Pregnancy Safe Certified

Pregnancy Safe Certified (www.PregnancySafeCertified.com) is a seal developed by Neurological Health Foundation (“NHF”) to empower families to minimize exposure to toxic chemicals which could affect the health of the pregnant mom as well as the developing baby. NHF created the Pregnancy Safe Certification with the oversight of OB/GYNs, physicians, chemists, toxicologists, product formulators, medical school professors, and scientists who met many times to develop the requirements for this ongoing certification program for pregnancy related health care products.

The certification program involves 6 key steps to ensure that pregnancy and infant products are of the highest quality.

  • A review of every ingredient in every product, to ensure that it is safe for intended use, and is not included on our list of “Not Allowed” ingredients.
  • A review of Toxicological Risk Assessment of the ingredients in every product.
  • A review of Patch testing on the skin to ensure no allergic skin reactions in healthy individuals.
  • A review of additional product-in-use testing with humans for certain products.
  • A review of Toxic metal testing to ensure that levels of toxic metals are minimal.
  • Requirement that all ingredients and all fragrances are listed on the product label.
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The NHF Pregnancy Safe Task Force consists of the following members:

Dr. James Adams, Ph.D.

James B. Adams, Ph.D. James B. Adams, Ph.D., is the co-founder and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Neurological Health Foundation, which is dedicated to helping women have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. He is the co-leader of the NHF Healthy Pregnancy Summit. He led the development of the NHF Healthy Child Guide, the NHF Science Behind the Healthy Child Guide, and the NHF Prenatal Rater App. He designed the Healthy Nest Prenatal Supplement, which is the first prenatal supplement tailored for each trimester. He is also a President’s Professor at Arizona State University, where he is Director of the Autism/Asperger’s Research Program. His research focuses on prenatal supplements for healthy pregnancy, medical and nutritional causes of autism and how to treat and prevent autism including the areas of nutrition and gut bacteria. He has published over 180 peer-reviewed scientific articles.

Tapan Audhya, Ph.D.

Tapan Audhya, Ph.D. Tapan Audhya, Ph.D. is a semi-retired nutritional biochemist. His 50+ year career has included serving as an assistant professor in the College of Medicine at the University Illinois, Vice-President of Research and Development at Johnson and Johnson, Research Professor of Medicine & Endocrinology at New York University Medical Center, and Director of Health Diagnostics Research Institute. He has published over 100 research articles.

Jaclyn Bain, ND

Jaclyn Bain, ND Jaclyn Bain, ND, is an Associate Professor and Clinical Faculty at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is also the Division Director of Clinical Education and Department Chair of Pre-Clinical Sciences at SCNM. Dr. Bain is a naturopathic physician practicing in Tempe, Arizona. Her practice focuses on primary care pediatrics and autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Bain completed a general medicine residency in Portland, OR and post graduate training in pediatrics and autism. She is certified in environmental medicine and taught environmental medicine for several years. She currently serves on the board of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians (PedANP).

Brandon Bell, DO

Brandon Bell, DO Brandon Bell, DO is an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Indiana University School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Bell provides personalized, high-quality health care to women of all ages, including annual physicals, complete pregnancy care, labor and delivery, prevention and wellness services, cancer screenings, and menopause care. He also has expertise in minimally invasive operative and diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. Dr. Bell earned his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania and completed his residency at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He is a member of the American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Haiwei Gu, Ph.D.

Haiwei Gu, Ph.D. Haiwei Gu, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences in the College of Medicine at Florida International University. His research focuses on biomarker discovery and metabolic mechanism studies using multi-omics approaches.

Rodney Dietert, Ph.D.

Rodney R. Dietert, Ph.D. Rodney R. Dietert, Ph.D, is Professor Emeritus of Immunotoxicology in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA. Professor Dietert was a Senior Fellow in Cornell’s Center for the Environment who directed the Graduate Field of Immunology, the Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology, and the Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. His extensive publications (>300 publications in 70 different scientific journals) concern the developing immune system, the microbiome, communicable and non-communicable diseases, safety testing, and public health. He introduced the microbiome to Cornell’s basic science DVM curriculum and was designated a “Microbiome Hero” by the inaugural World Microbiome Day Committee. Dietert is a member of the Society of Toxicology (Past-President of the Immunotoxicology Specialty Section) and the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention.

Marianne Marchese, ND

Dr. Marianne Marchese Dr. Marianne Marchese is a highly accomplished naturopathic physician and recognized expert in environmental medicine, women’s health, and integrative medicine. Her background spans clinical practice, teaching, writing, speaking, research, and professional advocacy Dr. Marianne Marchese is the author of the bestselling book; “8 Weeks to Women’s Wellness” She graduated from Creighton University as an Occupational Therapist and received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from NUNM in 2002. Dr. Marchese is currently adjunct faculty at SCNM in Tempe AZ teaching both environmental medicine and gynecology. She also maintains private practice in Phoenix Arizona. Dr. Marchese served on the State of Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, Naturopathic Academy of Environmental Medicine, Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association, and Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. She has been published in numerous magazines and journals and lectures throughout the U.S and Canada. For over 12 years she has written the environmental medicine column in the Townsend Letter Journal. Dr. Marchese was named to Phoenix magazines’ Top Doctor Issue as one of the top naturopathic physicians in the Phoenix area. Learn more at www.drmarchese.com

Katherine McHugh, MD

Katie McHugh, MD Katie McHugh, MD is an OB/GYN Hospitalist and chronic pelvic pain specialist in Indiana. She is a vocal advocate for comprehensive, trauma-informed care as well as evidence-based holistic care that patients can trust to help them be the best and healthiest versions of themselves. In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. McHugh has worked extensively for multiple national medical organizations, including the Executive Board of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgery, and Physicians for Reproductive Health. She recently partnered with the Neurologic Health Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering parents to create healthy environments for children to achieve their highest neurologic potential, with the goal of evaluating commercially available products for safety in pregnancy. Dr. McHugh has been publicly recognized and awarded for her clinical skills, advocacy, and infectiously positive attitude. She is a highly sought after speaker and has taught lectures, masterclasses, and seminars all over the country. Dr. McHugh is an expert in chronic pelvic pain, healthcare and physician advocacy, reproductive health care, and trauma-informed care.

**The development of the NHF “Pregnancy Safe” and “Healthy Baby” certification programs has been underwritten by a generous grant.

The Mission of the Neurological Health Foundation: The mission of NHF is to empower parents to have healthy children free of chronic health conditions who realize their full neurological potential. www.neurologicalhealth.org