Info if you are contemplating Pregnancy, Pregnant or Nursing

General Information for Women 

with Amalgam fillings 

Planning a Pregnancy or Pregnant or Nursing 

 First, read the blog entitled, General Information for Anyone with Amalgam or ‘silver’ fillings. It is chock full of useful information that you will need to know before reading this blog. 

Amalgam is Banned in Europe Every one of the 28 states of the European Union has banned the use of amalgam fillings in children under 15 and pregnant and nursing women. Why? Because amalgam fillings are composed of at least 40% mercury and mercury is toxic. Many other countries have banned its use also (1). The U.S. FDA has not banned the use of amalgam. In fact, they actually condone it. Even with the scientifically proven knowledge that mercury from amalgam fillings is sequestered in the umbilical cord and crosses the placenta gaining access to the unborn child. It is also well known by the FDA that the developing fetus is much more susceptible to damage from any kind of poison, including mercury. 

 What you need to know 

The Placenta and Umbilical Cord and your Unborn Child’s Development The placenta is a temporary organ developed early on during pregnancy to nourish and care for the fetus by way of the mother. On the Mom’s side, it attaches to part of the uterus, or womb, the part of a woman’s body where the fetus grows into a full blown infant. The umbilical cord, which consists largely of arteries and a vein connects the placenta to the fetus until birth. Then, the cord is cut and the resulting scar is referred to as the navel. We have a nickname for the navel – we call it a belly button. This is how we determine if someone is truly a human being or an alien – aliens don’t have navels (Sorry, couldn’t resist). Everything the baby needs to live arrives through the arteries of the umbilical cord and everything the baby doesn’t need leaves by way of the vein in the same cord. So nutrients and oxygen come from the mom, through the placenta, into the arteries of the umbilical cord and ultimately arrive at the fetus. Waist elimination is the same process in reverse, except the waste travels from the fetus in the vein of the cord. As stated above, mercury from the mother’s amalgam fillings is sequestered in the umbilical cord. Scientific studies show that the mercury accumulation in the cord can be up to twice as high as that found in the mother’s blood. Developing fetuses are particularly susceptible to metallic mercury accumulation in their brains and kidneys (2,3–5). 

 What can you do 

If you plan on becoming pregnant, first plan on having your amalgams removed by a mercury-free dentist and second, participate in a detoxification program similar to the one provided in mercury4dummies.blogspot.com 

What if you are already pregnant and you have Amalgam Fillings? 

Unless it is absolutely necessary, you should not have your amalgams removed while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The removal process can mobilize additional mercury, sometimes to dangerous levels that far exceed the regulatory limits set by governing organizations. You should also not participate in any kind of a detoxification program. However, mercury and sulfur are attracted to each other so eating foods rich in sulfur will help bind up and rid your body of any mercury that is floating around in your circulatory system.Foods that have a high sulfur content include:

Sulfur is an extremely important mineral for your body’s normal functioning, however if you are not used to eating foods high in sulfur, introduce them slowly to determine whether you have any adverse effects. 

Limit your intake of hot foods and drinks   Heat causes the mercury to be released at a faster rate. Limit foods that require excessive chewing – the friction of chewing can heat up amalgams (6). 

Do not chew gum or smoke cigarettes  Both of these activities can heat up your amalgam fillings. 

Limit your intake of fish (supplement with fish oil)   Because of the irresponsible manner in which we have treated our planet, most fish now contain mercury. However, smaller fish and fish lower on the food chain may contain levels that are acceptable. The link below provides a comprehensive fish eating guide, in the form of a chart, that will help you make informed choices about which fish are the safest and which fish are unsafe. 

 https://www.cmaecocycle.net/blog/fish-lowest-mercury-levels/ 

However, mercury levels vary not only by the size of the fish but also depending on what waterway it comes from. If you typically eat locally harvested fish or catch them yourself, consult the following link provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where you can look up your state, county and waterways advisories for all fish. 

https://fishadvisoryonline.epa.gov/Contacts.aspx 

What is Safe Catch? 

