Cue the mosquitos! The moment the warmth attempts to bring happiness back into the world, the biting little monsters also make an appearance. 

Are you the only one covered in mosquito bites right now?

Did mosquitoes only find you after you became pregnant?

Only 1/10th of the population is truly attractive to mosquitos. They are a nuisance, and every year, come spring and summer, new eggs hatch and come for blood (literally).

Did you know that they aren’t sucking our blood for food? Only female mosquitoes bite, and it is because they need our protein to develop fertile eggs to lay. How appropriate is it that a pregnant woman's blood is what helps those bloodsuckers reproduce?

While genetics play a huge role in who gets bit, there are other ways mosquitoes are attracted to us:

Type O Blood: Yes, Type O Blood is sweeter than the rest! (With Type A being the least sweet) 85% of the population secretes a smell that tells mosquitos what blood type they are.

High Output of CO2: The larger you are, the more Carbon Dioxide you breathe out. It seems that the mosquitoes come swarming, as they can sense CO2 from 50 meters away.

Sweat: Not just typical sweat though. We are talking about exercise sweat that was triggered by lactic acid. Although, an increase in body temperature is also tempting to a mosquito.

Alcohol: Drinking causes the body temperature to rise, which may call the mosquitoes to come bite.

Dark Clothing: Red, black, and dark blue attract mosquitos while light colors leave them unphased.

Pregnancy and Mosquitos

When pregnant, you breathe out a higher amount of CO2 (21% more than normal) and this attracts mosquitoes. You are twice as likely to be bitten than a non-pregnant woman. That’s right mamas, those of you rocking a bump all spring and summer are just eye candy.

But what can you do? You certainly do not want to cover your skin (the most porous organ of the body) in Deet – a known carcinogen.

The jury is out on the true effectiveness of natural repellants, but for a lot of people, they work. You can stock up on one from a local natural food store, or create one from these great options (According to Healthline):

• Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
• Lavender
• Cinnamon Oil
• Thyme Oil
• Greek Catnip Oil
• Soybean Oil
• Citronella
• Tea Tree Oil
• Geraniol
• Neem Oil

You can also purchase a pre-made version!

Badger, Herbal Armour, Babyganics, and other great brands are stocking the bug spray shelves now.

You can always make your own if you are feeling all herbally and oily!

Protect yourself the best you can, no one knows what icky viruses those little biters are carrying this season!