Pregnant Women and Cell Phones: A New Risk?

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I came across a story the other day with this headline. It caught my interest and I read further. I took a few seconds to speculate. Was the new risk a potential health problem for the expectant Mother or baby? I believe that using a cell phone while driving is a danger to everyone but had to find out more about what was being described as “a new risk.”

As it turns out, the “new risk” is a possible link between women that use cell phones while pregnant and having children that misbehave. According to theweek.com, “the conclusion of a University of California study, found that Danish women who regularly used a cell phone while pregnant are more likely to report behavioral issues with their children. Children whose mothers used mobile phones while they were in the womb were 30 percent more likely to experience behavioral difficulties by age 7 than children of cell phone-averse moms. If the children started using cell phones themselves at an early age, the odds of behaving badly rose to 50 percent. The University of California study was based on a survey of 28,000 Danish 7-year-olds and their mothers.”

But if you are pregnant, don’t cancel your mobile contract yet. Researchers suggest that “cell phone use might cause mothers to produce excess melatonin, which could potentially influence the brain development of the fetus. But they acknowledge that conclusion is speculative.”

I’m no child psychologist but it would seem to me that other factors would be more influential to a child’s behavior than their mother’s pregnancy cell phone cell. The article asks the reader, “is it just a coincidence?” I would have to agree with that statement.

"While we would all like to assume that using cell phones as much as we do is harmless, the truth is that only time and more research will tell for sure." Now that’s another statement that I can agree with.

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.