134: Bug Bites (Mosquitos, Ticks, and Fleas)
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Episode 134 Content and Overview
Summer time means warmer weather, which can also mean insects like mosquitos, fleas, and ticks, tend to be more abundant. More insects mean the potential for increased exposure to bug bites. Bug bites are never fun, and they are not something you want to deal with when you are pregnant. Insects like mosquitos, fleas, and ticks are bothersome to say the least, but worse, they can carry diseases. Some of the illnesses that can be spread by these pests include Zika, malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus. No one wants to encounter these diseases and especially when you are pregnant because they can be a serious risk to you and your baby. The big question is, do you need to worry about bug bites during pregnancy? The short answer is no, your shouldn’t worry, but you should be aware of what the risks are and how you can limit your exposure and mitigate the risks.
Included in This Episode
- Illnesses from Mosquito, Tick, and Flea Bites Increasing in the US
- Mosquitos and mosquito bites
- Mosquitoes prefer pregnant women
- Diseases carried by mosquitos
- World Map of Areas with Risk of Zika
- Zika
- Fleas and flea bites
- Fleas and your pet
- Ticks and tick bites
- Removing ticks
- Antibiotics
- Geographic distribution of ticks that bite humans
- Lyme disease and other diseases carried by ticks
- Protecting yourself from bug bites during pregnancy
- Clothing guidelines
- Bugs and your pet
- Guidelines for your home and yard
- Insect repellents
- Environmental Working Group Guide for Bug Repellents
- EPA Find the Repellent that is Right for You
- Consumer Reports Insect Repellant Buying Guide
- Deet
- Insect Repellants During Pregnancy in the Era of the Zika Virus
- Picaridin (AKA KBR3023 and Icaridin)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Essential oils
- Permethrin
- Tips for choosing the right insect repellant for you
- Insect bites and your baby
- Zahler makes a high quality prenatal vitamin that has the active form of folate plus omega 3s and DHA. This is my favorite prenatal vitamin, the one I take everyday and the one I recommend to all expecting moms. Zahler is offering an exclusive discount to listeners of the Pregnancy Podcast. To check out the vitamin and find out how you can save 25% when you buy a one month supply on Amazon click this link Zahler Prenatal + DHA.
