This sheet is about exposure to DEET in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is DEET? DEET (N,N-ethyl-m-toluamide or m-DET) is the active ingredient in many common brands of insect repellent. It is the most effective and well-studied insect repellent ingredient on the market. DEET is particularly effective in preventing mosquito bites and tick attachments. MotherToBaby has a fact sheet …
The Baby Blog: Other Common Exposures
Stress
This sheet is about stress in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is stress? Stress is the way the body reacts to something that is unusual, dangerous, unknown, or disturbing. Stress can come from any event or thought. When under stress, your body undergoes physical, chemical, and emotional changes. Almost anything can cause stress, and everyone experiences it at some point in their …
Trauma
This sheet is about exposure to trauma in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is trauma? Trauma can include damage to both your body and/or your mind. Trauma can be caused by sudden physical injury, such as being in a major car accident, taking a bad fall, being burned, or being a victim of violence or from mental/emotional stress. Pregnancy outcomes may be different based on the type …
Pesticides
This sheet is about exposure to pesticides in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What are pesticides? Pesticide are substances used to prevent or destroy “pests” such as weeds, insects, animals (rodents and other), fungus and parasites that can harm crops or people. For example, pesticides are used to lower the number of mosquitoes which may carry the Zika virus or parasites that cause …
Lice and Scabies
This sheet is about exposure to lice and scabies in a pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What are lice? Lice are small insects, the size of a sesame seed, that can live on the body or in hair. Head lice are the most common type of lice. Lice hatch out of eggs that are called nits. You can sometimes see adult lice crawling through hair or on the scalp. You can also look for the nits …
