Pregnant worried about Zika - advice?

[tlmadden73]

I am not trying to belittle your worry, but please don't live in fear and cancel your trip.

Go .. be safe .. take precautions .. (long sleeves, non-toxic bug repellents, etc.), but don't live in fear of these big media stories. You probably have OTHER things to worry about traveling while pregnant than getting bitten by a mosquito that may or may not have a rare virus.

The world is a dangerous place .. you are more likely to be hit by a car driving around town than be infected by these "global" health scares we hear about that always put people in a panic.

If we lived our lives according to the fear-based media, we should never leave our house, as every person is a child molester, every Muslim is a terrorist, every restaurant will give you food poisoning and ever animal will give a rare infectious disease.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with ask your doctor.
I also agree that if you are going to worry, it is not worth the trip. You need to do what is best for your physical and mental health both.
Disney will be there in the future.

 

[DisMommyTX]

In all the research I have found, not a single person has contracted Zika in Florida. Every case has been a person infected while traveling somewhere else. Most of the mosquitoes found in FL and throughout North America are not capable of transmitting the Zika virus. The mosquitoes that could transmit it from person to person are not the ones who live and breed around ground water sources, but rather a 'container' breeder. That means they need higher average temperatures than the ones who rely on ground cover, and Orlando is still having a rather cool spring. For this and many other reasons related to our lifestyle and living conditions transmission from person to person in the US is highly unlikely-- less than 1 out of tens of millions at this point.

Of course you should rely on your doctor's advice, but on the list of things "pregnant women going to Disney next week" need to worry about, this should be pretty far down the list.

 

[asbyrneva]

I am not a doctor but I have been following this for my job. I agree with others that you should consult your physician but as others have said all known cases are from people that have traveled to specific countries. The CDC is recommending women not travel to those countries. The biggest risk to you is probably the stress you may be feeling from the uncertainty not the virus itself. If after you speak with your physician you still feel anxious then don't go, but if the Doc makes you feel comfortable about going please relax and enjoy your vacation.

FWIW I go to Disney in August prime mosquito season and have never received a bite. I think they do a good job in keeping that in check, but appropriate bug spray (again check with your doc about which ones would be recommended) might make you feel better.

Congrats on the new addition!

 

[crazymomof4]

I know you didn't ask this but, since you are concerned with Zika, you will probably be using more bug repellent than you would if Zika were not around (this, whether you travel or stay home during your pregnancy).....
Consider using natural bug repellent.
Everything we put on our skin is, to one degree or another, absorbed into our system. Most commercial bug sprays contain DEET. It's considered safe for preg women I know, but it does pass through the blood/placenta barrier ..... since you will be using more than what a preg woman would usually use during pregnancy (I would too, if I were preg right now) it might be wise to use one that repels bugs with natural oils.
We were in Charleston recently and didn't pack bug spray. The only one the gift shop sold was made with Lemongrass oil, eucalyptus and other natural oils. It smelled really nice but I doubted it's effectiveness. Well.... IT WORKED GREAT! The nice smell and lack of sticky film on our skin was a bonus!
If you search amazon for "natural bug repellent" you can read reviews for several brands.

 

[luvthemouse71]

If it were me, I wouldn't go. This is just my personal take on the situation. Nine months isn't that long and WDW will still be there after you deliver. Microcephaly is a severe birth defect, I just couldn't chance it.

Others may feel differently- just my two cents. I have gone to Florida numerous times and always bring bug spray. I always get bites. So, I would be so paranoid while I was there, it would ruin my trip anyway.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

My husband and I are currently trying to conceive, and I have zero worries about my Easter Florida trip. I worry easily, so I have already spoken with my doctor and multiple friends in the medical field. I am not canceling my trip even if I become pregnant before we go because all cases of Zika in the United States have been acquired outside of the country or have been sexually transmitted from someone who acquired the virus outside of the country. The only travel warnings for pregnant women or for women hoping to become pregnant are for areas with active Zika transmission - this is NOT anywhere in the United States.

The only way I would not go to Florida this March/April is if between now and then, the CDC reports local transmission of the virus in Central or South Florida, which a previous poster said was unlikely in the United States due the nature of our living conditions/mosquito population.

 

[lovewdwfun]

Based on current statistics, I believe you would have a much higher chance of a miscarriage from driving around your home city for the week than you would of getting the Zika virus and having your child get microcephalic. Is there a risk? Sure, but probably substantially less than risks you encounter with every day activities.

