Best Pregnancy-Safe Mosquito Repellent_ Top Insect Repellents for Expecting Moms

1. Best Pregnancy-Safe Mosquito Repellent: Top Insect Repellents for Expecting Moms With summer in full swing, it is a time to explore the outdoors. It is also a time when mosquitos are at their height. The market is flooded with many types of repellents, and if you are expecting, you must be wondering which are pregnancy-safe mosquito repellents. Here is information on the best mosquito repellent for pregnancy and tips on protecting yourself from mosquito bites as an expectant mom. EPA-approved pregnancy-safe repellents. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to ‘protect human health and the environment.’ To this end, the EPA has a list of effective pregnancy-safe insect repellents. The CDC also follows the EPA guidelines. These repellents are: ● ● ● ● ● DEET or N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide Picardin IR3535 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-amino propionic acid, ethyl ester) Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) Para-menthane-diol (PMD), a lab-made form of the compound found in the oil of lemon eucalyptus ● 2-undecanone, a chemical found in plants like bananas, cloves, and ginger * All of these are safe to apply directly on intact, unbroken skin. * OLE is a naturally derived active ingredient from the lemon eucalyptus plant. It is not the same as pure essential oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is not recommended as a repellent. * Other natural chemicals, such as citronella, cedar, peppermint, and geranium oil, or devices and wearables like wrist bands, cloth stick-ons, ultrasonic devices, and moisturizers that are not EPA-approved, might not work as desired. These are not recommended for use in areas where disease transmission by mosquitoes can occur.

2. What are the other options besides these repellents? Certain foods, like garlic, are said to protect against mosquito bites, but no scientific evidence supports such claims. 2-undecanone, an EPA-approved repellent, is a chemical found and extracted from plants like bananas, cloves, and ginger. These foods are also said to protect against insect bites, but we do not know how much of them needs to be ingested or applied and if they are even effective in that form. Besides the use of EPA-approved repellents, there are some additional steps that you can take: ● ● Avoid going outdoors at the peak activity of mosquitoes, usually dusk and dawn. Wear long-sleeved shirts and full pants to reduce the area of exposed skin for the mosquitoes. Check your doors and windows to ensure they are securely fastened and fitted with tight screens and no holes. Sleep under a mosquito net if you are outside, e.g., camping or even indoors, when screened rooms are unavailable. Remember that some mosquitoes can live indoors and bite during the day. Look around for mosquito breeding grounds. Drain anything that holds water in your yard, like pools or bird baths, weekly. ● ● ● ● If you have an ornamental pool, mosquitofish can eat mosquito larvae and prevent the pool from becoming a breeding ground for them. You can request these fish from your local mosquito control agency. Click here for the National Pesticide Information Center to find your local mosquito control agency. Alternatively, you can buy these fish from Petco. Safe ways to use insect repellents while pregnant. ● ● ● ● ● ● Use only when needed. Always use EPA-registered products. Follow the instructions on the label. Apply as needed, especially after sweating or swimming. Apply on clothes instead of skin to reduce exposure to the repellent. Never apply on cuts or irritated skin.

3. ● If applying directly on the skin, do not apply on areas that will be covered with clothing. Avoid applying or spraying directly to the face. Spray or apply it on your hands and then gently apply it to the face. Avoid inhaling the repellent if you are using a spray. If using sunscreen, apply the repellent after the sunscreen. Wash hands after applying the repellent to avoid swallowing it inadvertently, Do not use sprays in enclosed areas. Do not use sprays near food. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Always use physical protection methods, like long-sleeved clothes and full pants. Can insect repellents cause miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects? A recent study done on worms linked DEET to aberrations in cell divisions, which can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and genetic abnormalities like Down’s syndrome. However, we do not know how this study on worms will translate to humans. No human studies have been done to determine if exposure to these commonly used insect repellents causes miscarriage, premature birth, or birth defects. So far, there is no evidence that these EPA-approved repellents cause adverse effects on pregnancy. What we do know is that these EPA-recommended compounds are pregnancy-safe insect repellents with a longstanding track record of safety and efficacy, and the benefits far outweigh the risks, if any. Resources ● ● ● ● ● Avoid Bug Bites- CDC West Nile & Pregnancy- CDC Zika & Pregnancy- CDC Mother to Baby: Insect Repellants- National Library of Medicine Local mosquito control agency finder tool ● EPA search tool to find the right EPA-registered repellent brand for you