Safe remedies for mosquitoes, black flies and ticks when you're pregnant

What are safe remedies for insects - mosquitoes, ticks, blackflies, wasps, bees - while you are pregnant? How can you protect yourself against these pesky insects? Which mosquito preparations should you choose while pregnant? Above all, follow the rule that chemicals are the last resort. Natural methods and means work best in the fight against insects - and there are many of them.

Contents:

1. Remedies for mosquitoes in pregnancy
2. Ways to treat fluff in pregnancy
3. Ways to get ticks in pregnancy
4. Pregnant wasp or bee sting

Remedies for mosquitoes in pregnancy

There are about 50 species of mosquitoes in Poland. Although they do not transmit any diseases, they are very annoying. They most often attack at dawn or dusk, in places with high air humidity. So with the greatest infestation of mosquitoes (or actually mosquitoes, because only they suck human blood) you have to take into account stagnant waters, ditches, in damp forests, parks and gardens.

True mosquito attacks usually also occur before a storm. Mosquitoes also bite through clothing, so long pants or sleeves do not offer any protection. Their bites itch and sting, but are rarely serious.

However, if there are many of them (and this is often the case), allergy sufferers may experience increased temperature. To fight mosquitoes, first of all, you can use smells that these insects do not like.

• The aroma of citronella oil is the most effective in deterring mosquitoes, so use it in an aromatherapy fireplace. Or, mix 5-6 drops of it with a tablespoon of cooking oil and spread on the exposed parts of the body. Mosquitoes also dislike the smell of patchwork oil and peppermint. So you can reach for a ready-made blend of these three oils - Va-Pomix Z-3 from Dr Beta series.
• These bloodthirsty insects also avoid the scent of lavender, pelargonium, eucalyptus, lemon - so use candles, incense sticks, air fresheners with this aroma. You can also plant these plants in your garden or in pots in your apartment.
• When you are on the terrace or in the garden, you will scare away mosquitoes by burning candles or mosquito coils (e.g. with citronella oil). Or light a barbecue - the smoke chases the insects away.
• If you want to get rid of mosquitoes in your room, close the windows and put them upa saucer on which you will pour some turpentine. Get out of the room and close the door. Within 15-20 minutes, the turpentine vapors will put the mosquitoes flying in the room to sleep and they will fall on the floor. Sweep them into a dustbin, ventilate the room thoroughly (keeping the curtain tight!).
• Turn on the insecticide lamp - emits blue light that attracts insects. The light source is surrounded by a net or rods through which a low-power 4-6 W current flows. When an insect approaches metal wires, an electric discharge kills it. Lamps are effective (they do not pose a he alth hazard) both indoors and outdoors - for example on the terrace. You just need to make sure that it is the strongest light source in the entire environment.

First aid after a bite is to disinfect the skin with hydrogen peroxide or spirit. Then brush the bubble with a preparation that soothes swelling and itching, eg Fenistil (do not use in the first trimester), Rhinophenazol. Rubbing with damp soap also helps.

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This will be useful to you

A proven home remedy for all bites is sprinkling the wounded area with onion juice or applying a ring to it. Onions are anti-inflammatory and disinfectant.

After being bitten by an insect you can always take lime (e.g. a soluble tablet or Calcium syrup). This will prevent or reduce an allergic reaction to the venom.

Ways to treat fluff in pregnancy

Meszki like flowing water, e.g. rivers - they hatch there. They attack animals and people in swarms. They squeeze everywhere: into the ears, nose, under the eyelids and down the throat. They bite in the morning and then before dusk, especially on muggy and humid days. They attack all day long in shaded areas. They do not transmit disease, but emit toxic saliva, and their bites can cause - more often than mosquitoes - swelling, redness and a fever. Skin changes may last up to 14 days.

• You can use the same agents that repel mosquitoes to fight them. In addition, the fluff does not like the smell of vanilla. To protect against them, lubricate the exposed parts of the body with, for example, vanilla aroma for cakes.

First aid after a bite is to disinfect the wound with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Then you can coat it with a cooling agent such as Fenistil or Soventol. Relief will also bring an ice cube or a compress of alcohol diluted with water. Try not to scratch bitten onesplaces, otherwise there will be difficult to heal or even festering wounds.

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Meet proven methods for ticks

Ways to get ticks in pregnancy

Ticks wait for their victims, among others in deciduous and mixed forests, in thickets on the banks of water, especially in areas covered with ferns, blackberries and hazel. A tick bite is painless as its saliva contains anesthetic enzymes. But it can also contain dangerous viruses (causing meningitis) and bacteria (causing Lyme disease).

• You can use aromatic oils to fight ticks. These arachnids dislike the smell of peppermint and patchouli very much. So, mix 6-8 drops of either of these oils (or both at the same time) in a tablespoon of cooking oil and lubricate the exposed parts of the body with this mixture.
• The basis of defense against ticks, however, is appropriate clothing. When going for a walk in the forest, put on long pants, a windbreaker, and cover your head with a cap or a hat - preferably the entire wardrobe should be in light colors. But when you get home, check the places where ticks most often bite - under the armpits and breasts, in the groin, in the bends of the knees and behind the ears.

First aid is all about removing the tick as soon as possible to minimize the risk of infection. You can use a Trix vacuum device for this (you can buy it at a pharmacy). Or do it with tweezers - grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it out with one firm movement up (do not wring it out!). Then check that the insect has been completely removed (if not, you must visit a doctor to have the tick remnants removed). Then wash your skin with soap and water and disinfect it with alcohol. Watch the morning for a few days.

Whenever you notice any unusual signs, such as your morning's enlargement, redness, or flu-like symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Remember that the tick attached to the skin should not be smeared with any grease. The tick will fall out, but before that it suffocates and vomits under the skin. Such vomiting may contain bacteria or viruses, making you more likely to become infected.

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Important

Attention, shock!

This is a life-threatening reaction to an insect sting. Anaphylactic shock can occur even after an apparently harmless stab to the handor a leg. The shock is preceded by itching in the arms and legs, dizziness, increased heart rate, often itchy hives. Blood pressure drops rapidly. Such symptoms require urgent action. Call an ambulance. Above the sting site (5-10 cm), wear a tourniquet to slow down the spread of the venom.

Pregnant wasp or bee sting

While bees are friendly insects, not showing aggression outside the hive, wasps and hornets can be aggressive and sting even many times! To combat stinging insects, you usually only need to be careful - you just must not provoke them to attack. What can you do?

• Brightly patterned fabrics attract insects, so wear muted colors (white, beige, green).
• Do not break from dark bottles and cans that have been standing open. These insects can be inside.
• Avoid eating outdoors, especially sweets and ice cream.
• Do not use perfumes and strongly scented cosmetics, especially those with sweet, floral aromas.
• Don't walk barefoot on the grass, as wasps often nest in the ground.

First Aid is a quick removal of the sting, thus minimizing the effects of the bite. Scrape them off the skin with the tip of a knife or remove them with a needle. Do not use a pair of tweezers for this, because by pressing it on the sting on which the venom tank is located, you will inject another dose of venom.

To prevent the spread of the venom, place an ice cube in this area, which will constrict the vessels. Then, to neutralize the effects of the venom, make compresses. Since bee venom is alkaline, apply acidic compresses, such as vinegar or lemon juice. Soda compresses will help you treat acidic wasp venom.

Remember that if you are stung in the neck, mouth or tongue, you must seek medical attention immediately, even if you are not observing any disturbing symptoms.

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