When the Environment Becomes the Risk: How Toxic Living Is Failing Women and Mothers
Yesterday, I learned about the passing of Dr. Janelle Green Smith, who died during childbirth. While the exact circumstances of her passing are not publicly known, what is clear is that maternal loss is happening far too often — even among educated, supported, and medically informed women.
She was a Certified Nurse Midwife.
She knew her body.
She knew the system.
And yet, her husband and child now have to live without her.
This article is not about assigning blame to a single cause. It’s about asking a larger, harder question:
What kind of environment are women being asked to survive — and give birth in — today?
A World That Never Lets the Body Rest
We are living in a time where the food, water, air, and everyday products we rely on are filled with chemicals the human body was never designed to process continuously.
Additives in food
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in personal care products
Synthetic fragrances
Harsh household cleaners
Contaminants in water
Pollutants in the air
Our bodies are constantly detoxing, buffering, and compensating — never fully resting.
For women, this burden is already heavy.
For pregnant women, it can be overwhelming.
Pregnancy Requires More — Not Less
Pregnancy demands:
higher nutrient intake
hormonal balance
organ support
nervous system regulation
emotional safety
But many women are entering pregnancy nutrient-depleted, hormonally disrupted, and overstimulated by toxins before conception even happens.
When the body is busy fighting constant chemical exposure, it cannot always prioritize pregnancy the way it’s meant to.
My Wake-Up Call
In 2022, I shared this story, and it still matters.
When The Honey Pot changed its ingredients, one of the added components was phenoxyethanol, a known endocrine disruptor. That moment sent me down a path of reading labels and researching ingredients — not just in feminine care, but in everything I used daily.
I began scanning products using the Yuka app and discovered how many items in my home contained:
endocrine disruptors
carcinogens
hormone-altering preservatives
I threw away bags of products — not because of brand loyalty or cancel culture, but because my body deserved better.
What happened next changed everything.
Within weeks, when my cycle came:
I had no cramps
no excruciating pain
noticeably less anxiety
This was the first time in my life I experienced a pain-free cycle.
That moment made one thing very clear to me:
What we put on and in our bodies matters — deeply.
This Isn’t About Calling Out Brands
This is not about attacking companies or starting online wars.
This is about a silent protest.
Read labels
Learn ingredients
Choose what aligns with your wellness
Support brands that prioritize safety
Quietly stop buying what harms you
When enough people change their buying habits, companies are forced to adapt.
That’s how real change happens.
Women’s Bodies Are Not Broken
Women are often made to believe their bodies are failing them — that pain, imbalance, anxiety, and complications are just “normal.”
But many of these issues are signals.
Signals that the body is overloaded.
Signals that systems are disrupted.
Signals that something in the environment isn’t right.
Women deserve bodies that function the way they were designed to — not bodies constantly fighting an invisible chemical war.
Supporting the Body, Gently and Intentionally
Across cultures and traditions, women have long used nutrient-dense foods and plant support to nourish the body — especially during pregnancy and postpartum.
Some examples often discussed in holistic spaces include:
Red raspberry leaf tea, traditionally used to support uterine tone
Stinging nettle, valued for its mineral content
Okra water, used by some for hydration and nutrient support
These are not medical instructions — they are reminders that nourishment, minerals, and hydration matter, and that women should always discuss support options with trusted healthcare providers.
A Bigger Conversation We Can’t Ignore
Maternal health is not just about doctors and hospitals.
It’s about:
the food system
environmental exposure
consumer product safety
chronic stress
nutrient depletion
lack of rest
When women are expected to carry life in a toxic, overstimulating environment, the risk does not belong to the woman alone — it belongs to the system.
For the Women Still Here — and the Ones We’ve Lost
Dr. Janelle Green Smith should still be here.
Many women should still be here.
This article is a call for awareness, not fear.
For education, not blame.
For intentional living, not perfection.
Women deserve:
clean products
nourishing food
safe environments
bodies that are supported, not sabotaged
And change begins at home — one label, one choice, one quiet protest at a time.
