Pregnant women are often concerned about the safety of using insect repellents during pregnancy. It’s natural to be concerned about your baby when you’re expecting, but it’s also important not to overreact. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend that pregnant women use mosquito repellent as long as they apply it correctly. The chemicals found in DEET-based products are safe to use on the skin during pregnancy, but it’s important not to take any chances with your health or your baby’s health.
Apply repellent to exposed skin only.
Apply repellent to exposed skin only.
Do not apply repellent to the face of small children.
Do not apply repellent to the hands of small children, who may rub their eyes or mouth before you have a chance to wash it off.
Rubbing your child’s skin with a towel can cause accidental ingestion of DEET-based repellents, which are toxic if ingested in sufficient amounts and can cause seizures or brain damage in infants and children under 2 years old.
Mosquito repellent for pregnancy
You may be concerned about using mosquito repellent during pregnancy, but there is no need to worry. There are many types of products available that can help keep you and your unborn baby safe from mosquito bites.
Keep in mind that all diaper creams, lotions, and sunscreen should also be avoided during pregnancy. If you have recently had a miscarriage or stillbirth you should avoid using any type of repellent on your body for at least four weeks after the incident has occurred to avoid infection from an insect bite.
Which mosquito repellent is safe for pregnancy?
DEET is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s also safe for pregnant and nursing women to use DEET-based repellents if they’re planning to get pregnant, as well as for teenagers who are under the age of 18.
You should avoid any products that contain oil of lemon eucalyptus or citronella oil because they may not be safe enough to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. While being exposed to these chemicals may not cause serious health problems in adults, they could be dangerous for your baby if he swallows them while nursing.
Is DEET OK during pregnancy?
While DEET is considered safe for pregnant women, it can cause skin irritation in some people. If you experience mild skin irritation when using DEET-based insect repellents, try switching to a plant-based repellent or using the product less frequently.
If your baby’s father is also using DEET, apply the insect repellent to yourself first and then rub any leftover product into his hands and arms. This will help make sure that enough of the product gets absorbed by your body so as not to reach levels that might be harmful to your little one inside the womb.
Can mosquito spray affect pregnancy?
Mosquito spray is safe to use during pregnancy. It’s not a risk factor for birth defects. You can safely use mosquito spray on your child or pet during pregnancy.
If you’re worried about the effects of DEET on your baby, read this article from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/features/dssm-deet/.
Does DEET cause birth defects?
DEET is a chemical compound that has been used in repellents for decades. And it’s safe to use during pregnancy. It’s the only active ingredient that the CDC recommends for mosquito protection during pregnancy.
DEET is not a known teratogen (something that causes birth defects). It is also not a known mutagen (something that causes changes in DNA), a carcinogen (a substance capable of causing cancer), or reproductive toxin (a substance that can damage reproductive organs or alter the development of an embryo).
In addition to DEET, there are several other insect repellents on the market that contain other active ingredients such as picaridin and IR3535. Both of these ingredients have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as being safe for infants over two months old and pregnant women when used according to label directions
Can DEET cross the placenta?
You may have heard that DEET is toxic and should not be used during pregnancy. This is not the case. DEET is not absorbed through the skin or into the bloodstream, so it does not cross the placenta into your child’s bloodstream.
As a general rule, pregnant women should avoid rubbing insect repellents on their hands and feet because this increases absorption into the body by about 40%. Instead of applying it to her hands and feet, a pregnant woman can spray an insect repellent onto a cloth towel or tissue and apply it to those areas instead of directly applying it to her skin.
What is the safest insect repellent?
DEET is the most effective insect repellent out there, and it’s also the most common ingredient in insect repellents—that’s because DEET works. But are pregnant women safe to use it? What about children? Pets? The environment?
Because it’s so effective at keeping you from being bitten by mosquitoes and other insects, DEET has been used for more than 60 years. It has not been proven to cause any harm to humans or animals when used according to directions. However, some people may be sensitive to DEET or have an allergic reaction if they come into contact with it or use too much on their skin (more on that later).
Repellent shouldn’t be applied to the eyes, mouth or hands of small children.
Remember that repellents should be applied to exposed skin only. Do not apply repellents to the eyes, mouth or hands of small children. Apply repellent sparingly and rub it into your skin. If you are using a spray product, make sure to hold it away from your face as you spray it on your body so that you don’t breathe in the product.
Remember that repellents should not be used if you have recently damaged skin conditions such as sunburns or rashes, or if you have open wounds on your body. If pregnant women are concerned about mosquitoes transmitting diseases like Zika virus then they should consult with their doctor before using any kind of insect repellent during pregnancy
Don’t apply repellents to damaged skin.
You may want to apply repellents, but be sure that you don’t do it in places where they will come into contact with your eyes, mouth or hands. You should also avoid applying repellents on any area where there is visible damage such as cuts and sores. If you have any concerns about the use of any product over your skin, please seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Mosquito repellent is safe to use during pregnancy
Don’t worry, you can still use mosquito repellent during pregnancy. There has been a lot of research done on the safety of DEET and it’s been proven that it is safe for pregnant women to use.
DEET is the most effective insect repellent available, but this doesn’t mean that it’s 100% effective against mosquitoes. It’s still recommended to wear long sleeves, pants and socks when you’re outside in mosquito-infested areas.
There are other types of natural mosquito repellents but they tend to be less effective than DEET or their effectiveness varies by person (for example, some people will be more allergic than others).
Conclusion
I hope this has helped you to understand what mosquitoes are, how they spread disease and how to prevent yourself from getting bitten. As always if you have any questions or concerns about what I’ve discussed today please don’t hesitate to ask me!
