Why mosquitoes find pregnant women delicious

If mosquitoes seem to love snacking on you more than ever now that you’re pregnant, it’s not just your imagination. Researchers have found that pregnant women attract twice as many mosquitoes as nonpregnant women.

It is important to take precautions as mosquito-borne diseases might be dangerous (like Zika virus) to you and your baby.

Why do pregnant women attract mosquitoes?

One of the reasons probably is because mosquitoes are fond of carbon dioxide and pregnant women tend to take more frequent breaths, thereby releasing more of the CO2 that they are fond of.

Another reason is that mosquitoes are heat-seeking and expectant mothers generally have higher body temperatures.

Necessary precautions to be taken in mosquito bites:

If you live in or must travel to an area where mosquitoes pose a health risk: Stay indoors as much as possible in heavily mosquito-infested areas.

Use tight-fitting screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out.

Wear protective clothing sprayed with mosquito repellents. Always check with your doctor before applying any repellent cream or lotion.