Bug Spray and Sunscreen When Pregnant

There are sunscreens you can use such as blue lizard or california baby or jason wich are organic and safe for babies or sensitive skin.
I don't know about safe pesticides. However the lotion Avon skin so soft prevents bugs from biting you!! Congrats on being preggie and enjoy aruba!

unless you inhaled it, using it once should not be a problem. And as long as you dont eat the sunscreen, it wont hurt the baby if you use it.

I never use bug sprays, but I am obsessive about sunscreen--keep using it! Your hormones during pregnancy and at other points in women's lives can make your skin much more sensitive. I have very distinctive marks from a sunburn I got in 2004 after one part-day working in the sun. I had such severe burns that my husband had to help me dress and undress and I couldn't even touch my bed to sleep. Most sunscreens are probably safe (I've never heard otherwise) and my OB was always more particular that I WAS using it regularly. I use a facial moisturizer with sunscreen in it and usually a "baby" sunscreen for the rest of my family since everyone else has very sensitive skin. Lots of women find out they are pregnant unexpectedly and have been engaging in risky behaviors without realizing it and their babies are fine (drugs and alcohol in early pregnancy). Enjoy your vacation and do not worry, just find something safe for kids and you should be all set.

Many people throughout the 70-90s used these products and still produced healthy children for the most part. Chances are very good that your baby is fine and you shouldn't be panicking.

That said, you really should avoid more exposure to artificial chemicals if you can manage to. Light weight skin covering clothing and hats would be the better alternative to sunscreens, and not exposing yourself to lots of mosquitoes or possibly using some tea tree oil on your clothing would be ways to minimize exposure to bugs.

If you just can't take care of it any other way, use them and assume the small risks. But Aruba might not have been an ideal choice for this celebration. Chances are your kid will be okay and you have learned a better path for the rest of the pregnancy.

Hi S.,
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There are scientifically proven "green" products that are safe for your home, protects your family, the environment, and as an added bonus, you'll be a "stay at home mom" soon, so, once you've tried these products, detoxed your home, then tell everyone about your amazing discovery, start your own business therefore creating revenue stream, interested? please contact me. ____@____.com, thank and good luck.
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Hi S.,
I had no idea that what you put on your skin can penatrate into your body. Your Skin is the largest organ of your body. I would be very careful with any bug sprays you use, try to keep in doors during buggy times of the days and use more natural Suncare in the Sun but also try to avoid too much sun. It is so important to the health of your new Baby, Many Congratulations, It's a wonderful time for you. I have five children! I can recommend some wonderful safe products I use on myself, my husband and our children if you would like more information please let me know.
S. at ____@____.com :)

I asked an OB about creams, etc. while pregnant (I had specific questions about a few things I had applied to my skin). She said that unless you're using something with retinol in it -- which you really should avoid -- it's REALLY hard to affect the baby using something topical.

I know several very fair women who've used sunscreen extensively during their pregnancies without any problems, and I use a moisturizer with sunscreen in it every day. Here is an article that might help put your mind at ease: http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/healthy-safe-pregn...

I know particularly in the beginning of a pregnancy, you worry about every single little thing you could be exposed to. As it progresses, however (and the number of things you're exposed to increases) you start to realize that we live in a very chemically world and you're exposed to these things probably every day. Our bodies are amazing, however, and protect our babies from nearly everything! It's a good idea to minimize exposure to toxins where you KNOW they are, of course, but if you use common sense, your baby should be just fine!

I'm sure you're fine, especially since it was a one-time use. In terms of sunscreen, you can use mineral sunscreens no problem, and without risk, because they are natural. They can be more of a hassle to apply, since they are typically a white cream that doesn't always spread as easily. I use the Melalueca mineral sunscreen on my whole family and love it. For bugs, I would maybe check with your local health food store. Avon Skin So Soft *may* be okay, I don't know. But a lot of cosmetics contain known cancer-causing ingredients, like parabens, so check the ingredients before you buy. I know there are essential oils that repel bugs, that's why I suggest you check with your local health food store.
Congrats on the pregnancy--enjoy!

I would look for more natural products as soon as you can. I had heard to aviod DEET when pregnant but found a very nice bug repellant with essential oils. It was in the drug store so there was no special ordering involved. You are right to wear the sunblock in the tropics! I was out in the sun maybe 30 minutes before I remembered sunblock when we went to Aruba and got a nasty burn (and still have some new freckles 5 years later). Sure, if you can get a PABA free sunblock use it but don't skip it and get burnt if you can't get it on this vacation. A bad sunburn can leave you dehydrated and stress your body too. Everything in life is a risk of some sort (especially having and raising kids) and we just try and make the best choices we can.

I bought Bite Blocker from www.onestepahead.com. If they don't sell it, you could probably look up the name online-- I use Google shopping or just google it. Everything is natural and it seems to work for us. I am super sensitive to bites too and agree that you should use a natural one if possible. If not natural, make sure it's not a spray that you would inhale. Try a stick, cream or other that you rub on. Good luck!

Ditto what Sara said. I live in Texas and we are outside a lot. There is NO WAY I could have survived our 107 degree summers without sunscreen while I was pregnant. I used it regularly with both of my pregnancies and had no problems. Relax and enjoy your vacation.

Well I don't know about either of those, but I will say that I think you are perfectly fine. I know it is so scary all the possibilities of harmful things to a growing baby, yet with all the pollution, dirt and germs we come in contact with, the vast majority of babies come out just awesome. With my first I ate some Bree cheese that had been out for awhile before I found out that wasn't recommended bc of some parasite that can apparently cross the placenta or something like that. My baby boy is now almost three and just perfect. Anyway once I knew I didn't do it again, and it worried me. With my second I used some aspirin based stuff not realizing it, only once, but my ob told me not to do it again when I asked and I used some cream that has the same thing in it as the Sudafed you aren't allowed to take, I used that cream several times so that one did freak me out a little. My second is perfect as well. I only tell you all this to say that all of us come in contact with some non recommended stuff now and then and it all goes just fine. I believe your baby is just fine:) Don't do it again, but don't fret, you'll just miss out on the full enjoyment of your pregnancy and everything will end up being great. Congrats on your new baby!!

Unfortunately I cannot offer advice on OFF. But I used Avon skin so soft sunblock and bug repellant. It doesn't have Deet and I used it last summer on my son, he was 17- 20 months old. It is safe for children, blocks the sun, and kept the bugs away, who seemed to love him. Of course, check with your dr but I think this is a safe alternative.