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As the consumers of the world start to move in a more green direction, one thing I notice becoming more available is organic clothing. However, I think a lot of people are wondering what is the need for organic cotton and organic clothing? Sure it makes sense to try and eat organic foods since they are going directly into our body but it is hard to see that same correlation when it comes to t-shirts and pants.

Something I learned early on in my green journey is that things like lotions, soaps, etc. that we put on our skin are then absorbed through our pores directly into our bloodstream. So even though we aren’t ingesting them, the chemicals still get right into our bodies and harm us. I have to wonder if a cotton shirt that was grown with pesticides would have that same effect. Can the chemical used to grow that cotton be absorbed by my body? Here is a little food for thought on how conventional cotton is grown courtesy of the Organic Trade Association:

• Cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides.
• Fifty-five million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 12.8 million acres of conventional cotton grown in the U.S. in 2003 ranking cotton third behind corn and soybeans in total amount of pesticides sprayed.
• The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens.

The fact that some of these pesticides are known to be possible carcinogens yet they are still being spayed on our crops and land just scares me. What kind of damage are we causing to our bodies and planet? On the flip side, organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and genetically engineered seed. While organic clothes do tend to be more expensive, I feel that the more we continue to buy, the more will become available and in turn the prices should start to go down. In 2007-2008 there was a 152% growth in organic cotton production worldwide – so it would seem we are heading in the right direction!

Now I honestly didn’t think anyone made organic maternity clothes until I checked out Due Maternity. Much to my surprise, they do offer some! You can start with an Organic Bella Band – I love mine and I honestly think that every pregnant woman needs a Bella Band. For a cute outfit, I would go with Japanese Weekend’s During & After Luck Top and Flare Maternity Pants. In fact, if you go to Due Maternity and do a search for “organic” you will find lots of cool stuff – even organic nursing bras!

Marianna Nichols is the Owner & Editor of Green Mama’s Pad.

I’m Marianna, Owner & Editor of Green Mama’s Pad, mama to William (4) and twin boys Luke & Joshua (22 months) and wife to my wonderful husband Dan for 5.5+ years. In 2007, I decided that I wanted to “go green” and since then have been gradually moving my family in that direction. From natural personal care products to organic foods and everything in between, I plan to share my journey with you.

It’s been almost 2 years since I started on my “green” journey. I’ve made a point to make sure my 3 boys eat mostly natural or organic foods. They have been my top priority for eating healthier. Now, this is my first time being pregnant while “going green”, so I am trying to be more conscious of what I eat as well. After all, whatever I eat, the baby eats too. As many pregnant ladies out there know, eating healthy when pregnant can be quite a challenge because of all those cravings. You know, maybe for some salty chips or a chocolaty cookie? Believe me I am guilty of my fair share of this. Those Oreos call to me when I am grocery shopping!

If you are new to the organic/natural foods world, you may be wondering what the big deal is. Why should you shop for organic foods? What does organic mean anyway? If something is organic it means that the product or the ingredients in the product were grown without pesticides, genetically modified organisms, synthetic fertilizers, ionizing radiation or sewage sludge (yuk!). According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) “The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood.”

Now if you are like me, it is nearly impossible to able to afford to buy all organic foods. I will not lie, organic foods are more expensive. So you need to determine which items you want to switch to organic and which ones you will leave as is.

Let’s start off with fruits and veggies since we’re supposed to be eating lots of those, right? There are some that retain more pesticides than others so therefore, some that you probably want to switch while others are not so important. To make it easier for all of us, EWG put together a list called The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides. You can download the PDF for a printable, pocket-sized list or if you have an iPhone, they even have an app for that! From this list you will learn that peaches are the number one most contaminated produce followed by apples. So I make a point to always buy organic apples – right now we have been eating organic Gala apples. The Top 2 cleanest produce items are onions and avocados so, you really need not worry about buying their organic counterparts.

While this only covers fruits and vegetables, what about snacktime? Great snacking choices for expecting mothers are slim. Thanks to Belly Bar you can snack smart and satisfy your sweet cravings with some yummy natural ingredients like Rolled Oats, Honey and Soy Nuts. And, it delivers critical nutrients you and your baby need before your conceive, during pregnancy, and while nursing, including folic acid, iron, calcium, protein and Omega-3 DHA. Plus, you get the peace of mind of knowing that OB/GYNs, midwives, doulas and healthcare providers recommend it.

If you think you are ready to start switching your foods the best tip I can give you is take it slow. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and give up. Change one item at a time and eventually you will get there. And really, it is OK to indulge yourself with your favorite treats. If your baby bump has a midnight craving for ice cream – go for it! After all, when those Oreos are calling me from the cookie aisle, I never said I ignored them. But I do dunk them in some organic milk, so I say that makes it A-OK!

Stay trendy and go organic with these Japanese Weekend Organic Crop Maternity Pants – perfect for Spring! Underbelly fit waistband makes these pants very comfortable!

Available at DueMaternity.com