Pest control during pregnancy

Why pregnancy calls for extra care

During pregnancy the baby's brain, nervous system and organs develop rapidly and can be more sensitive to the toxic effects of pesticides.^[1]

Pesticides can harm you if they are breathed in, get on the skin or are swallowed, and NPIC notes that even very low-toxicity products can be hazardous if too much gets in. The risk depends on the toxicity of the product and the amount of exposure.^[7][1]

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says exposure to toxic environmental agents, which include toxic chemicals, has been associated with miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, delays in neurodevelopment and childhood cancer, and that prenatal visits are a chance to talk about reducing these exposures.^[16]

How to keep exposure low

• Start with non-chemical steps such as sealing entry points, removing food and water sources, and using traps. This is the IPM approach NPIC recommends.^[1][7]
• If you use a pesticide, make sure it is labeled for the pest and the place, and follow the label directions.^[1]
• Have someone else mix and apply the product. If you must do it yourself, wear at least the protective equipment the label lists, such as gloves or goggles; NPIC suggests adding more to cut exposure further.^[1][7]
• Leave while it is applied. Allow plenty of time for the home to air out and for the product to dry before you return, and avoid touching treated areas.^[1][2]
• Store food, toys, pet bowls and clothing well away from the area being treated.^[7]
• Wear gloves and covering clothing if you garden in treated areas.^[1]
• If someone in the household works with pesticides, wash their work clothes separately.^[1]

Lower-risk options

NPIC's advice for lowering exposure is to prevent pests first, then pick the least-toxic product and the formulation least likely to expose you. EPA adds that the form of the pesticide (aerosol, dust, bait or another form) should suit the place and the pest. MedlinePlus suggests trying non-chemical methods first.^[7][9][13]

• Seal, clean and trap first: IPM emphasizes prevention, sanitation and exclusion and uses pesticides only as a last resort when other options have failed.^[7]
• Compare signal words. On the label, DANGER means poisonous or corrosive, WARNING means moderately hazardous and CAUTION means least hazardous. NPIC can help you compare products.^[9][7]
• Use baits in closed or locked stations. NPIC says to put ant, snail and rodent baits in locked bait stations or out of children's reach, and EPA says to keep insect and rodent baits away from children and pets.^[8][9]
• Skip foggers. CDC found 3,222 illnesses linked to total release foggers in 10 states from 2007 to 2015. The most common causes were not leaving during the release, going back in too early and poor ventilation, and most cases involved pyrethroid or pyrethrin products.^[10]
• Use the product only where the label allows, in the amount it directs. Applying too much raises exposure for people and pets.^[7]

If you hire a company

Ask which products the company will use and write down the product names and EPA registration numbers, so you or your doctor can look them up.^[3]

Tell the company you are pregnant. EPA says your safety concerns, including the ages of the people living there, belong in the contract and should guide which pesticides are chosen, and you can ask the company to use the least toxic chemical method that will do the job and to show you the label.^[9]

NPIC can tell you what laboratory tests show about the reproductive toxicity of a specific product.^[1]

What the research shows

Every pregnancy starts with some background chance of a birth defect: CDC says about 1 in 33 babies in the United States is born with one.^[11]

The human evidence points to limiting exposure rather than to a known risk from any single treatment. A systematic review of 15 case-control studies found that children whose homes used pesticides had higher odds of leukemia (summary odds ratio 1.57), including after exposure during pregnancy and prenatal indoor insecticide exposure. The authors rated the evidence moderate to low quality and concluded it supports limiting household pesticide use during pregnancy and childhood.^[17]

A study that followed 113 pregnancies in women who used a 1% permethrin creme rinse (a pyrethroid head lice treatment) found no increase in major malformations and no statistically significant difference from a comparison group in any pregnancy outcome measured. The authors concluded permethrin use in pregnancy appears relatively safe.^[15]

For a specific product, NPIC can tell you what laboratory tests show about its reproductive toxicity.^[1]

Mosquito and tick repellent

CDC says EPA-registered insect repellents, used as directed, are safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women. These include DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD and 2-undecanone.^[4]

Follow the label: apply only to exposed skin or clothing, not under clothing, and do not spray directly on the face.^[5]

CDC also says to look for an EPA registration number on the repellent label, which means the company gave EPA data on how well the product works.^[4]

Common questions

Does one pest control treatment cause miscarriage?

