Is it possible to do an x-ray during pregnancy, the procedure, the effect on the body and the fetus

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Expectant mothers worry about their he alth and the he alth of their baby. Proper nutrition, walks in the fresh air, regime - all this is very good. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that he alth fails and it is necessary to undergo an examination and even make an X-ray diagnosis. Is it possible to do an x-ray during pregnancy? Do not be afraid and make hasty decisions. We need to calmly sort things out.

When x-rays are needed

With this affordable and simple diagnostic method, you can achieve results that allow you to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. An x-ray is required if you suspect:

• bone fracture;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumonia;
• osteomyelitis;
• complications in dental treatment.

This is not a complete list, but is it possible to do an x-ray during pregnancy and what else is neededtake a pregnant woman?

Radiation exposure and pregnancy

During the procedure, the examined area is illuminated with X-rays, which determines the degree of damage to the bones or soft tissue structure. The results obtained remain on the film. This is how an x-ray is obtained. It reflects what the doctor cannot see with all his desire.

But not everything is so simple. The rays pass through cells, including those in the process of division, which leads to disruption of DNA chains - the main carriers of genetic information. Dividing cells can mutate, leading to various serious anomalies, or die. Pregnant women must have a good reason for X-rays.

X-ray in early pregnancy

For a developing baby in the womb, an increase in the dose of X-ray exposure will cause irreversible consequences, given that the cells of the embryo are in constant division. Are x-rays taken during early pregnancy?

The most dangerous time for fluoroscopy is the period up to and including the 12th week. In the first time after the conception of the baby, the internal organs are laid and begin to form:

• nervous system;
• spine;
• organs of vision.

The risk of developing congenital pathologies, various defects and fetal fading is increasing.

It is regrettable to realize, but if an x-ray was taken in the early stages of pregnancy (4-5 weeks), then it is verythe risk of having a child with serious genetic abnormalities is high. On the fifth and sixth week, the laying of the adrenal glands begins, exposure to harmful rays can cause their underdevelopment. From the fourth to the eighth week, the baby's heart develops. During this period, the rays can disrupt the structure and shape of the valvular apparatus, which will lead to defects in the muscle tissue of the organ. In the sixth and seventh weeks, exposure to the rays leads to pathology of the thymus gland and poor immunity. At the 11th and 12th weeks, the performed procedure can cause suppression of the development of bone marrow functions.

A doctor may recommend that a woman terminate the pregnancy. But do not despair, some go for broke. All or nothing! The brave leave the child, and he develops safely or dies over time.

2nd and 3rd trimester fluoroscopy

During this period of development of the baby, radiation exposure already brings much less harm, but you should not think that the procedure becomes safe. The above risks still remain. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend treating all chronic diseases at the planning stage.

After examining the provisions of the regulatory documentation used by doctors regarding the question of whether X-rays can be taken during pregnancy, the conclusion is that a study made after the 16th week of the term for the baby is unlikely to be too dangerous. Difficulties with bearing can arise if repeated irradiation of the problem area is required. But doctor's advice about riskthe use of fluoroscopy is a must.

If research is indispensable

The period of bearing a child is long enough, and during this time, the expectant mother can get sick or injured. In some cases, it will not be possible to prescribe treatment until the doctor has informative images of the damaged area under study.

The first rule for mothers is not to panic or hysteria (this will also have a bad effect on the he alth of the child). All your excitement and doubts about whether it is possible to take an x-ray during pregnancy should be better directed to an informative conversation with a doctor who will tell you all the features of the procedure, namely:

• whether the radiation dose can lead to impaired development or death of the fetus;
• baby protection methods;
• at what distance from the child are the damaged organs of the mother;
• experience options to minimize radiation exposure with state-of-the-art equipment;
• the most dangerous times for x-rays.

Most undesirable for mother and child x-ray examinations in the pelvis, abdomen and spine. With these forms of research, harmful X-rays directly pass through the child developing in the womb, which can lead to the death of the baby.

The doctor prescribes a radiation examination for expectant mothers only in an emergency, when the consequences pose a serious threat to the life of the mother and child. If they took an x-ray during pregnancy, then there were good reasons for that.

Tooth fluoroscopy

Going to the dentistthe pregnant woman is indecisive. Is it possible to do an x-ray of a tooth during pregnancy? In the first trimester, such a procedure is best avoided. The doctor, if possible, will try to examine and treat the tooth without a picture, but it happens that it will be difficult to do without an x-ray. This happens when the following problems occur:

• suspected tooth or gum cyst;
• fractured tooth root;
• root tubule treatment;
• suspicion of the difficult removal of eights.

X-ray machines of modern production are distinguished by gentle radiation. If we compare, a woman receives a dose of radiation of 0.02 mSv with an x-ray of a tooth, and 0.01 mSv when flying an airplane at a distance of 2,500 km. This means that if the expectant mother flies off to rest, she will receive the same dose of radiation as with an x-ray of the tooth. Please note that during the procedure:

• Mom's belly is protected by a lead apron that doesn't let X-rays through;
• a limited area is irradiated;
• The risk of exposure to the child is minimal.

If it became necessary to take an x-ray of a tooth during pregnancy, is it possible to find a safer method? There are clinics equipped with a visiograph, its radiation exposure is 10 times lower than that of a conventional fluoroscope.

To avoid any risks, if possible, it is best to take a dental X-ray after the 12th week of pregnancy.

Lung exam

The closer the research area is to the fetus, the more radiation can penetrate to the child. itposes risks to the developing child. But if symptoms similar to pneumonia are concerned, or the life of the mother is at risk, then the woman will have to take an x-ray of her lungs during pregnancy. Can I opt out of this procedure?

No one will force you to undergo an examination in the absence of good reasons. A woman has the right to draw up a written refusal, but one must take into account all the responsibility that the expectant mother bears for her life and the he alth of the baby. Failure to perform a procedure in the presence of a serious pathology will lead to dangerous consequences.

The main indicators for x-rays of the lungs during pregnancy are deviations in the work of the respiratory system. These could be:

• coughing fits of unknown etiology over a long period;
• pneumonia suspected;
• pleurisy;
• oncological education;
• tuberculosis.

Especially often during the off-season, people suffer from coughs and pneumonia. At such a time, it is better for expectant mothers to take care of themselves and limit contacts.

But if suddenly the state of he alth is shaken, the doctor pays attention to the following symptoms:

• shortness of breath;
• cough;
• on examination, hoarseness in the chest;
• chest pain.

Sending a doctor for an X-ray of the lungs during pregnancy is a necessary measure if a serious pathology is suspected.

Head x-ray

The reason for the procedure may be various injuries of the cranialboxes, not a study of the brain. Especially if headaches bother you afterwards.

Is it possible to do an x-ray of the head during pregnancy? The doctor resorts to exposure to radiation exposure only in extreme cases, when the woman has the following symptoms:

• heavy nosebleed;
• there is an asymmetry in the shape of the face;
• severe pain in the jaw when it moves;
• sudden loss of consciousness;
• for dental purposes when manipulating the lower jaw.

When X-raying the head, the radiation has practically no effect on the mother's stomach, as it is reliably covered with a lead apron that protects from the harmful effects of the rays.

According to sanitary standards, the dose received by the fetus should not exceed 1 mSv. In comparison, to reach this level, 5 chest shots should be taken. And during the X-ray of the nasal sinuses, the dose is only 0.6 mSv. So all the worries about whether it is possible to do an x-ray of the nose, ear, temporal bones during pregnancy have no basis. Everything will be fine.

Limb examination

Usually in winter, when it is slippery or the stomach has reached a large size, the expectant mother does not see well what is under her feet, and walking is no longer easy. Therefore, falls and fractures of limbs occur. In such cases, X-rays are indispensable. Often a large area of study is exposed to radiation.

Despite the fact that the child does not receive radiation, the mother's body undergoesa certain dose on radiography, it is - 0.01 mSv. Is it possible to do an x-ray of the leg during pregnancy? A positive response has the following reasons:

• if really needed;
• if radiation dose is carefully calculated.

In this case, protection in the form of a special apron is required.

The danger remains if the procedure is to be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. This can be very harmful to the baby.

Pregnancy planning and x-rays

It's good when a woman is serious about family planning and conceiving a child. It is advisable that she undergo a full examination. Indeed, during pregnancy, the mother's immunity is reduced, chronic chronic diseases appear or new ones appear. Therefore, it is better to do an x-ray before planning a pregnancy. Is it possible to do without this procedure? It is possible - but not necessary, especially with regard to the dentist. Radiation exposure during examination of the body during planning will not have a further harmful effect on the development of the unborn child, because the dose is harmless and there is no risk of any anomalies.

X-ray and aftermath

Be that as it may, radiation exposure during pregnancy can adversely affect the he alth of the unborn baby, especially in the first trimester of gestation. Neonatologists sound the alarm and list the following negative effects of radiation:

• blood diseases;
• malignant tumors;
• heart defects,thyroid gland and liver appear during irradiation at 4-5 months;
• microcephaly;
• chromosomal abnormalities;
• improper limb development;
• damage to the bronchial tree;
• maxillofacial defects ("cleft lip", "cleft palate") and additional articular deviations;
• improper division of stem cells, which are the main component in the production of tissues of all types;
• abnormal neural tube formation;
• anemia and abnormalities in the work of the digestive tract in a newborn due to damage to the adrenal glands;
• untreated regular bowel disorder;
• ailments of the organs of sight, smell and hearing.

Recent studies by experts show that there is a 5% increased risk of giving birth to a child with insufficient body weight if X-rays are taken during pregnancy. Is it possible to avoid such serious consequences? Doctors urge women in the perinatal period to take care of their he alth and the well-being of the baby.

What replaces an X-ray?

To make a correct diagnosis, you need to deeply investigate the problem that has arisen. But in this case, the patient's pregnancy is also a problem. What is the best way to conduct the necessary research so as not to harm the child?

Specialists try not to prescribe unnecessarily, when pregnancy proceeds, x-rays. Is it dangerous to do research on other devices?

There are some options for diagnostic and safe procedures that can, in some cases, free a woman in position fromx-ray. Do not worry too much if a specialist has prescribed:

MRI. During the entire period of use of MRI in diagnostics, it did not happen that the procedure had a detrimental effect on the development of the embryo in the womb of a woman. The magnetic field of the device does not destroy the structure, does not interfere with the implementation of processes in the embryonic DNA cells and does not provoke their mutation. But doctors are wary of testing in the first trimester of pregnancy

• Ultrasound. The advantages of ultrasound are its complete safety for the baby and, most importantly, the possibility of studying the problem at any period of gestation. A procedure is performed to examine the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, muscles, ligaments, small pelvis, thyroid gland, and lymph nodes. But there is one minus - it is impossible to carry out high-quality bone diagnostics.
• Visiograph. A modern x-ray machine that is equipped with a high sensitivity sensor used instead of a film. With this innovation, radiation is significantly reduced. The device itself is small in size, but brings great benefits. A targeted stream of beams will safely x-ray the tooth.

Of course, it's better when all procedures are completely safe, and even better - take care of yourself and do without them altogether.

Some useful tips

To reduce the risks for mother and child, a woman needs to follow some basic rules:

• Don't be in the x-ray room unless absolutely necessary. If x-rayan older child or an infirm elderly parent, someone else should be found to help and escort him to the office for the procedure.
• If possible, it is advisable to stop the X-ray behavior until the 12th week of pregnancy. In the second and third trimester, the danger to the life and development of the child is noticeably reduced.
• Don't rush to get x-rays without talking to your doctor first. The specialist will definitely do everything possible to find an alternative way to conduct research and reduce the risk to the developing child and mother.

It is necessary to warn the doctor about the fact of pregnancy and clarify what equipment will be used to obtain the necessary picture. The best option would be modern and safe units.

The following methods of X-ray examination are considered the most dangerous for a woman in position:

• fluorography;
• fluoroscopy;
• isotope scan;
• CT scan.

These procedures have more powerful radiation and are contraindicated at any stage of pregnancy. If one of these studies was carried out in the early stages, even before the woman knew about her situation, then the doctor will most likely advise to terminate the pregnancy.

It happens that an x-ray performed in the early stages of pregnancy does not lead to dangerous ailments in a child, but such methods cannot be called completely safe. That's why people in white coatsstudies of this kind are not prescribed unless absolutely necessary.