Mosquito Bite - Talk me down

[cosmicav]

So, I noticed a mosquito bite today. This fucker must have gotten into our house because we weren't outside for any prolonged period of time. I'm trying to avoid google, but I have been kind of obsessing over the possibility of Zika Virus. I am freaking out because I know how sensitive first trimester is. There's nothing I can do about it either way, is there? I shouldn't worry, right? I live in VA. 

TALK ME DOWN!

[amacbaby]

I don't think there is any reason to worry. There have not yet been any confirmed cases of transmission via mosquito in the US, and the one pending case is in Florida! I definitely know the feeling, I have had a couple bites in the last few weeks and it is scary (I like in TX). I just tell myself I don't have zika, just wear bug spray and move on. That's all you can do. The chance of picking up the virus is probably very very small from one bite in an area with no suspected cases!

[mikaela20]

I don't think you need to worry about it too much. Unless you are in the affected areas, I think you are pretty safe.

1st tri is the worst. I even worry about pooping the baby out- yeah I didn't think I would ever post that, but here I am!

Hugs.

[Deleted]

Deep breaths!

I agree with PP don't worry, it's super super unlikely.

That said I'm in Alabama and I hadn't even thought about Zika...

[jillywilly]

Another vote to not worry. There's enough to worry about during pregnancy, especially first tri. Try to cross this off your list!

[eroticantibiotic]

Zika absolutely terrifies me. It has taken some time for Zika to maybe have hit the US, though, so the spread from South FL to VA is still a ways off. Once the temperature hits 50, mosquitos start dying off or hibernating, so I'm hopeful that this year's potential for Zika will be minuscule.

I'm in VA, too. We just restarted our pest control service because I'm panicky, and we haven't been hiking in a few months which is killing me.

[summerrain]

((Hugs)) cosmicav. I would be spiraling too. I am not an expert, but what everyone else said is perfect.

[glb30]

I understand the fear, but you are totally fine in Virginia!

[beyoncepadthai]

Jul 20, 2016 16:25:27 GMT -5 cosmicav said:

So, I noticed a mosquito bite today. This fucker must have gotten into our house because we weren't outside for any prolonged period of time. I'm trying to avoid google, but I have been kind of obsessing over the possibility of Zika Virus. I am freaking out because I know how sensitive first trimester is. There's nothing I can do about it either way, is there? I shouldn't worry, right? I live in VA. 

TALK ME DOWN!

Hugs, I'm sure you're safe but I understand your concern. I'm in Michigan and I've thought about it too.

[ladytiffany24]

Hugs girl! I'm sure you're fine. Basically I agree with what the other PP's have said.

I'm up in Ohio and am a little panicky about it too. So you're not alone in that, but I don't think there's any cause for concern!

[cosmicav]

Thank you guys! I think you are all right, that there is nothing to worry about. It's scary though! I'll probably ask my OB about the risk tomorrow for the extra peace of mind, but I am definitely feeling calmer about it. I think I have to stop watching the news, lol.

[cosmicav]

Jul 20, 2016 17:05:56 GMT -5 mikaela20 said:

I don't think you need to worry about it too much. Unless you are in the affected areas, I think you are pretty safe.

1st tri is the worst. I even worry about pooping the baby out- yeah I didn't think I would ever post that, but here I am!

Hugs.

Every time I strain to poop, I am terrified I'll push the baby out. Logically, I know that doesn't happen but here I am, lol. You are not alone! 

[obi]

No zika in Ontario. Come hangout with me for the first tri. Our may babies can entertain each other while we fight over the bathroom.

[sunflower]

I'm glad I'm not the only one worrying about zika. (I live less than 10 miles from Mexico, and the CDC has been recommending that pregnant women not travel anywhere in Mexico for months.)

Here's basically the process I use to talk myself down:

There is no evidence that Mosquitos carrying the virus are in VA currently, and the situation is being monitored pretty closely.

If there are Mosquitos with the virus in your area, it's probably a very small percentage of them.

We don't know how many bites would be required to transmit the virus, but it's probably more than one.

It is likely that your immune system could fight off the virus.

Since the virus often has no symptoms, we don't know how likely it is to affect the baby, but it's likely that it has no impact in most cases. (there are probably thousands of women around the world who have contracted the virus, not known it, and given birth to babies who have no problems.)

Even in the areas with documented widespread outbreaks of zika, the vast majority of babies born have not been impacted.

Also, if it is helpful, when I was a kid my family travelled to an area with a risk of malaria. Our doctor advised us to use unscented detergent, soap, shampoo, deodorant, et cetera to avoid attracting mosquitos. I think I may start doing this again as a precaution in addition to using bug spray.

[honda13]

I got a mosquito bite this morning and thought of you.

[callmeKD]

that's a great analysis sunflower,

[sunflower]

Jul 22, 2016 11:13:16 GMT -5 callmeKD said:

that's a great analysis sunflower,

Thanks! As you can probably tell, I have spent waaaaaay too much time worrying about this.

[frenchy816]

So I'll preface this by saying, I plan to chat with my midwife in August about this, but reading this thread made me think about it.

I live in NY....worried about Zika, but not worried about it. Does that make sense??

Anyway, I have to go to Orlando, FL in October for a work conference. Would you go??? I can get a doctor's note and probably skip it. I don't really want to, but Zika makes me panic when thinking about this trip.

[ladytiffany24]

Jul 22, 2016 22:15:21 GMT -5 frenchy816 said:

So I'll preface this by saying, I plan to chat with my midwife in August about this, but reading this thread made me think about it.

I live in NY....worried about Zika, but not worried about it. Does that make sense??

Anyway, I have to go to Orlando, FL in October for a work conference. Would you go??? I can get a doctor's note and probably skip it. I don't really want to, but Zika makes me panic when thinking about this trip.

Definitely get your midwife's opinion. It may not even be a choice of yours. She may tell you she doesn't want you to go. But if she gives you the option to go and you decide to, do you research on the right kind of bug spray and wear it generously.

FWIW, I'd probably opt to not go but I'm overly paranoid.

[mikaela20]

Is Zika now a concern even within the US? Maybe I hav'nt been following this closely.

[mikaela20]

I just checked the CDC, there are zero locally acquired cases in the US. It's only people traveling to affected areas who are getting it.

This makes me feel better about DH traveling to Utah next week for work.

www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united-states.html

[cosmicav]

Jul 22, 2016 9:01:17 GMT -5 honda13 said:

I got a mosquito bite this morning and thought of you.

Lol ILY

[cosmicav]

I asked my nurse about this at my appointment, and she said to basically try and prevent bites when I go out for a prolonged period of time, but not to stress if I do actually get bites. She also said to not travel to areas with documented cases, but I feel that this is a given lol.