Cat Scan WITH Contrast 2 weeks ago ... Before I found out :(

lovefitness84 · Oct 18th, 2011, 15:58 PM

Hey ladies!

Hopefully some of you can give some advice/peace of mine from your own experience or maybe friends/family.

I just found out I was pregnant with #1 this past Sunday (2 days past when my period should have started). We weren't trying and we've been using the same 'method' for the last 6 years and nothing has ever happened so of course I didn't think twice about getting the cat scan of my neck and chest xray.

First day of last Period was September 14th, cat scan (with contrast), injected with Iodine) done October 4th (would have been right after conception), and the chest xray done October 7th.

So, I guess my question is ... Did you or anyone you know have either one of these done early on in pregnancy and the baby ended up being 100% healthy? My first appointment isn't until Nov. 1st when I'll be just under 8 weeks.

Thank you and I hope to get to know a lot of you through out this whole process

Mandy

Mummy_Mac · Oct 18th, 2011, 16:00 PM

I work at a hospital and will ask in the radiology department tomorrow for you. Xxx

lovefitness84 · Oct 18th, 2011, 16:03 PM

Thank you so much, Mummy_Mac! I really appreciate it

It's really been eating me up just not knowing. I've tried researching it and found some pretty scary stuff but I don't know the dosage of radiation that was used, etc.

stickylizard · Oct 18th, 2011, 16:47 PM

i really ope you get your answer hun good luck xxx

sjwebb · Oct 18th, 2011, 18:16 PM

I mean since there really isn't a baby per-say at this point more like a ball of cells I hope there isn't anything wrong, kinda how they say drinking before you find out is fine. I know this is a little more intense though. And if the scan was near your neck and away from your uterus that gives you some hope too...I really hope baby is fine!

Iluvmommyhood · Oct 18th, 2011, 20:48 PM

I hope you are able to get some reassurance soon. I'm thinking it should be ok but I'm definitely no doctor. You said your 1st appointment isn't for some time now, but I wonder if you could just call your doctor's office and leave a message with that question for one of the nurses? I understand your concern and so I would hope they could at least answer that question for you. Good luck

alicat20 · Oct 18th, 2011, 21:09 PM

As someone who works in the medical field, I think that the risk is small. At only a few days after conception, the baby has no real connection to the mom (aka umbilical cord) and the ball of cells are still dividing and organ development has not occured. Also the fact that the cat scan was to the neck is reassuring, most of the harmful radiation was focused away from the lower abdomen, so again, the risk is probably minimal. There is no placenta yet so there's no risk of the contrast passing through it, and regarding the chest xray, the radiation output is minimal so I think you will be just fine. As with anything, there is always a risk, but the odds are in your favor that everything will be just fine

Good luck!!!!

Chiclet2012 · Oct 18th, 2011, 22:39 PM

The amount of radiation that is given in one single CT scan is lower than what has been shown to cause any sort of birth defect in fetuses. You need 50-100 milligray to cause damage and most xrays and CT's fall below that. There is also some data that shows that the radiation can cause childhood cancer, but you need 10 milligray and most CT scans do that fall within that range as well.

This website lists the amount of radiation of all sorts of xrays.
http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Physical/Xray.htm

I'm not sure how contrast will affect your baby though. But as a previous poster said, I think it's so early that you do not even share a blood supply.

Chiclet2012 · Oct 18th, 2011, 22:43 PM

I found this on one of the radiography journal websites!
http://radiographics.rsna.org/conten...uppl_1/S3.full

How Should I Deal with a Woman Who Is Pregnant or Breast-Feeding?
These concerns have been addressed by the American College of Radiology in its recently released fifth edition of the Manual on Contrast Media (10). Because contrast media are small molecules that are rapidly distributed throughout the extracellular space, they must be assumed to readily cross the placental barrier...There is no evidence suggesting that iodinated contrast agents are teratogenic in humans. On the other hand, the experience is too limited to conclude that they are safe. It is, therefore, wise to avoid administering them in women who are pregnant (particularly in the first trimester) when possible. ....

Oct 18th, 2011, 15:58 PM	#1
lovefitness84 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 110	Cat Scan WITH Contrast 2 weeks ago ... Before I found out :( Hey ladies! Hopefully some of you can give some advice/peace of mine from your own experience or maybe friends/family. I just found out I was pregnant with #1 this past Sunday (2 days past when my period should have started). We weren't trying and we've been using the same 'method' for the last 6 years and nothing has ever happened so of course I didn't think twice about getting the cat scan of my neck and chest xray. First day of last Period was September 14th, cat scan (with contrast), injected with Iodine) done October 4th (would have been right after conception), and the chest xray done October 7th. So, I guess my question is ... Did you or anyone you know have either one of these done early on in pregnancy and the baby ended up being 100% healthy? My first appointment isn't until Nov. 1st when I'll be just under 8 weeks. Thank you and I hope to get to know a lot of you through out this whole process Mandy

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Oct 18th, 2011, 16:00 PM	#2
Mummy_Mac Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK Posts: 490	I work at a hospital and will ask in the radiology department tomorrow for you. Xxx

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Oct 18th, 2011, 16:03 PM	#3
lovefitness84 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 110	Thank you so much, Mummy_Mac! I really appreciate it It's really been eating me up just not knowing. I've tried researching it and found some pretty scary stuff but I don't know the dosage of radiation that was used, etc.

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 16:47 PM	#4
stickylizard Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 2,973	i really ope you get your answer hun good luck xxx

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 18:16 PM	#5
sjwebb Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,916	I mean since there really isn't a baby per-say at this point more like a ball of cells I hope there isn't anything wrong, kinda how they say drinking before you find out is fine. I know this is a little more intense though. And if the scan was near your neck and away from your uterus that gives you some hope too...I really hope baby is fine!

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 20:48 PM	#6
Iluvmommyhood Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NY Posts: 17	I hope you are able to get some reassurance soon. I'm thinking it should be ok but I'm definitely no doctor. You said your 1st appointment isn't for some time now, but I wonder if you could just call your doctor's office and leave a message with that question for one of the nurses? I understand your concern and so I would hope they could at least answer that question for you. Good luck

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 21:09 PM	#7
alicat20 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 410	As someone who works in the medical field, I think that the risk is small. At only a few days after conception, the baby has no real connection to the mom (aka umbilical cord) and the ball of cells are still dividing and organ development has not occured. Also the fact that the cat scan was to the neck is reassuring, most of the harmful radiation was focused away from the lower abdomen, so again, the risk is probably minimal. There is no placenta yet so there's no risk of the contrast passing through it, and regarding the chest xray, the radiation output is minimal so I think you will be just fine. As with anything, there is always a risk, but the odds are in your favor that everything will be just fine Good luck!!!!

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 22:39 PM	#8
Chiclet2012 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 261	The amount of radiation that is given in one single CT scan is lower than what has been shown to cause any sort of birth defect in fetuses. You need 50-100 milligray to cause damage and most xrays and CT's fall below that. There is also some data that shows that the radiation can cause childhood cancer, but you need 10 milligray and most CT scans do that fall within that range as well. This website lists the amount of radiation of all sorts of xrays. http://www.perinatology.com/exposures/Physical/Xray.htm I'm not sure how contrast will affect your baby though. But as a previous poster said, I think it's so early that you do not even share a blood supply.

Status: Offline

Oct 18th, 2011, 22:43 PM	#9
Chiclet2012 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 261	I found this on one of the radiography journal websites! http://radiographics.rsna.org/conten...uppl_1/S3.full How Should I Deal with a Woman Who Is Pregnant or Breast-Feeding? These concerns have been addressed by the American College of Radiology in its recently released fifth edition of the Manual on Contrast Media (10). Because contrast media are small molecules that are rapidly distributed throughout the extracellular space, they must be assumed to readily cross the placental barrier...There is no evidence suggesting that iodinated contrast agents are teratogenic in humans. On the other hand, the experience is too limited to conclude that they are safe. It is, therefore, wise to avoid administering them in women who are pregnant (particularly in the first trimester) when possible. ....

Status: Offline

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