Diagnostic procedures during breastfeeding: which ones can I undergo?

If during pregnancy the organisms of mother and child are one, then after birth the physical connection is carried out through breast milk. The quality of milk is influenced by many factors, and in order for it to be high, you should know what a nursing mother can and cannot do. In particular, what methods of medical diagnostics are allowed to be used if a woman is sick, so as not to harm the lactation process and the health of the baby.

First, you need to make sure that the examination or manipulation is really necessary and cannot be postponed until later. And if it cannot be postponed, then you should not be afraid of everything and think that any procedure affects the milk and harms the child. For example, ultrasound, biopsy are carried out without restrictions. Other methods are also not dangerous, but it is advisable to discuss each situation individually.

Can a nursing mother have a fluorography?

What can and cannot a nursing mother do if she coughs, has a fever, and exhibits other symptoms typical of lung diseases? Usually, in such cases, doctors first prescribe a fluorographic examination. However, a woman concerned about the needs of her baby cannot help but doubt: can a nursing mother do a fluorography? Does a fluorograph pose a health hazard?

Experts believe that fluorography can be performed if there are indications. After all, without this data it is difficult to diagnose and cure the disease. And the examination can reveal very serious pathologies: tuberculosis, neoplasms in the mammary gland and chest organs, lesions of the diaphragm. Fluorography is also indicated in cases where:

• symptoms of tuberculosis were detected;
• the woman is at risk for tuberculosis;
• lives in an unfavorable epidemiological region.

Fluorography is in favor of the fact that it does not affect lactation and milk, does not accumulate, and the effect of the rays stops immediately after the device is turned off. At the same time, it is not recommended to perform a preventive fluorogram during the feeding period, but to postpone it until the time when lactation stops.

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Can a nursing mother have an x-ray?

According to modern data, it is certainly possible to have an X-ray done on a nursing mother. Since breast milk is not subject to any changes under the influence of rays, there is no need to stop feeding the child for some time.

It's a different matter if we are talking about the use of contrast agents. Such a procedure is prescribed for examination of the kidneys, gall bladder, for obtaining a lymphangiogram. What a nursing mother can and cannot do in such cases should be advised by a specialist.

Radiocontrast components are used to improve the visualization of individual organs or tissues. Manufacturers recommend not to feed the child with breast milk for 24 hours after the procedure.

According to experts, this is an unnecessary precaution, because the amount of iodine that gets into milk is negligible and does not pose any threat to the baby. And barium, which is necessary for examining the gastrointestinal tract, is not absorbed into the body at all and does not affect the quality of milk.

Can a nursing mother have a dental x-ray?

X-rays do not affect breast milk, so dentists do not have questions about whether a nursing mother can have a dental X-ray. There is no need to express milk, wean the child for a while, or take forced breaks.

• Without going into scientific details, we will briefly note that when examining bone tissue, so-called hard rays are used. They, unlike soft rays, are able to pass through the skin and muscles and reach the bones. Thanks to this, the doctor is given the opportunity to see what is hidden in the facial part of the dental cavity.

The main thing that a nursing mother can and cannot do during this procedure is to adhere to safety measures: protect the chest and abdomen with a lead or more modern polymer apron to minimize the area exposed to X-rays.

In rare cases where contrast is used for the analysis, you may need to stop feeding for a short time.

Can a nursing mother have an MRI?

The operating principle of a magnetic resonance tomograph is quite complex, but its efficiency is very high. The advantage is that the series of detailed images obtained with MRI allows the specialist to see what cannot be done in any other way: to distinguish diseased areas from healthy ones, to obtain clear information about problem areas.

The computer program provides high accuracy of results. During the work, a magnetic field is formed, so before the procedure, the patient must get rid of all metal objects.

• Whether or not a nursing mother can have an MRI is a controversial issue. Experts agree that tomography does not harm the lactation process. The disagreements concern the part of the question of what a nursing mother can and cannot do - whether or not to feed the baby immediately after the examination.

For mothers who doubt, they recommend a simple solution: express milk before the procedure and feed it after, and express it for 24 hours after the MRI, but do not give it to the child.

Some doctors also consider the likelihood of breast cancer to be real after MRI and recommend that it be performed no earlier than 3 months after the end of lactation.

The procedure is painless, but has a contraindication for patients suffering from claustrophobia: immersion in a tight chamber for 20-40 minutes, which is how long the examination lasts, can cause panic fear. The presence of such a problem should be warned in advance.

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Can a nursing mother have an ultrasound?

Experts answer the question: "Can a nursing mother have an ultrasound?" The fact is that this diagnostic method does not affect feeding, so there are no restrictions for this category of patients. The main thing is not to abuse anything, and to do procedures only according to indications. If a woman is informed about what a nursing mother can and cannot do, then there are no problems.

• Congestive and inflammatory phenomena often develop in the tissues of the mammary gland. Ultrasound diagnostics is a very accurate method that is used for the timely detection of such pathologies of the mammary gland as mastitis, cysts, mastopathy, fibroadenoma.

The advantages of ultrasound are the absence of radiation, accessibility, painlessness, and simultaneous examination of lymph nodes. Modern equipment allows for safe and quick reliable results. Thanks to ultrasound, the area for biopsy is specified in order to conduct a histological analysis.

During breastfeeding, there are risks of stagnation, as a result of which local seals form in the breast. The ultrasound device detects foci of inflammation and edema, fluid accumulation or mastitis. Abscesses and phlegmons of the female gland are successfully identified.

The examination does not require any special preparation or restrictions. The only requirement is to maintain personal hygiene in the examination area.

Can a nursing mother have a CT scan?

When health problems arise, responsible women are sure to be interested in information about what a nursing mother can and cannot do. The principle of operation of computed tomography is the use of X-rays, which in itself is alarming. Therefore, the next question is quite logical: can a nursing mother do CT?

CT is a very informative diagnostic: it reveals pathological areas and their location in the musculoskeletal and internal organs. Thanks to the "all-seeing" rays, high-quality images are obtained that help assess the condition of tissues and small vessels, detect changes in bones, malignant and other pathologies.

• According to clinical data, the minimal dose of radiation received by the body during CT does not have a negative effect on milk. Moreover, glandular tissue does not have a high absorption of radiation, so it cannot accumulate in the breast.

However, there is a limitation - in the case where it is necessary to use a radiographic contrast agent, the components of which penetrate into the milk and, accordingly, into the child's body. In this case, the milk is expressed and the child is no longer put to the breast for 12, or better yet, 24 hours.

In preparation for the procedure, the patient undergoes a test for sensitivity to these substances, and the day before makes adjustments to her diet - excluding products such as seaweed and persimmon.

Can a nursing mother have a mammogram?

The answer to the question of whether a nursing mother can have a mammogram is definitely yes. The procedure does not have any harmful effects on the female gland, but the problem is that the result will be unclear.

A nursing mother's mammogram can be difficult to interpret and evaluate due to physiological changes in tissues associated with lactation. Therefore, pathological changes may remain unidentified. The only thing this examination can do is to determine the size and location of previously detected lumps.

If a mammogram is unavoidable, it is important to remember what a nursing mother can and cannot do. In particular, it is worth using the following tips:

• have the procedure carried out by a doctor experienced in such studies;
• take the child with you;
• feed him immediately before the examination to reduce the amount of milk in the gland, which, in turn, contributes to better readability of the analysis.