[ms.teach]

Hi all,
So we kept getting more and more spiders in the house as the weather got warmer. I could cope, that was fine. But in the last five weeks we had four whitetails-- two of which were huge. My husband grew up in the country and said they were the biggest he's ever seen. We've had heaps of baby spiders lately. I've woken up to one running on me, one wove a web around the handle to our glasses cupboard in the kitchen, some weird neon green spider was running over me on the couch. I could take all this stuff but when it came to the whitetails I was losing sleep over it for me and or baby.
I called the fumigation place and told them I was pregnant. The lady there said she was around 8 months and had just had her house done and to stay out of the house for four extra hours and it should e fine. But im only 13 weeks.
To be safe I booked a hotel over overnight so it will have been around 24 hours since fumigation. Still, I've just come across a website that says this can cause all sorts of unspeakable horrors to my baby. I forgot to ask for a low toxicity spray. I feel so terrible , I don't know if I did the wrong thing and if I could potentially be really harming baby. I have nowhere else to stay, my family is in the US. I'm at a loss of what to do.


====UPDATE====

So, someone put me in touch with this amazing service for NSW residents called MotherCare that can advise on things of this nature. I reached someone who told me that I had followed correct procedure and allowed enough time to pass that I needn't be worried at all. Of course I am still worried (it's only natural) but my fears are somewhat allayed, nevertheless. Hope this little tidbid helps anyone considering this sort of things in the future. She said that Australia pretty much always uses completely harmless to humans pesticides, something called pyrethrin or something along those lines is what is used the majority of the time.

This post has been edited by ms.teach: 11/12/2012, 02:03 PM

[causeway]

I can understand this is causing you some grief. To alay your fears I suggest that you call the company and ask for the name/s of he product/s they used. You can then google online for the material safety data sheets. These will tell you of any adverse effects the products may have. The company may provide you with the MSDS if you ask. I think you'll find that the websites you are reading are a bit over the top!
I hope this helps!

[LemonPie]

Don't Dr Google! Worst thing ever...

We've had our place done and also stayed out of the house either overnight or for at least most of the day - what the lady told you at the pest place is right.

Also agree with pp, find out which product they used - pyrethrum maybe? I called health line direct and they were really good with the ins and outs - or the poisons line so they can explain it all. Pretty sure I called poisons hotline when we had it done the first time around.

It's been okay for us, try not to fret so much ;-)

[ms.teach]

Hi guys, thanks for the advice. I called the fumigation company -- no answer! Will have to try again. I called my ob who said it's 'probably ok' but he can't guarantee it. Oi vey!!

[MadamDivine]

we have alot of spiders as well and have been debating to get the house sprayed but due to me being 6 months pg we have yet to do it.

can I ask something slightly off topic, How much did it cost to get sprayed?

[Koobie83]

I had my unit block sprayed on the weekend too. I put my foot down and refused access and told them we would organise our own pest control when we leave. I left my unit for most of the day while they sprayed. I think as long as the spray is dry you should be ok.
I saw all the panic too on google so I went to google scholar for scientific studies on it and couldn't find any study which was conclusive.
I wouldn't worry too much - you did the right thing and left for 24 hours. Think of all the things you are exposed to every day (car fumes, cleaning products, pollution) and given lots of people have healthy babies in these conditions (and worse - you could be a heroin addict) so I'm sure you and your baby will be ok.

[bec_1108]

Hi,

I used to work for a company that manufactures pest control products. What PP said about calling the manufacturer of the product is the best way to alleviate your concerns. We used to get these calls all the time. They will send you an MSDS if you ask, but they are quite technical and it can be difficult for a lay person to interpret (I used to write them). Also, every product that is used is assessed for safety by the regulatory authority (APVMA). in this day and age, they would never allow a product that is teratogenic to be sold for use in domestic situations. I personally don't believe you have anything to worry about, based on my experience in the industry. I'd say the product they were using would have been a synthetic pyrethroid, and the biggest issue with this type of product is skin reactions if you come into contact with the wet spray. There are certainly no concerns once the spray is dry. Hope this helps.

[TarneeW]

I'm nearly 16 weeks and have booked a spray in for next week. They told me it was fine to be home and the kids so I arranged it for 8am. I thought about it later and decided to change it till the afternoon so I could go out but it would only be for an hour or two at most.... Maybe I should rethink it?

[Tonberry]

We had our old place sprayed when I was 13 weeks with DD. DS and I stayed at my mum's for the night just to be on the safe side (DP said the place STUNK anyway), and DP stayed in the house to open all the windows and doors.
DD seems fine so far (17months).

eta: I thought fumigation was a different thing altogether, the one where they put a tent over your house and you can't go back in for days..

This post has been edited by Tonberry: 11/12/2012, 06:58 PM

[ms.teach]

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Hi,

I used to work for a company that manufactures pest control products. What PP said about calling the manufacturer of the product is the best way to alleviate your concerns. We used to get these calls all the time. They will send you an MSDS if you ask, but they are quite technical and it can be difficult for a lay person to interpret (I used to write them). Also, every product that is used is assessed for safety by the regulatory authority (APVMA). in this day and age, they would never allow a product that is teratogenic to be sold for use in domestic situations. I personally don't believe you have anything to worry about, based on my experience in the industry. I'd say the product they were using would have been a synthetic pyrethroid, and the biggest issue with this type of product is skin reactions if you come into contact with the wet spray. There are certainly no concerns once the spray is dry. Hope this helps.

Hi Bec, I think it is a pyrethroid. Goes by the name of Tempo... Is this one of what you're referring to? We came home to living white tails-- not happy Jan!!