exrays and pregnancy?

Question

can some one please help me with my question,,my sons girlfriend is pregnant,,when she was 5mths she went for a scan but instead they done an exray of the baby,,ive heard that exrays can cause eye and brain damage in unborn babies,,if theres a professional out there please answer this question and maybe put my mind at rest

Answer 1

I've always been told that you are to inform the xray tech if you are pregnant. I didn't not think that they performed xrays when pregnant *unless maybe if it was ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Did she inform them that she was pregnant?

I would have her contact her OB and let them know what happened. Then all her *and your* questions can be answered by someone who knows you and your particular situation.

Good Luck

Answer 2

I am studying to be a doula, which is not a medical professional per-say but, here is what I learned recently from the book, "Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn" by Simkin, Whalley and Keppler.

"During pregnancy, you should avoid x-rays (or ionizing radiation) for medical and dental diagnosis, and you should not work in areas where radiation levels may be high. This is especially important during your first trimester, since radiation interferes with cell division and organ development. The adverse effects of radiation are dose related. Diagnostic x-rays use much less radiation than radiotherapy, which is used to treat cancer. The overall risk of malformations in infants exposed to one diagnostic x-ray (1 rad) during t he first four months of pregnancy is so small that it is not considered a risk factor by medical professionals.

In the past, x-rays were used in late pregnancy to assess the relationship between the size of the baby's head and the size of the mother’s pelvis (x-ray pelvimetry), to find out if there were twins and to determine fetal presentation. Today,
x-rays are rarely used because ultrasound, which is safer , is used for the same purposes. If diagnostic x-rays are suggested, ask your physician if the needed information could be gained from safer alternatives-such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a CT scan-that involves significantly lower doses of radiation. Like any potentially risky procedure or medication, x-rays should not be done routinely or if there is reasonable doubt about the benefits..."

I would talk to your son’s girlfriend and get the details of why her doctors deemed this a necessary procedure, and explain to you son & girlfriend why you are concerned... I really hope this helps...Perhaps it will just open the lines of communication now that you are aware of the pros and cons. Again good luck and congrats early- grandma!!!

Answer 3

I find that hard to believe that a hospital would do an x-ray on a pregnant woman. Hospitals always ask if you are pregnant before they do an x-ray.

Yes, it can possibly cause damage to the unborn baby. Maybe they did an ultrasound on the baby and the girlfriend is confused about the terminology?

Answer 4

There is always some risk with X-rays, and the risk is greater for a fetus. However, the risk of serious injury is still very small. Chances are high, that mom and baby will be just fine.

Here is an analogy to help you understand the concept of 'risk'. It is well known that wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death in a car accident. However, most people who never wear seat belts do not die in car accidents (they die of something else). So, not wearing a belt does increase risk of death, but most of the time it does not result in death - only a few people that go without seat belts die because of this behavior.

Best wishes.

Answer 5

This website offers some insight into your question:
http://www.babycenter.com/expert/pregnancy/isitsafe/9214.html?ccRelLink=&url=%2Fexpert%2F2299.html&xTopic=safemed&bus=content

Yes, sometimes hospitals do x-rays on pregnant women. I had one while in labor to see whether my twins were both vertex because they couldn't see much on ultrasound at that point. Baby should be fine. Best of luck.