Miscarriage is common and usually has other causes: MedlinePlus says about 10% to 25% of women who know they are pregnant will have one, most often from chromosome problems. Exposure to environmental toxins is listed among other possible causes, and ACOG links toxic environmental exposures to miscarriage, which is why the advice is to keep exposure low. Ask your provider or NPIC about a specific product.^[14][16][1]

How long should I stay out after a treatment?

Stay out until the product is completely dry and the home is well ventilated, and follow any longer time on the label.^[2][1]

Is it OK while breastfeeding?

NPIC says to keep the baby out of the treated area until the product is completely dry and the area is well ventilated. CDC says EPA-registered insect repellents used as directed are safe and effective for breastfeeding women. For a specific pesticide, ask NPIC or your provider.^[1][2][4]

Is head lice treatment safe while pregnant?

A study of 113 pregnancies found no increase in major malformations among women who used a 1% permethrin creme rinse. That is one study of one product, so check with your provider before treating.^[15]

Should I use a bug bomb while pregnant?

It's a poor choice. CDC's review of fogger illnesses found most were caused by staying in the home during the release, going back in too early or poor ventilation. Baits, traps and targeted treatments keep exposure lower.^[10][7][8]

Sources

1. National Pesticide Information Center, “Pesticides and Pregnancy.” npic.orst.edu/health/preg.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
2. National Pesticide Information Center, “PestiBytes Episode 8: With a Baby on the Way... Is It Okay to Spray?.” npic.orst.edu/pestibytes/ep8.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
3. National Pesticide Information Center, “Selecting a Pest Control Company.” www.npic.orst.edu/pest/selectpco.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
4. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Preventing Mosquito Bites.” www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Using Insect Repellents Safely and Effectively.” www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively (accessed 2026-11-10)
6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Read the Label First: Protect Your Pets.” www.epa.gov/pets/read-label-first-protect-your-pets (accessed 2026-11-10)
7. National Pesticide Information Center, “Minimizing Pesticide Exposures.” npic.orst.edu/health/minexp.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
8. National Pesticide Information Center, “Pesticides and Children.” npic.orst.edu/health/child.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety (EPA 735-K-04-002).” www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-08/documents/citizens_guide_to_pest_control_and_pesticide_safety.pdf (accessed 2026-11-10)
10. CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, “Acute Illnesses and Injuries Related to Total Release Foggers, 10 States, 2007-2015 (MMWR 2018;67(4):125-130).” www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6704a4.htm (accessed 2026-11-10)
11. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Data and Statistics on Birth Defects.” www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/data-research/facts-stats/index.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
12. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Insecticide poisoning (Medical Encyclopedia).” medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002832.htm (accessed 2026-11-10)
13. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Pesticides (Health Topic).” medlineplus.gov/pesticides.html (accessed 2026-11-10)
14. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Miscarriage (Medical Encyclopedia).” medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001488.htm (accessed 2026-11-10)
15. American Journal of Perinatology, abstract via PubMed, “Kennedy et al. 2005, Pregnancy outcome following exposure to permethrin and use of teratogen information.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15731987/ (accessed 2026-11-10)
16. Obstetrics & Gynecology, abstract via PubMed, “Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Environmental Agents: ACOG Committee Opinion No. 832 (2021).” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34259492/ (accessed 2026-11-10)
17. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, abstract via PubMed, “Van Maele-Fabry et al. 2019, Household exposure to pesticides and risk of leukemia in children and adolescents: updated systematic review and meta-analysis.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30268646/ (accessed 2026-11-10)