It is that time of year again when the biting bugs begin to come out in full force. Before becoming pregnant, it was a no-brainer to use an insect repellent to keep everything from mosquitos, biting flies, and more at bay. But when expecting, it is not so clear whether insect repellents should be used. And if they should, knowing which ingredients are safe and which are not can get confusing. That is why being clear on what the safety concerns are about using insect repellents as well as what benefits they may have during pregnancy is necessary for mothers-to-be.
What is unfortunate about not all insect repellents being created the same is that some insects are more attracted to pregnant women than they would be if they were not pregnant. Because of this, some expecting women turn to natural means of fighting these insects to ensure that they are keeping both themselves and their unborn babies safe.
But unfortunately, the natural ingredients do not always work and without the repellent, pregnant women are still coming inside after a day outdoors completely bitten up.
Here are the safety concerns and benefits of using insect repellent while pregnant.
Why Use Insect Repellent
Insect repellent is used to keep things like mosquitos, biting flies, ticks, fleas, and more from biting people, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. The repellents work by making it so that what usually attracts these bugs to humans is no longer registered in the insects. Then, they do not bite.
Per the publication, it can be anything from the carbon dioxide that is exhaled, the heat being emitted from a person or even their scent that attracts bugs. But, when they come into contact with the repellent, insects become confused and no longer see the person wearing it as a place to bite. And instead, the bugs look for another person or animal to bite instead.
Benefits Of Using Insect Repellent When Pregnant
For some pregnant women, using natural repellents is not enough to keep them from getting bitten by insects while outdoors. And because they want to enjoy time in the fresh air, remaining indoors, especially during the spring and summer, is not an option. As such, they turn to insect repellents.
According to BabyCentre, using insect repellent can be safe during pregnancy. However, that means knowing which ingredients are safe to use.
The approved ingredients in insect repellents by the Environmental Protection Agency include:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- 2-undecanone
- Para-menthane-diol
One word of caution with DEET is that, according to BabyCentre, it can only be 50 percent DEET. Anything else is considered unsafe for developing babies as there are birth defects that can occur.
For women who have tried the natural remedies to keep bugs from biting to no avail, it makes sense to use repellents to not be exposed to West Nile, Zika, Lyme disease, and more. But if there are any concerns, speak with a healthcare professional before use to weigh the pros and cons of use.
Concerns About Insect Repellents During Pregnancy
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The concerns that come with using insect repellents during pregnancy revolve around the chemicals that are easily absorbed into the skin. Once that happens, the chemicals are easily transferred from mother to baby.
According to KidsHeatlh, when pesticides are used during pregnancy, there are numerous complications that can occur. Some of which, according to the publication, include:
- Miscarriage
- Preterm labor
- Birth defects
This is why, according to KidsHealth, when insect repellents are advised to be used by healthcare professionals, they are told to use as little as possible. Then, when done outside, washing the insect repellent off the body is recommended.
While it may be necessary for pregnant women to use insect repellent, the more the skin can be covered with long sleeves and pants means that there is less surface area that needs to have the repellent applied. And when this happens, not only is there protection from the bugs, but the smallest amount of repellent used can keep any and all biting bugs from coming around.
Source: National Pesticide Information Center, BabyCentre, Environmental Protection Agency, KidsHealth