Radiation Exposure and Possibly Pregnant - Help!

Updated on July 01, 2009
K.O. asks from New Lenox, IL
5 answers

My daughter had a door pushed over her feet today and her toes were stuck underneath the door. They were pretty bloody afterwards and started to swell pretty badly so I took her in to the doctor who wanted to do an x-ray. The tech asked if I was pregnant and I realized that while yes, we are trying, I'm not due for my period for another week at least. I'm not regular and I can go months without a period so my cycles can drawn out over a period of months. So its hard to believe I ovulated on schedule but its still possible we conceived. The one nurse told me I should leave the room and my 2.5 year old just had a fit - she was pretty upset since she got the boo boo and was just about to lose it when I started to leave. She asked if I was late and I told her no that I couldn't be late for another week at least. So she said (probably because I was saying I wanted to stay) that it probably wasn't worth upsetting my daughter over and I ended up staying in the room. I had on the lead apron and since it was just her foot being x-rayed, I was able to turn my body away and have her on my lap facing the right way. So my question is - would you be freaked out? Was this a bad move on my part? What are the risks of radiation exposure if I am pg? I tend to think they're super careful because they have to be for liability purposes and that it wasn't that high of a risk, but I'm scared nonetheless.

Thanks,
K.

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

I wouldn't worry at all. I worked in x-ray for a few years. If you wore the lead apron, you are completely safe. The x-ray beam would have to be positioned directly over your uterus without any lead protection for any direct exposure to your baby to occur. There's a thing called scatter radiation that comes off of the patient's body part being x-rayed and goes in different directions at less intensity, but since you wore the apron, your abdomen was completely protected from that as well. You're right... the radiology departments are just extra careful when it comes to pregnant women around the x-ray beam.

If you think about it, there are pregnant x-ray techs that still have to work every single day around the radiation, regardless of whether they are behind the glass wall or holding up a patient. They just wear the lead aprons continuously to keep themselves safe.

Don't sweat it! :)

2 moms found this helpful
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C.P.

answers from Chicago on

Well, I'm not a physician, but I did have to have a chest xray while I was 5 months pregnant with my daughter and everything was fine. I had to have it because as it turned out I had pheumonia and was hospitalized for 3 days... That radiologist at the hospital assured me that it would be fine... The stress you are causing yourself is probably more harmful than anything else. LOL. I know it's so hard not to worry about these things.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.N.

answers from Chicago on

Hi K.,

I understand each person's situation is different. In my profession people are exposed to xrays quite early on in their pregnancy until they are aware of the pregnancy. No one I know has had any problems as long as they were properly protected. And this is with daily exposure for weeks.

Hope this helps.
V.
Congrats if you are pg!

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

I can understand your concern and I would be too. I think the first poster had great advice for you. If you continue to be worried about it, you could talk to someone who did the xrays and ask them specific questions about the risk. They may be able to help put your mind at ease. I doubt they would have let you stay in there if it were risky for you and they knew you had a chance of being pregnant, daughter crying or not, so I think you will be fine.

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi K.
I was a month pregnant and needed an X Ray done on my foot. I had all the aprons on and both of my doctors assured me there were no issues. I really wouldn't worry about it. But if you still are, talk to your doctor.

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