Can I get an x-ray when I'm pregnant?

Millions of books have been written about what can and cannot be done at all stages of pregnancy. But nowhere is it written exactly whether it is possible to do an X-ray during pregnancy? This question remains relevant today. Doctors cannot give a clear and unambiguous answer to this day. So, is X-ray diagnostics indicated for pregnant women? We will try to answer all the questions that worry future mothers.

What do pregnant women need to know about x-rays?

Caring parents begin to monitor the well-being of their baby, even from the stage of conception. They undergo a thorough examination, take a lot of tests, undergo certain procedures before having a child. But in modern medicine, doctors try to resort to X-rays extremely rarely. And this applies not only to pregnant women, but to all patients in general. Remember, radiation is never useful in any case.

The unit of measurement of X-ray radiation is rad. In numbers, 10 rad can cause serious harm to a baby in the womb. But, fortunately, no device produces radiation greater than five rad. But do not forget that there is ancient equipment from the war era that can cause you serious harm. Naturally, it should be avoided. Fortunately, such "exhibits" are extremely rare in state medical institutions. So, before the examination, be sure to ask your doctor about the date of manufacture of the device.

Is there a risk to the baby?

It is not possible to say with certainty that having an X-ray will put the child's health at risk. A pregnant woman may not worry about the health of her baby if she has been prescribed an X-ray of a tooth or, say, a fluorography. In total, you will have to take more than 100,000 such images to get radiation of 1 rad. After all, the radiation in these studies does not exceed 0.01 rad. But, for example, you will have to forget about X-ray images of the urinary or digestive systems. The radiation here is too high. It can cause serious harm to the fetus and cause a lot of pathologies in the baby.

Arguments against X-ray examination

But we cannot ignore the fact that organisms with dividing cells are exposed to the greatest harm during X-rays. And, as is known, at all stages of pregnancy, the expectant mother experiences cell division in all tissues and organs. So why take the risk? It is better, of course, to refuse X-rays. Moreover, even doctors have the right to insist on an X-ray examination only if you are in an extremely serious condition that is life-threatening or if you want to terminate the pregnancy. So try to answer the question yourself: is it possible to have an X-ray during pregnancy?

In addition, in the first trimester of pregnancy, it is worthwhile to completely refuse X-ray examination. Scientists have proven that at an early stage, this procedure is dangerous. It can cause a lot of different dangerous pathologies in the fetus.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

What to do if a pregnant woman still needs an x-ray?

Of course, if the expectant mother has broken her arm or leg, doctors will insist on an X-ray examination. The first thing you need to do in this case is to warn the medical staff about your condition. They will conduct careful screening during this procedure, which will reduce radiation. If you are worried after the X-ray, then do an ultrasound of the fetus and all organs, which is indicated already at 12 weeks of pregnancy, it will show whether everything is normal with your baby.

What if you had an x-ray before you knew you were pregnant?

Another important question that worries many mothers. What to do if you had an X-ray done without knowing that you were pregnant? In this case, it is necessary to carefully calculate the period in which you arrived. If the examination was done before the expected menstrual cycle, then you do not have to worry about the health of the fetus. If not, then you need to undergo a medical examination, during which doctors will find out whether the X-ray did any harm to you and your baby.

X-ray during lactation

This question worries many. Do X-rays affect breast milk? Some inexperienced mothers claim that having an X-ray, you can forget about natural breastfeeding. I want to assure you that this is not true at all. This study does not affect the quality, composition or other qualities of breast milk. So during the lactation period, mothers can have X-rays of absolutely any part of the body without fear. Do not doubt that this will not cause any health problems.

Decide for yourself whether to undergo X-ray examinations during pregnancy, not forgetting to consult with your attending physicians. Now you have all the necessary information about whether it is possible to do X-rays during pregnancy.