I recently became aware of a company that sells only pure sustainably sourced seafood. Every single fish that they catch is tested for mercury. Two thirds of the fish they test do not meet their strict standards (7). This is not the case with the tuna you buy from the grocery store or even your local seafood store. The FDA admittedly arbitrarily classify tuna as low, medium or high mercury content to appease industry. The tuna you buy from the store is supposed to contain less than 1 part per million tuna. This is not the case. A very informative news article was written on this subject if you want more information (8). On a slightly unrelated note, I bought a case of the Safe Catch tuna. It tastes like the tuna I had as a child – the reason I fell in love with tuna in the first place. After reading all of the information they provide on their website about the tuna that they sell, I give Safe Catch two thumbs up. 

What if you are already Breastfeeding and you have Amalgam Fillings? 

Breastfeeding has many benefits for your child which is why you made the healthy choice to do it. It might even seem unfair to you that you made the choice to give your child the best head start possible and then find out there is mercury in your breastmilk. But don’t despair. Eating a diet high in sulfur, as recommended for pregnant women will assist in tying up the mercury vapor being released by your amalgams. Follow all of the advice for pregnant women provided earlier. 

When is it necessary to have my Amalgams removed if I am Pregnant or Nursing? 

If your dentist informs you that your amalgam fillings are cracked or broken. Then, a mercury-free dentist should be consulted to remove your fillings using a safe protocol similar to Dr. Hardy’s recommended protocol or the SMART (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) (9,10).  SMART is a protocol that is taught by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and is used by many mercury-free dentists. Amalgam fillings can then be replaced with a safe mercury-free alternative. If you are nursing an infant and you must have an amalgam removed, follow the advice above for pregnant women. 

Also, begin pumping and saving your breastmilk at least one week prior to the procedure. Then, following amalgam removal, pump and dump (discard your breastmilk) for as long as you can but for a minimum of 24 hours. 

Disclaimer: I have a PhD in Neuroscience and my field of study is Addiction. I am not a Dentist or a medical professional, however I have been engaged in extensive research on mercury and amalgam fillings for 3 years. I have nothing to gain by providing you this information on amalgam fillings. My motivation is that I care about people, including you. I also have nothing to gain by strongly suggesting that you read Dr. Hardy’s book. The first edition is available now with the 2nd edition coming soon. I do recommend that you read it before either dismissing this or moving forward with removal. 

Why? Because you should have all of the knowledge you can to achieve the one thing that matters most in life – Your GOOD HEALTH and that of your loved ones. 

Keep reading all that you can– but please be careful of the internet. Remember that $dollars$ fuel our world and once a need has been established, scammers hop on the bandwagon. 

 I wish you all good things in your quest for knowledge and optimal health

 "All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident." 

Arthur Schopenhauer

 

Prepared by Teresa R. Franklin, Ph.D. 

Email: teresafr55@gmail.com 

 Blog: http://mercury4dummies.blogspot.com/   

References 

1. European Commission. Chemicals - Environment - European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/mercury/regulation_en.htm. Published 2017. Accessed May 9, 2019. 

2. Ryu J, Ha E-H, Kim B-N, et al. Associations of prenatal and early childhood mercury exposure with autistic behaviors at 5years of age: The Mothers and Children’s Environmental Health (MOCEH) study. Sci Total Environ. 2017;605-606:251-257. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.227 

3. Bernhoft RA. Mercury toxicity and treatment: a review of the literature. J Env Public Health. 2012;2012:460508. doi:10.1155/2012/460508 

4. Bjorklund G, Dadar M, Mutter J, Aaseth J. The toxicology of mercury: Current research and emerging trends. Env Res. 2017;159:545-554. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.051 

5. Mortazavi SM, Mortazavi G, Paknahad M. Mercury transmitted from mother’s with amalgam dental fillings to fetus. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017;30:594. doi:10.1080/14767058.2016.1180359 

6. Krone CA, Ely JT, Thoreson J. Method for measuring mercury release from dental amalgam. Bull Env Contam Toxicol. 2002;68:180-186. 

7. Safe Catch. Safe Catch Seafood. Safe Catch. https://safecatch.com/. Published April 10, 2017. Accessed August 9, 2019. 

8. Hawthorne SR and M. How safe is tuna? chicagotribune.com. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-13-chi-0512130114dec13-story.html. Published 2005. Accessed August 9, 2019. 

9. Hardy J. Mercury-Free: The Wisdom Behind the Global Consumer Movement to Ban “Silver” Dental Fillings. 1st ed. Gabriel Rose Press; 1996. 10. Brennan F. SMART Certification. IAOMT. https://iaomt.org/for-professionals/smart-certification/. Published 2019. Accessed August 9, 2019.