X-ray during breastfeeding. Effect of X-rays on breast milk. What is dangerous about X-rays? X-ray examination

Many lactating women for various reasons are forced to undergo various medical examinations. X-ray during breastfeeding is also necessary. Each mom thinks about the procedure, how it will affect the breast milk, whether it will not be harmful to the baby. Before going through the research, you need to make sure whether it is really necessary. Some doctors say that breastfeeding should be postponed for some time. But modern research has proved that this assertion is groundless.

Is x-ray harmful?

X-rays (electromagnetic radiation) are able to penetrate the human body. X-ray is the source of radiation. In large doses, it is naturally dangerous. This is more relevant to production industries, where these doses are very large. In a medical study, whether it is the x-ray of the leg, hands or chest, if the procedure is performed on good equipment in accordance with all standards, irradiation is not dangerous, since the minimum dose is used. Women should understand that in a number of cases, these studies are extremely important: suspicions of fractures, complications after ARI, prolonged coughing, an obstructed runny nose, acute pain in the digestive tract, the likelihood of bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and so on. In such cases, radiographic examination is necessary to prevent a woman's life threatening. Most doctors assure that the X-ray during breastfeeding is not at all dangerous, does not affect the quality of milk and the health of the child and mother.

When is it better to refuse?

Although the dose of irradiation is minimal, the procedure is not recommended to be performed frequently. If you are invited to do an X-ray while breastfeeding, for example, when undergoing medical examination or just in case, it is better to refuse. It is always necessary to compare possible risks and the actual need for a survey. Always remember that X-rays are a source of radiation, although minimal.

Effect of X-rays on breast milk

Modern research confirms that during lactation a woman may well undergo an X-ray examination. X-rays do not have any negative effect on breast milk, its composition does not change, and it is not necessary to wean the baby from the breast. However, some doctors, answering the question of whether it is possible to do X-rays to a nursing mother, giving a positive response, while recommending a short cut for a short period of feeding in some cases. In particular, if the X-ray of the stomach was performed, when the procedure uses contrast agents to improve the visualization of tissues and internal organs. Some experts recommend refraining from using foods containing iodine during lactation.

X-ray materials and breast milk

But there is an opinion that the substances that are used to conduct X-rays have iodine molecules that covalently bind to the base, so they are very few in the free state. Consequently, there is no risk for the child, and the effect of the substance on milk is considered harmless. In addition, half-life in the body takes less than one hour, bioavailability through the milk of this element is reduced to almost zero.

X-rays in breastfeeding, in principle, are not dangerous, but in order to be reassured, manufacturers of materials for radiographic research usually give recommendations that during lactation it is necessary to take a break after a day's examination. If you approach objectively, then such a need is unprincipled.

Barium, which is often used, is not absorbed by the body, the substance in no way affects the quality of breast milk. Such statements are made by manufacturing companies and doctors who do not want to take any responsibility for any consequences after the examination with the help of an X-ray.

Preparation for the procedure

In order to minimize any risks that, according to some opinions, can arise, if you have to do x-rays of the legs, internal organs, other parts of the body, adhere to some recommendations:

• Do x-rays only in cases of extreme necessity, if there is a risk of developing some dangerous disease.
• Before the examination, as some experts recommend, feed the baby, after that two hours do not give him a breast.
• If Mom is still afraid for the health of the baby, despite all the assurances of the safety of the procedure, you can simply express the milk that was in the chest during the X-ray and pour it out.
• During the procedure, request a protective apron. It is usually given to pregnant women, although this protection is laid for everyone, regardless of the situation.
• If you are forced to undergo a fluorography in the maternity hospital, and since the last investigation, a year has passed, you have the right to refuse. The validity of the coupon for fluorography is one year.

X-ray examination. Benefit or harm?

If there is any suspicion of complications, trauma, it is necessary to undergo an X-ray examination. Benefit or harm it brings? As it was said above, it is necessary to soberly assess the situation and make a choice. The benefits of the procedure are obvious. X-ray will help to clarify the clinical picture, and if there is a need for an indication, the doctor will be able to prescribe the timely treatment. Harm during breastfeeding does not cause x-rays. The rays have no effect on the composition of the milk, which means that it will not be harmful to the baby. Moreover, immediately after the procedure, the action of the rays ceases, it has no cumulative effect. The body does not need to remove any harmful substances.

MRI

We found out how the x-ray during breastfeeding works on the mother's body . "Can I undergo an MRI procedure?" - there is a logical question. Magnetic resonance imaging also has no side effects and does not affect breast milk in any way. When MRI is used, gadopentetic acid is used as a contrast material. The half-life of the composite substance is less than an hour, for six hours it is completely eliminated from the human body.

There is information that in breast milk the level of gadopentetic acid is too low. Within a day after the study, only 0.23 percent of the dose can be isolated from mother's milk. In addition, when administered orally, the bioavailability of products of fortune telling is equal to 0.8 percent. Therefore, there is no reason to stop breastfeeding after the MRI procedure. Although the producers of materials advise taking a break for 24 hours. Doctors do not notice any side effects in those children whose mothers used contrast agents and underwent MRI examinations.

Radioisotopes

Sometimes for surveys it is necessary to use radioactive substances. Often they are used to study the heart, the thyroid gland, various neoplasms. For the study as a whole, the dose is taken much less than for the therapeutic effect. If you already have to use radioactive substances when breastfeeding, it usually takes a while to wean the baby from the breast. Harmful substances can accumulate in milk and can harm the baby. The time to stop feeding will depend on the dose and type of substance.

Together with the doctor, the mother should discuss any alternatives to the study (ultrasound, blood tests, MRI, CT). It is necessary to fully verify the need for the use of radioactive substances and choose with the shortest period of decay.

If the decision to use radioisotopes is taken, the mother must pre-express the necessary amount of milk for the time that the baby is weaned. Radioisotopes usually have short decay periods, are rapidly eliminated from the body and do not create special difficulties and problems when breastfeeding.

Effect of X-rays on the body

Radiographic research uses rays. Other forms of electromagnetic radiation may be radio waves or light. For X-rays, a short wavelength is characteristic, which gives a higher and more targeted penetrating power.

What is dangerous about X-rays? A high degree of penetration makes the rays harmful to the human body. X-ray is one of the types of radiation. When passing through tissues and cells, the rays interact with molecules, the ionization process takes place. Complex molecules and atoms are broken by rays into charged particles. Dangerous is considered to be radiation of high intensity, if it acts for a long time. Effects caused by the action of X-ray and other ionizing radiation:

• Temporary change in the blood composition after excess irradiation.
• Cataracts are possible.
• Development of cancer (including leukemia).
• Rapid aging, premature death.

Carried out biological experiments on rabbits, mice have proved that constant irradiation even in small doses leads to a malfunction in the work of the genetic program. Many scientists recognize this effect of large doses and on the human body.

Security Level

With rational and careful use of the chest X-ray does not do any harm to the health, like many other procedures. To conduct the examination, doctors-radiologists and nurses who have received special training are allowed. They use minimal doses of radiation that do not cause harm to health and allow for a qualitative study.

X-rays affect the human body only at the moment when the device turns on. The duration of the exposure is only a few milliseconds. To protect areas that do not require research, lead plates-aprons are used. The fact is that lead, having a high density, does not let X-rays pass. This makes it possible to protect yourself from unnecessary radiation doses.