Mosquito bites made me cry today. A moaning Mavis moan.

[Thandeka]

Am almost 9 weeks and currently honeymooning in Thailand. Because of being pregnant have been dousing self in citronella rather than DEET but so far have managed to get 20 bites with lots on the soles of my feet (agony!). I'm not sure I am supposed to use antihistamine cream ut a pharmacist over here said it was probably okay. I do have some antihistamine tablets with me- Loratidine which is supposed to be safe during pregnancy but I hate the thought of taking tablets. The bites are soooo itchy and made me cry today!

Since getting here I have turned into a moaning Mavis completely paranoid about the heat, the food the drink. Am trying so hard not to e a total pain (poor DH!) but in the last week most of my pregnancy symptoms have completely gone- especially the nausea so I am worried that things are not well hence being so worried.

Any advice on pregnancy safe things I can do to stop the mozzie bites killing me? Is it normal for early pregnancy symptoms to disappear before 12 weeks?

Completely normal for symptoms to disappear. Mine did at 8 weeks. In Bangkok funnily enough!!!

You can take certain antihistamines while PG. I did for hay fever.

I was PG whilst living in Vietnam and visiting Bangkok a lot and I survived!

There are lots of topical creams you can use on your bites. They will stop itching soon. Try putting your feet in cold water or rubbing ice cubes on them.

CAn't remember what mossie repellant I used though unfortunately. It was a long time ago. Will email a friend in Vietnam to ask!

I would see if you can get hold of some 1% hydrocortisone cream - that will probably work better than antihistamine cream.

Loratidine is a bit iffy, I would avoid it in 1st trimester. Piriton (chlorphenamine/ chlorpheniramine) is a safer better, though drowsy-making. Better this though than scratching yourself to pieces, infected bites etc!

Also get DH to do anything and everything he can to distract you! Bites itch at least 8 times as much when you think about them!

Completely normal for early pregnancy symptoms to disappear at 12 weeks, the next 12 are the best weeks before you get so big that you cannot do up your own shoelaces.

My mum swears by a mixture of Dettol and babyoil to keep the beasties away. She smells horrible but it does work.

Find some antihistimine cream or tabs that are safe for use in pregnancy (the pharma companies are thankfully very cautious so if they say it is safe, then it will be) and don't suffer for the sake of it.

Try eating loads of garlic to stop them biting you. Also I think they bite most at night - do you have a mosquito net or can you get one?

thanks guys that has cheered me up! Am a bit embarrased to have had a moan when I am on a lovely holiday! We just arrived at a lush new resort on Ko Phi Phi and as soon as I got here one of the ladies who works here asked me if I was pregnant! I'm only almost 9 weeks and have a pot belly rather than bump (I think!) but I had to say yes but then was so embarrassed about being only 9 weeks I lied and said 3 months as it fitted better! She was very sweet though and it was nice to have someone ask me if I was for the first time (when I have been asked in the past I haven't actually been pregnant so I usually snarl back "no I'm just fat!")

Got a new antihistamine cream with a cooling effect the pharmacist recommended and that seems a bit better and the not thinking about it also helps!

Now have 22 bites including one on my armpit! Here for another week lets hope I don't get too many more (and lets also hope the demos in Bangkok at the min don't get out of hand)