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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Advice if anyone has any experience with flea/ and or flea dirt while pregnant??

9 replies

Thayer28 · 04/08/2022 08:02

Im 11 weeks pregnant w/ first baby. Have 2 cats that I've practically had my partner taking care of due to concerns of them catching mice and bringing diseases. Had no reason to believe they had fleas. Upon changing sheets tonight I see flea dirt in my bed that ive been unknowningly sleeping onto of for 2 weeks. I'm very scared that I've breathed in toxins from the flea feces and know im not going to sleep again until I get tested! Does anyone have any experience like this??

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 04/08/2022 12:02

How on earth do you know its flea dirt rather than any other sort of dirt?

Are the cats treated regularly for fleas?

What sort of testing are you expecting for suspected flea dirt toxins? Do you generally have health anxiety?

Society · 04/08/2022 12:30

Flea dirt is tiny and will usually only be on the cats or areas where they sleep. Are you sure it's really from the cats?

Your reaction is quite extreme, are you normally this anxious?

ChagSameachDoreen · 04/08/2022 13:35

With all due respect, if your worried about "flea dirt" (WTF even is that?) then you're going to have a very stressful pregnancy and life thereafter. Keep things in perspective. How do you think the human race continued for so many millennia? A bit of "flea dirt" isn't going to harm you.

WhatIsModeration · 04/08/2022 13:50

My cat had fleas when I was pregnant. Caused me no harm at all (or my unborn baby). I just made sure I was out of the house whilst my DH flea bombed the place.

Sunshineona · 04/08/2022 14:17

OP first doublecheck if it is flea dirt or just bits of dried mud.

It’s really easy to tell if it’s flea dirt, (@dementedpixie ) It’s usually obvious from the shape, as flea poo has a curving shape, and also if you dab it with wet cotton wool then flea dirt turns reddish/brown as the dried blood dissolves. Other dirt just stays its original colour.

OP your biggest health problem re the pregnancy isn’t so much the fleas, as the chemicals you’ll need to use to treat the fleas. Don’t rush to the pet shop and buy all the flea bombs etc, instead speak to your vet about what to do but basically you’ll need to treat the cats (Advocat or Frontline drops are usually best, depending on your area as some areas have immune fleas) and also spray your house with flea killer. For Advocat you need a vet prescription.

No point spraying eg a tiled floor you want to do carpets, under sofa cushions, cracks between floorboards etc. But be aware that this spray is a poison and treat it like one. You as the pregnant mum need to not handle those chemicals get your partner or a pest control guy to do it. And ideally someone should air the place out for a few hours before you return.

It will take about 3 months to get rid of them as nothing kills flea eggs so you’re killing them when they hatch which can take a while. Vacuum lots and get rid of the vacuum bag often otherwise they can hop back out of the vacuum cleaner.

Good luck. It happens a lot we just don’t discuss it much.

justasking111 · 04/08/2022 14:23

Thayer28 · 04/08/2022 08:02

Im 11 weeks pregnant w/ first baby. Have 2 cats that I've practically had my partner taking care of due to concerns of them catching mice and bringing diseases. Had no reason to believe they had fleas. Upon changing sheets tonight I see flea dirt in my bed that ive been unknowningly sleeping onto of for 2 weeks. I'm very scared that I've breathed in toxins from the flea feces and know im not going to sleep again until I get tested! Does anyone have any experience like this??

After two weeks without changing your sheets the black spots could be anything. Now you've changed washed your bedding start checking daily and deflea your cats

henni85 · 04/08/2022 14:32

Flea treat your cats, hoover and spray carpets, sofas etc. You have washed your bedding already. Regular flea treatment and hoovering should sort it. It’s not harmful in pregnancy. I have 3 cats and they sometimes end up infested (despite my best efforts!) it hasn’t harmed me or my babies

Thayer28 · 04/08/2022 14:52

Thank you so much. I know being this anxious is a bit ridiculous but it helps having ppl who’ve experienced this or something similar give advice.

OP posts:
Thayer28 · 04/08/2022 14:54

i appreciate your response! I did the water check and it’s definitely flea dirt, got on the phone with vet this morning and handling things much calmer than I was feeling last night. Thank you

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