseng. There it was the elevated heart rate, immediate perk, a burst of energy that didn’t even wear off as quickly as a caffeine high. Then I went online and learned that studies were inconclusive in regard to ginseng and pregnancy, but pregnant women were advised to stay away from the herb. Great.

I’ve started drinking VitaminWater Revive, fortified with lots of B vitamins. It hydrates, and B vitamins, as long as you stick to the recommended daily allowance, are healthy. No ‘energy burst,’ but it’s something to drink in the morning.

I’ve resorted to keeping my energy level up the natural way: exercise, limiting sugar and carbs so my blood sugar levels stay steady throughout the day, and a quick 20-minute cat nap when I really can’t take it anymore.

I’m just glad I don’t smoke or drink heavily, because I couldn’t imagine giving up two addictions all in the space of a few months!