Nutrasweet (aspartame) is a chemical sugar substitute which is found in many foods. It has three ingredients: phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. Phenylalanine is the amino acid which phenylketonurics cannot metabolize. If the fetus is phenylketonuric, concentrated ingestion of asparatame by the mother may cause brain damage even before birth. There is a larger segment of the population which is sensitive to high levels of phenylalanine. Methanol is a human-specific, highly toxic poison which is converted in the body to formaldehyde and formic acid, both of which have toxic effects on the thymus gland. Toxic side effects include malaise, nausea, recurrent headaches, dizziness, and visual disturbances and symptoms that mimic lupus and multiple sclerosis. It is best to avoid aspartame completely, and this is especially true during pregnancy. (Balch, 1990) (For more details also see the chapter entitled Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Pregnancy in Diagnostic Tests.)
More information about aspartame at http://www.aspertame.com

P. 336 in the center of the page, the address for the Hendricks Institute has changed to 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 1, PMB 416, Montecito, CA 93108 (800) 688-0772.

P. 401 first paragraph, third line changed to read (550 to 1,650 ml.).

P. 404 last line on page deleted, as it is a duplicate of the first line on page 405.

P. 408, second footnote under chart, **, second line, should read 10 weeks gestation).

P. 413 under Rate of fundal growth from visit to visit, the following sentence is now added to the end of the paragraph: Keep in mind that fundal growth does not always reflect fetal growth; therefore palpate the baby's size as well and compare your findings.