Flea Control during pregnancy?!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 25, 2005

I don't know of any completely "safe" flea bombs and powders. I would really ask my OB about this one....before using anything. I think a call to your OB is warranted as you need to break this cycle now. Just know, killing fleas and hatching eggs will likely take several treatments, once your home is infested. May be best to leave it to pro's, if possible. And know, they can be in more than furniture and carpet, but even in cabinets, etc. It's a real hassle, getting rid of them once they invade.

But before you do ANYTHING else, ask the OB, ok????

I feel for you......

darn things. I had a dog get them some years back. I definately learned "prevention is the cure" w/fleas. I have 4 pets now and keep em on those drops EVERY month, having learned the hard way.

I wish you well. Been there done that....ugh.

L&Dnurse2Be · Aug 25, 2005

We had a terrible flea problem. It was so bad we would find fleas in my kids hair! :angryfire We had to have the entire house treated by a pest control company. It cost about $200. They used 50 gallons of chemicals! It took 3 weeks for the fleas to be completely gone. I would suggest calling your pest control company and asking what chemicals they use for that and then asking your OB about those particular chemicals. We found the only way to completely get rid of fleas is with a professional. We tried the bombs, but they never killed the fleas. Just hidden roaches-yuk! After treating your house you need to keep the animals treated and your yard too. Good luck! :wink2:

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 25, 2005

The trick w/bombing, I learned, is you have to do it about 3-4 different times, every 10 days to 2 weeks. That is the flea-egg-larvae cycle. They reproduce every 10 days or so....that is how often a generation of eggs hatches.

One female flea can be responsible for producing over 50,000 offspring in one year. And the ONLY fleas that you see biting you or your pets are FEMALE. The males just die off after reproducing. And the eggs are simply impenetrable/impermeable to most OTC insecticides. You have to kill them in the mature flea or lava stage. Eggs are hard, if not impossible, to kill. Sad but true.

When you realize how tough those eggs are and how rapidly (every 10 days or so) you have a whole new generation of biting fleas, you begin to see the magnitude of the problem.

I would agree w/the above poster----recommend contact w/a professional (as OTC bombs can get costly after 3 or more uses ---you need one per 500sq feet or so---so several for a 1500-2000 or more sq foot house/apartment) and then, call the OB to be sure you can do this safely.

I really do wish you well. Fleas are the WORST!

fledgling · Aug 25, 2005

Both our 2 cats and 2 dogs had fleas terribly the first year we moved to Florida. They were all over our house too!

Advantage kicks them out and you don't have to treat your home. They all die within about 3 days without a hospitable animal to host them. You have to use it monthly down here but trust me, it is worth it.

Check out http://www.nofleas.com and you can get a free trial package.

Best of luck,

Michelle

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 25, 2005

I think we are using Advantix ????

(have to check package rofl)...I just know it works!

Advantage/Advantix are great products. Fleas are a HUGE problem here in the never-frozen and very wet/green PAC NW....I feel your pain down in FLA......

We were warned by our vet, the house would probably still have to be treated for a true infestation. I would ask the vet or other professional before leaving it to medication to treat the home. They will still bite people, and your pets ---causing you all a lot of misery----and continue to emerge for some time.

moonchild20002000 · Aug 26, 2005

I have always used rock salt to kill fleas. I put it under my sofa and chair cushions,under my rug or any place I can find.

I don't think this will take care of a bad infestation but it really works as a maintenence type thing.

I use the once a month med from the vet on my animals.I have 4 cats and one very large dog and NO FLEAS!

Sis123 · Aug 26, 2005

Check out

http://www.fleabusters.com/

Chemical free, very safe treatment. It's essentially extremely fine boric acid powder, and dessicates the fleas that remain after you clean the living heck out of your furniture and house. I used it, it works great (I didn't want to bomb the house, since we have birds). Of course, about that time I also ripped the carpets out of the house.

You can get the stuff at most vet offices, one container costs about 40.00, and I used one whole one to do my house. We followed the instructions on the website, and within a short time no more fleas.

midwife2b · Aug 26, 2005

Check out
http://www.fleabusters.com/
Chemical free, very safe treatment. It's essentially extremely fine boric acid powder, and dessicates the fleas that remain after you clean the living heck out of your furniture and house. I used it, it works great (I didn't want to bomb the house, since we have birds). Of course, about that time I also ripped the carpets out of the house.
You can get the stuff at most vet offices, one container costs about 40.00, and I used one whole one to do my house. We followed the instructions on the website, and within a short time no more fleas.

Agree with this post. Take what furniture you can OUTSIDE and clean the heck out of it. (Cushions, pillows, etc. and if you have 2 men and a small boy get the couches out as well).