An X-ray at 24 weeks pregnant..

[MrsLemon]

SO Ive had a terrible 24 hours, yesterday I spent 7 hours in hospital after getting knocked over by a bus .. The bus hit my back knocking me forward straight on to my bump ..

I was rushed to the nearest hospital by ambulance.. A hospital i should add that does NOT provide any maternity services..They eventually found equipment to check baby and eventually told me baby was okay but I could`nt move my knee so the doctor said he would send me for an xray..

He didnt tell me any risks and I was so shook up and a mess i didnt question it

as I was being wheeled into the xray room my mum said "Ill go and phone your husband to tell him the baby and you are ok" the xray lady then said...Oh your pregnant ... Im guessing the doctor told you the risks...I said no and she said "well don`t worry we will put the lead apron over your abdomen and as the xray is for your knee you will be fine..

Now I`m home (with no broken bones) I`m panicking why did no one tell me any risks..

should I be worried can any one reassure me...

 

[sammynashley]

Hi Hun, my situation was very different wen I was 8month pregnant with my daughter and ended up with an abscess in my mouth around a tooth and it needing removing urgently because they couldn't treat the infection. They neede to X-ray so they did, I wore the lead apron, baby was fine and born 5weeks later no problems. Hope this helps reassure you a little.

 

[sbl]

I had several chest x rays with lo after my lung collapsed. I wore the lead apron and lo was just fine.
Don't worry hun.

 

[brittany12]

I am an x-ray tech.

we do not like to xray pregnant women at all because the radiation "could" have interactions within the body (its a long complicated physics explanation). These days with technology being where its at today the amount of radiation that you get from a xray is not as bad as you would think. its probably less than going out in the sun for a day. Its very unlikely there was any harm done and with a lead apron and the fact that it was your knee I would not worry at all! Not to mention at 24 weeks your baby is much bigger now and you are almost into the 3rd trimester which would be like xraying an infant. So I hope this helps shed some light on it and helps you not worry about any harmful effects to your baby!

 

[Tove]

You absolutely do not have to worry about the x-ray but I understand it can be scary

The x-rays were only focused on your knee/leg which is far from your belly. Almost 100% of the radiation hit that area and since you wore a lead apron over your belly whatever tiny amount scattered in that direction was absorbed by the apron!

There is no scientific or medical reason not to x-ray pregnant women who need it (especially when it's not even close to the belly) and you did the right thing to do the exam.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Tattoo]

I'm sorry to hear about your accident. What a horrible experience! I hope you sue the sh*t out of the bus company!

 

[minties]

I only had an anecdotal story. In 1966 my grandma had her pregnant belly X-ray'd twice. Once for abdominal pain which ended up being gallstones, and then again to check for twins. My uncle seems pretty healthy

 

[laodicean]

I was going to say like Minties, up until ultrasound became mainstream, it was normal to X-ray women in their third trimester to check for twins and breech presentations.

It's not ideal, but you needed that X-ray to make sure that there was nothing broken, and the X-ray tech did exactly the right thing by putting a lead apron on you. The beam wasn't directed at the baby, and the lead would have protected it anyway! The doctor however SHOULD have told you that X-rays are potentially risky in pregnancy, but that the risk to the baby was much lower now that you're out of the second trimester.

To put it into context, I work as an anaesthetist and am constantly being exposed to X-rays - in orthopaedic theatre, A&E, ITU… they're everywhere! But most times I'm not in the path of the beam, and when I am, I put a lead apron on. My last baby went through the same thing and is absolutely fine, and this one feels like it's doing pretty good too

Really hope you're recovering well after the accident - sounds scary and horrible. Definitely calls for a week of being waited on hand and foot by everyone around you!

 

[MrsLemon]

Than you for all the reassuring replies. Just what i needed to hear x