Definition
An X-ray examination is performed to take a closer look at the inside of the body, such as bones and organs. The corresponding part of the body is irradiated, whereby the X-rays can theoretically damage the cells of the body. This damage is usually repaired quickly, but this is not sufficient for unborn children, who develop rapidly, and this can lead to disorders in the development of the child. For this reason, X-rays should be avoided during pregnancy and should only be used when the mother is in an acute emergency situation
Why can X-rays be harmful to my baby during pregnancy?
X-rays send electromagnetic radiation through the body. The rays hit the different tissues of the body and are transmitted or reflected by them in different ways. By catching the transmitted radiation behind the body, images of the bones and organs can be made visible.
If the X-rays hit cell components or the DNA of the cells when the body is scanned, they can cause damage there due to their high energy. Usually, the body can repair this damage before the cell divides next time. Since unborn children grow quickly and their cells divide frequently, this repair is less likely to succeed.
The altered DNA is passed on to many cells and malformations can occur. For this reason, X-rays during pregnancy can be dangerous for the child. Especially in the first weeks of pregnancy the child grows very fast and all important organs and body parts are formed.
Damage caused by X-rays during this period can therefore have serious consequences such as malformations of the body. The more advanced the pregnancy is, the more minor the consequences for the unborn child become. In addition, it makes an important difference whether only a small part of the body has been x-rayed with little radiation or a larger part with a lot of radiation.
It is also important to know that a single x-ray has fewer long-term consequences for the child than repeated x-rays.
- If the lower belly or back of the mother is x-rayed, the rays hit the baby directly and are therefore the most dangerous.
- But even if other parts of the body are being x-rayed, it is possible that the reflection of the tissue deflects rays and hits the child. Of course, this is more likely to happen if parts of the body, such as the ribcage, that are close to the child are X-rayed.
- For example, patients usually wear a lead shield around their abdomen when taking hand X-rays, which means that less radiation can hit the child during such an exposure.