Are Rodents Safe During Pregnancy?

Is rodents safe during pregnancy?

Avoid contact with pet or wild rodents and their droppings because they can transmit lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which can cause severe birth defects and miscarriage, so have someone else clean cages and traps. In short, rodents is best avoided during pregnancy when you follow the guidance below.

What the evidence shows

In pregnancy, activities are weighed on three things: the risk of a fall or abdominal impact, the chance of overheating, and how hard your heart and joints are working as your body changes. Staying active is healthy — it is specific risks, not movement itself, that matter.

Safer alternatives

It's wise to set rodents aside until after pregnancy. There's almost always a lower-risk way to get the same benefit — a gentler version that avoids the fall, impact, or overheating risk. Your provider can suggest a good substitute for your stage.

What about breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding guidance for rodents isn't always the same as pregnancy guidance — what passes into breast milk differs from what crosses the placenta. If you're nursing, ask your provider about rodents specifically.

The bottom line

Rodents: best avoided in pregnancy. When in doubt, choose a safer alternative and ask your provider. This page is general education, not medical advice — your provider knows your history and is the final word for your pregnancy.