Pregnant wife x-rayed

[Matt1968 13]

Hello,

Ok,my wife just finished her medical and she's about 7 weeks pregnant and the dam doctors made her take x-rays even though they knew she was prenant. Has anyone else done this and what were the results.

Matt

[Dante & Geor 36]

Don't want to make you panic or anything. I'm a midwife and I know is really dangerous for the baby to be x-rayed at that specific time. It could affect his/her development...even with the appropriate protection for your wife. Still can be dangerous. I will recommend you an ultrasound when she's about 11 to 12 weeks to find out if everything is OK with the baby. There are several test doctors can perform in ultrasound at that time...

Best wishes for you and your baby

[Laure&Colin 280]

They make all pregnant women take the chest x-ray, it's mandatory. They should have protected her belly with a special screen, they did, right?

[Gigli2008 70]

Hello,

Ok,my wife just finished her medical and she's about 7 weeks pregnant and the dam doctors made her take x-rays even though they knew she was prenant. Has anyone else done this and what were the results.

Matt

I know this will not come of really well, but shouldn't she have shown concern about them x-raying her while pregnant, or at least shown concern to the Embassy personnel when she saw that an x-ray was one of the things on the medical list?

When I previously accompanied my young son to have his arm x-rayed at the orthopedics or x-ray his teeth/mouth/gums at the dentist, the clinic personnel asked me if I was pregnant so I can stay very far away. I wasn't even the patient, just the accompanying mother but they made sure that 1) I was not pregnant, 2) That I did not THINK I was pregnant 3) if I was or thought I could be pregnant, that I was nowhere near the x-ray machines. But of course, I am talking about here in the USA.

[Laure&Colin 280]

This is from DOS website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html#_What_if_the_1

If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that women who are pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa, and are examined in a country currently using the 2007 TB Technical Instructions must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields when they receive the chest radiographs. This requirement does not apply to countries using the 1991 TB Technical Instructions which allow for an exemption of the chest x-ray requirement for pregnant women. Pregnant applicants who do not wish to have the X-ray will be granted a temporary exemption when they provide written certification of pregnancy signed by their personal physician or obstetrician.

So yes, for visa issuance, pregnant women MUST take the chest x-ray. They can request a temporary exemption (meaning they will have to make the x-ray in the US I suppose) with a written certificate from their doctor.

[In<3 11]

Hey Matt check your inbox

[alizon 77]

According to the FDA, chest x-rays should not be a problem, though hopefully the doctor put a lead apron over her stomach just in case.

"What If I'm X-Rayed Before I Know I'm Pregnant?

Don't be alarmed. Remember that the possibility of any harm to you and your unborn child from an x-ray is very small."

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/MedicalX-Rays/ucm142632.htm

The Mayo Clinic also says the risk is very, very small:

"Yes — having an X-ray during pregnancy is generally considered safe. It's highly unlikely that a diagnostic X-ray during pregnancy will harm a developing baby.

Most X-ray exams — including those of the arms, legs, head, teeth or chest — won't expose your reproductive organs to radiation, and a leaded apron and collar can be worn to block any scattered radiation. The exception is abdominal X-rays, which expose your abdomen — and your baby — to radiation. High doses of radiation can cause changes in a baby's rapidly growing cells. In turn, it's possible that these changes could slightly increase a baby's risk of birth defects or certain cancers, such as leukemia, later in life. Remember, however, that the typical dose of radiation associated with a diagnostic X-ray — even one of the abdomen or pelvis — doesn't pose this risk."

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/x-ray-during-pregnancy/AN02058

Edited March 19, 2012 by alizon

[Matt1968 13]

They make all pregnant women take the chest x-ray, it's mandatory. They should have protected her belly with a special screen, they did, right?

yeah, she said they protected her stomach, but I didn't want her to have that.

Matt

[Matt1968 13]

I know this will not come of really well, but shouldn't she have shown concern about them x-raying her while pregnant, or at least shown concern to the Embassy personnel when she saw that an x-ray was one of the things on the medical list?

When I previously accompanied my young son to have his arm x-rayed at the orthopedics or x-ray his teeth/mouth/gums at the dentist, the clinic personnel asked me if I was pregnant so I can stay very far away. I wasn't even the patient, just the accompanying mother but they made sure that 1) I was not pregnant, 2) That I did not THINK I was pregnant 3) if I was or thought I could be pregnant, that I was nowhere near the x-ray machines. But of course, I am talking about here in the USA.

No, i agree with you completely. I told her she shouldn't have gotten the x-ray, that's why you had the letter from the doctor. She said they told her it was obligitory, and I told her it's not if you're pregnant and you have documentation. She should have said no, but she didn't and of course i'm hearing "it's not good," and others saying, "It's ok". #######?? I honestly don't know what to think.

Matt

This is from DOS website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html#_What_if_the_1

If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that women who are pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa, and are examined in a country currently using the 2007 TB Technical Instructions must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields when they receive the chest radiographs. This requirement does not apply to countries using the 1991 TB Technical Instructions which allow for an exemption of the chest x-ray requirement for pregnant women. Pregnant applicants who do not wish to have the X-ray will be granted a temporary exemption when they provide written certification of pregnancy signed by their personal physician or obstetrician.

So yes, for visa issuance, pregnant women MUST take the chest x-ray. They can request a temporary exemption (meaning they will have to make the x-ray in the US I suppose) with a written certificate from their doctor.

Which country would the D.R be under, 1991 TB technical instructions or 2007?

Matt

[alizon 77]

She should have said no, but she didn't and of course i'm hearing "it's not good," and others saying, "It's ok". #######?? I honestly don't know what to think.

Go with evidence from doctors (above I gave you the FDA's and Mayo Clinic's opinions), not with the anecdotes of people in an immigration forum.

[StephanieM 60]

Matt I hope everything turns out okay! She will have her routine ultrasounds when she gets here to make sure everything is okay. I am sure it will be. You got some good info and links on here. I guess the USA just takes EXTRA precautions because at my job they would never allow that.

[chastitynjoel 19]

Matt,

I have been in healthcare for 12 years and worked in "baby" intensive care units....there is more radiation exposure just by walking out to your car on a clear day than you would get from one simple chest xray. Since they shielded her stomach, rest assured that everything is ok!

Chastity

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

Were you planning on having her fly?

http://www.epa.gov/radtown/cosmic.html

The amount of cosmic radiation you are exposed to while flying depends on your altitude and latitude (distance from the Earth’s equator) and solar activity. For a typical cross-country flight in a commercial airplane, you are likely to receive 2 to 5 millirem (mrem) of radiation, less than half the radiation dose you receive from a chest x-ray. People in the United States receive an average of 360 mrem of radiation per year from natural and man-made radiation sources, which includes cosmic radiation exposure during commercial flights.

It's probably not worth worrying about.

[Laure&Colin 280]

It's a minimal dose and she wore protection for the baby, there's really nothing to worry about.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

They did what they were supposed to do by giving her the x-ray. She had an apron on to cover the baby so they did what they were supposed to in that regard too.

PLEASE trust the medical advice posted from the Mayo clinic etc. People can be convinced of anything (some things that are completely ridiculous) if it's done in the right way. For example - I myself am PRO immunisation, some people are anti-immunisation, thinking it's dangerous. There are some other crazy examples I could give you but science has tested the results of x-rays and as others have shown you, we are exposed to more radiation on a daily basis than she was with that x-ray

Edited March 19, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony