A while back, I received an email from the company that is launching Belly Armor here in the Philippines. If you have never heard of Belly Armor, don't worry -- I had no idea such a thing even existed before I read that email!
Of course, while I was reading it, and after exploring the Belly Armor website, I thought to myself, "Now, why didn't I know about this when I was still pregnant?!"
Belly Armor and the dangers of low-level radiation
Belly Armor is a maternity blanket and accessories line from the U.S.A. which shields expecting mothers from low-level radiation, i.e. radiation coming from sources such as cellphones, laptops, Wi-Fi and the like. (Yikes! I used my laptop and cellphone A LOT when I was pregnant with my youngest child, just last year!)
I felt even worse when I read that numerous studies have shown that this low-level radiation "impacts the way cells grow, DNA replicates, and brain cells function. Because of this, health experts believe early childhood and pregnancy -- when rapid and complex cell development occurs -- are the times of highest risk." (Double yikes! I feel so guilty now!)
But that's not all! What's even more alarming about low-level radiation is that it can have a huge impact not just on babies inside a mommy's tummy but also young children in general.
Based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children absorb 2 times more radiation in their brains and 10 times more in the bone marrow of their skulls! (Triple yikes, because I always use my cellphone around our kids, including our little toddler!)
Furthermore, studies done at the Yale University School of Medicine and UCLA showed that the exposure of mothers to cellphone radiation impacts fetal development -- and can lead to behavioral problems.
Thus, given the numerous studies being published, countries like Australia, Belgium, France, Russia, India and Israel have all passed legislations to limit children's exposure to low-level radiation.
Now I really wish I had known about Belly Armor before, when I was still expecting!
Belly Armor: A mom's take on it
I'm glad I was given a sample of Belly Armor's Blanket-Chic to review, and I am excited to use it if and when I get pregnant again.
In the meantime, I've started using the blanket when I use the phone near our toddler, especially when I type out articles on my phone while breastfeeding her in bed (like now!).
The blanket's not that thick so it's quite comfortable and cozy to use, plus it has a sort-of-hood, which I can use to cover my little girl's head if needed.
The best part is I can rest easier and be sure that she's not being exposed to any low-level radiation while I work or check email and social media feeds on my phone! With the 99.9% protection guaranteed by the makers of Belly Armor, I don't have to feel guilty about using my phone with her nearby. (Belly Armor is lined with RadiaShield Fabric, which has been tested by FCC-certified labs in the U.S., with 99.9% shielding effectiveness.)
No wonder then that Belly Armor was included in The Bump Best of Baby Awards 2012 list of best baby products!
Aside from the blanket, the Belly Armor Belly Band is also now available in the Philippines.
Other products by Belly Armor, i.e. the Belly Tee and Nursing Cover, are not available at present.
Educating others and helping decrease exposure to low-level radiation
Some of the people behind Crescom Biomedics, the company distributing Belly Armor in the Philippines, are actually moms themselves. That's why they want to educate moms and soon-to-be moms on the pre-natal health issue of low-level radiation, so they can take precautionary methods and help decrease their exposure to unnecessary 'everyday' radiation.
Here in the Philippines, many, if not most, of us are not as familiar with this issue versus those abroad. This is one of the reasons why Crescom Biomedics would like to create awareness among Filipina mothers.
Hopefully, by promoting the use of products like Belly Armor, less children will be exposed to low-level radiation while they are in utero, or even after they come out of their mommies' wombs.
If you want to know more about Belly Armor, visit their website at www.bellyarmor.com or email bellyarmor.ph@gmail.com. You can also find Belly Armor on Facebook: http://facebook.com/BellyArmorPhilippines. Belly Armor can also be found at all Babyland stores.