Lung x-rays during pregnancy

[mallafri76 1,012]

I would read the specifics for your embassy. The embassy will usually follow the recommendations from the doctor, so if he says he gave you an exemption for a certain part of the medical, the embassy will usually accept that. However, I think this also depends on the country you're in. If TB is common in your country, the embassy is probably less likely to accept a waiver for the x-ray.

Reading from the Swedish medical board, it says that the risk from an x-ray is higher at the beginning of the pregnancy and once you're in week 24, it's almost non-existing. It also says that a lung x-ray uses very little radiation because of the air in the lungs and with a lung x-ray, the uterus is not in the radiation field so they say it's a safe x-ray for a pregnant woman to do.

I understand your worry though, you want to protect your baby and make sure nothing happens to him or her. So you have three options, believe in the doctors and researchers and have the x-ray, go to the medical and hope for a waiver or stay in your country until the baby is born and then continue your visa journey. You and your husband needs to do what you think is best for your family.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

[Alaska2012 462]

And even though the Swedish medical board says it's safe for pregnant women they still don't do it during this process. So I do think it's from country to country.

[Steven&Jelena 12]

It's a slight risk. She should be fine. The X-ray is to check for active TB

Im sorry but i don't understand what is TB?

[Steven&Jelena 12]

I would read the specifics for your embassy. The embassy will usually follow the recommendations from the doctor, so if he says he gave you an exemption for a certain part of the medical, the embassy will usually accept that. However, I think this also depends on the country you're in. If TB is common in your country, the embassy is probably less likely to accept a waiver for the x-ray.

Reading from the Swedish medical board, it says that the risk from an x-ray is higher at the beginning of the pregnancy and once you're in week 24, it's almost non-existing. It also says that a lung x-ray uses very little radiation because of the air in the lungs and with a lung x-ray, the uterus is not in the radiation field so they say it's a safe x-ray for a pregnant woman to do.

I understand your worry though, you want to protect your baby and make sure nothing happens to him or her. So you have three options, believe in the doctors and researchers and have the x-ray, go to the medical and hope for a waiver or stay in your country until the baby is born and then continue your visa journey. You and your husband needs to do what you think is best for your family.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

Thank you ) Is is TB Tuberculosis? Because that is not common disease at all in my country. Here we are recive a vacination when we are born, so i had vacination when i was baby too, and i have a evidence of that too. I hope that can help me to avoid x-rays.

[Steven&Jelena 12]

Lots of countries have different ideas about what is ok or not. In America we tell pregnant women not to drink alcohol, in France they say it is okay during a certain portion of the pregnancy.

Obviously the health of your baby is very important however I would like to say (as have a couple relatives who work in radiology). There is always a slight risk but it is very slight and they do use a lead "vest" to help protect you. We should actually ALL REQUEST ONE whether we are pregnant or not and cover our reproductive organs when x-raying other body parts as a precaution (as I have family members who work in radiology I have been doing this my whole life as per their recommendation).

NHS (British) article on the matter

We are also exposed to radiation when we fly etc...

Thank you for this information. I see that you know more about this since your relatives work in radiology. Do you know how much that lead vest take down the risk?

[Steven&Jelena 12]

And even though the Swedish medical board says it's safe for pregnant women they still don't do it during this process. So I do think it's from country to country.

You are probably right, I agree with you that is different from country to country.

Did you have to do x-rays after u had baby? Where did u have baby? In America or in Sweden?

[Steven&Jelena 12]

I would read the specifics for your embassy. The embassy will usually follow the recommendations from the doctor, so if he says he gave you an exemption for a certain part of the medical, the embassy will usually accept that. However, I think this also depends on the country you're in. If TB is common in your country, the embassy is probably less likely to accept a waiver for the x-ray.

Reading from the Swedish medical board, it says that the risk from an x-ray is higher at the beginning of the pregnancy and once you're in week 24, it's almost non-existing. It also says that a lung x-ray uses very little radiation because of the air in the lungs and with a lung x-ray, the uterus is not in the radiation field so they say it's a safe x-ray for a pregnant woman to do.

I understand your worry though, you want to protect your baby and make sure nothing happens to him or her. So you have three options, believe in the doctors and researchers and have the x-ray, go to the medical and hope for a waiver or stay in your country until the baby is born and then continue your visa journey. You and your husband needs to do what you think is best for your family.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

Also when i called to make appointment they told me that i have right not to do x-rays and they would write for what reason i didnt recive them, i dont know where i can read the specifics for my embassy because on offical page they don't say nothing about it.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Thank you ) Is is TB Tuberculosis? Because that is not common disease at all in my country. Here we are recive a vacination when we are born, so i had vacination when i was baby too, and i have a evidence of that too. I hope that can help me to avoid x-rays.

I realize that but vaccines aren't permanent and do wear off. That is why they screen. I do not think that you will win this battle against the X-ray but you can try.

[Sabrina&Chuck 32]

You don't have to do X-Ray when you know you're pregnant ..I didn't know it that time ..but I think it didn't harm the baby

[Steven&Jelena 12]

I realize that but vaccines aren't permanent and do wear off. That is why they screen. I do not think that you will win this battle against the X-ray but you can try.

Why do you think i won't win this battle? I just read a comment from woman in Sweden who was pregnant during medical and she didn't do x-rays and her interviw went well.

[Steven&Jelena 12]

You don't have to do X-Ray when you know you're pregnant ..I didn't know it that time ..but I think it didn't harm the baby

I hope it didn't. Are you still pregnnat and are u talking about medical x-rays for visa or some another medical exemination?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Why do you think i won't win this battle? I just read a comment from woman in Sweden who was pregnant during medical and she didn't do x-rays and her interviw went well.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/interview/prepare/medical-exam-faqs.html

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.

Check with your consulate.

[Sabrina&Chuck 32]

I hope it didn't. Are you still pregnnat and are u talking about medical x-rays for visa or some another medical exemination?

Oh I just found out a few days after the Medical that I'm not alone anymore^^ and yes for the Visa

Edited August 2, 2015 by Sabrina&Chuck

[Steven&Jelena 12]

Oh I just found out a few days after the Medical that I'm not alone anymore^^ and yes for the Visa

I heard that they do a pregnancy test before u do x rays but maybe i heard wrong. What month are you now?

[Steven&Jelena 12]

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/immigrant-process/interview/prepare/medical-exam-faqs.html

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.

Check with your consulate.

I will.