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Are Bug Zappers Safe for Pregnant Women?

If you don't already know what bug zappers are, they are devices that work by attracting and killing insects on contact.

January 10, 2022

6 min read time

Why you can trust us

This information is reviewed by an independent pest control expert.

All external links are non-affiliated and for informational purposes only 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Pregnancy is a beautiful season. Everyone is amazed at how another human can carry life inside her. As an expectant parent, you would love to be extra cautious so no harm comes to your unborn child. Insect borne diseases can be difficult to treat in pregnancy.

If you’re wondering if a mosquito repellent can affect your growing baby, then its article will answer your question. You would also learn what pregnancy pest control methods you can use, and how to treat mosquito bites in pregnancy.

Are bug zappers dangerous to humans?

If you don’t already know what bug zappers are, they are devices that work by attracting and killing insects on contact, or ‘zapping’ them. These devices use UV light rays attract insects. They are proved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Now, the UV light used in bug zappers is UV-A. This is the type of ultraviolet light that insects can see. UV-A has a bluish tint, so there’s a good chance you’ve seen it somewhere. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to tan your skin, then you’ve harnessed the power of UV-A.

You’ve probably heard that UV light is bad for your skin right? Well, the ultraviolet light these zappers produce is very insignificant, making it safe for humans.

So, bug zappers are NOT harmful to humans. Plus, the further away you are from the bug zapper, the less damage it does to you.

Can bug zappers to harm pregnant moms?

No.

Bug zappers cannot harm pregnant moms because just as we said earlier, these devices contain a type of ultraviolet light that doesn’t affect humans. These rays cannot also get to your baby through your tummy, because they are not that strong.

However, as a precautionary measure, you should keep your distance from these devices, especially when you are using them indoors. It’s best to keep bug zappers at the corners of your room or fix them to ceilings.

Also, avoid keeping them close to food as UV-A from the zappers might not get into your skin easily, but they sure can get into your food with continuous exposure. With these tips, you and your baby are safe.

How to prevent bug bites during pregnancy?

Prevention, they say, is better than cure.

It’s much easier to prevent bug bites than to try to cure them.

In fact, it’s better to prevent a pest infestation than try to get rid of one. If you want to avoid chemicals during your pregnancy, you can use preventive measures to keep bugs away. You could also combine these measures with natural methods since they don’t last very long.

Here are some steps to prevent bug bites during pregnancy:

Avoid traveling as much as you can:

Especially to tropical areas.

Tropical areas like Australia or Africa usually have more bugs than you are used to, so it’s best to avoid these areas till you birth your baby.  If you must travel to these areas, make sure you protect yourself fully from bites and have your selected insect repellent ready.

Close your windows, doors and screens on time:

It’s not advisable to open up your windows at dawn or to keep your screen unsealed till dusk.

Ensure you close your doors and windows as soon as the sun starts to set, or even earlier. This way, flying insects won’t bother you much indoors. Use mosquito netting if you want to keep them open for longer.

Sleep under a mosquito net:

Sleep under a net and line your baby’s carrier with one too.

Sleeping under a mosquito net doesn’t just give you protection from mosquitoes, but other bugs as well. and when your baby finally comes, you can protect your dear one by including a net in his or her carrier and cot too.

Don’t use heavily scented products like soaps or perfumes:

The scents might be pleasant to your nose, but they are vary also pleasant to bugs. If you want to use any scented product, ensure the smell is as mild as possible or go with products that mimic a strong citrus smell.

Clear up attending water around your home:

And clean up your garden regularly.

Insects particularly love these two places, so cleaning them up reduces the chance of them multiplying in your yard. any container that can store standing water should be removed immediately or turned upside down to eliminate a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.