 

[kittyab]

we were there last October when it was hot & humid, no bugs. I would bring bug spray, wear long sleeves & pants. No sandals! I would look for light weight material clothing that is skitter proof.

 

[HopperFan]

It doesn't matter what anyone on here thinks.
Some of us would go, some of us would wait.
Some of us have children, some of us do not.
No one here can share any answers or accurate info regarding the situation down there as it's all so new.
You all need to discuss this with your doctor, particularly what repellents would be safe for you to use should you go.
I would defer to your doctor and your own personal decision.

 

[kandb]

Personally, I would never chance it. Florida will always be there, go next year with your baby. If it was me, I would worry the whole time and I think they are pretty sure it is going to come to the U.S. and southern states will most likely get it first.

 

[china mom]

Of course, I do not have any links handy but in the past week I have read at least three articles citing the sudden outbreak of birth defects have all occurred in one specific country where a certain chemical has been used in the water to control mosquitoes. Other countries that have an outbreak of Zika are not seeing the same birth defects. They are now blaming the chemical, not the virus.

Wish I had the links but don't have time tonight. Maybe someone can google it for us.

 

[china mom]

OK, here is one article

http://www.sciencealert.com/argenti...s-to-blame-for-microcephaly-outbreak-not-zika

 

[BuckeyeBama]

No one knows enough about this right now. No one. That means that your doctor doesn't know enough, either. Decide for yourself what risks you are comfortable with, but right now any Zika risks are based on correlative evidence, not definitive proof of causation.

 

[balletomane]

It will be spreading across much of the U.S. You might as well ask your physician/OBGyn what s/he recommends for a repellent and be happy at WDW instead of sitting at home. Emerging health threat: http://directorsblog.nih.gov/2016/01/26/zika-virus-an-emerging-health-threat/
Info for pregnant women: http://syndication.nih.gov/zika.htm

 

[ottawamom]

My first reaction would be to say don't go. Why would you risk it? But after some further thought I realized there are a lot of different things that can (not necessarily will, but can) happen that will affect the outcome of your pregnancy. I believe we are given in life that which we can handle. Go to Florida, take precautions and enjoy your pregnancy. It's all out of our hands in the end.

(I had two normal pregnancies, two healthy boys, then was blessed with a third boy with a few challenges, you just never know.)

So go, stop reading and Pack, Pack, Pack.

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

My first reaction would be to say don't go. Why would you risk it? But after some further thought I realized there are a lot of different things that can (not necessarily will, but can) happen that will affect the outcome of your pregnancy. I believe we are given in life that which we can handle. Go to Florida, take precautions and enjoy your pregnancy. It's all out of our hands in the end.

(I had two normal pregnancies, two healthy boys, then was blessed with a third boy with a few challenges, you just never know.)

So go, stop reading and Pack, Pack, Pack.

This response was extremely helpful, thank you. And I do need to stop researching because I have been obsessing and get back to being excited about this pregnancy and trip.

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Thank you for all the replies so far they are helpful. I called the Florida Department of Health and confirmed there is not a single case that has been contracted IN Florida so at this point we are planning on going unless something changes over the next two days. I plan on being extremely diligant with insect repellent (which I have reserached the safety of) and having DH do the same as well as wearing pants and long sleeves as much as possible. For those suggesting just waiting until next year, I know Florida will still be there but this is a trip planned with extended family that my DD is extremely excited about and will not understand why we aren't going if we cancel and my DH thinks I'm overreacting and wants to go. From doing endless amounts of research there are just so many unknowns with the virus right now which has made the decision difficult.

 

[brazzledazzler]

I live in Florida, and there is no recent panic to stop getting pregnant. It's safe here.
The only cases throughout the US have been related to people traveling to Brazil/Latin America and returning to the US, having contracted it over there. We do have a large number of South Americans who come and live in Florida, particularly South Florida, so the travel-associated cases are not surprising.

Florida is just as safe as any other US state.

Per the CDC:
US States

• Travel-associated Zika virus disease cases reported: 153
• Locally acquired vector-borne cases reported: 0

My husband and I will be TTC later this year, not worried one bit; nor are any of my friends who are pregnant or TTC. There is no fear here.

The CDC website is a great source of information for all diseases across the US and its territories.

 

[Livvie]

This is a map of states with reported Zika infection(s). If you're willing to stay out of FL, make sure you stay away from all of these states, too.