A tick bite during pregnancy is frightening, and much of what circulates online makes it more so. Here is what the evidence actually shows: with prompt recognition and appropriate antibiotics, outcomes for both mother and baby are overwhelmingly good.
Medically reviewed by Elyssa A. Blissenbach, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician.
What We Know About Risk
Untreated Lyme disease in pregnancy has been associated in rare cases with placental infection, and adverse outcomes have been reported — but they are uncommon, and no consistent pattern of birth defects has been established. The key variable in study after study is treatment: promptly treated Lyme disease has not been shown to harm the developing baby. There is also no evidence that Lyme disease spreads through breast milk.
Treatment Differs in One Important Way
Doxycycline — the usual first-line antibiotic — is generally avoided during pregnancy. Instead, physicians treat with amoxicillin or cefuroxime for the standard duration. These are antibiotics with long safety records in pregnancy, and they are effective against Borrelia burgdorferi. This is one situation where self-directed care can go wrong; the antibiotic choice should be made with a physician who knows you are pregnant.
If You Are Bitten While Pregnant
- Remove the tick promptly and correctly — see our tick bite guide
- Note the date and, if possible, save the tick for identification
- Watch for an expanding rash or early symptoms over the next 30 days
- Contact your physician early — do not wait for symptoms to worsen
Coordinated care between your obstetric provider and a physician experienced in Lyme disease care keeps both the infection and the pregnancy on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lyme disease pass to the baby?
Transplacental transmission has been documented but appears rare, and prompt maternal treatment makes adverse outcomes very unlikely.
Can I take preventive antibiotics after a tick bite while pregnant?
Possibly — the preventive approach differs from the standard single-dose doxycycline used outside pregnancy, so this decision needs your physician.
Is Lyme testing safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Testing uses a standard blood draw and poses no risk to the pregnancy.
Northeast Florida Internal Medicine treats Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in person in Jacksonville and via telemedicine for patients in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician with any questions about a medical condition.