Am going to Mexico next month, I got bitten to bits last time so stocked up on 50% deet sprays and wipes from boots.. I think I read somewhere as long as it is no more than 50% deet it should be ok...
Have just found it:
Yes, with caution. Most insect repellents contain the chemical N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, commonly known as Deet. Deet is a highly effective insecticide and Deet-based insect repellents are relatively safe if you use them carefully.
The NHS and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) say that products containing 50 per cent Deet are safe for you to use in pregnancy. Just make sure you use them according to the manufacturers? guidelines. A certain amount of Deet can be absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream, and in large doses it can make you seriously ill.
We don't know much about the possible harmful effects on your baby if you use Deet during pregnancy. A study in 2010 found evidence of a link between using insect repellents in the first trimester and a birth defect in boys called hypospadias. Hypospadias is when there is a problem with either the opening or the foreskin of the penis. The authors of this study say that further research is needed. This is because the study did not look at the type, content, and frequency of use of insect repellents.
You may decide you can manage without using an insect repellent in the UK and Europe while you're pregnant. If you're sitting outside on a summer evening, you could try burning a citronella candle to keep insects at bay. You could also try a natural insect repellent, which you can buy from your pharmacy.
The question of insect repellents may only become an issue for you if you're travelling to a country where you can contract insect-borne diseases.
Your doctor will probably advise you against travel to these areas. But if you really do need to go, then the benefits of using Deet outweigh any possible harm. This is because contracting mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus during pregnancy can be harmful to your growing baby. The HPA recommends you use Deet if you?re pregnant and travelling to a malarial area. You should also discuss anti-malarial medicine with your doctor.
Hope this helps!
Jo