Can You Work With X-rays While Pregnant?

Thank you for being here and bearing with me as I record for you while playing with my 2-year-old daughter! Announcing a pregnancy at work is not so typical when you work with x-rays so I hope that this helps you navigate through what isn't often discussed in the field. As always, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I would love to share my knowledge or experience with you.

[@Kristenesfiles]

I love your content!❤

[@SydneyPipp]

Thank you for your support!

[@Changeyourreality2day]

As soon as i found out i was pregnant i told my boss and manager. Im a registered dental assistant in a busy office so x rays, panos, and ct scans are a big part of what i do. However when i asked if i should do anything different they said no precautions were necessary because radiation is so little compared to many years ago. I asked for a badge and they said by law that was not required anymore. I took it on myself to use a lead apron over my stomach even though they said i dont have to do that but i am so scared to expose my baby. I then asked to please order a badge for me and they did but it was only because i insisted. Im almost twelve weeks now and i didnt get the badge until last week. I could be exaggerating but i feel like they are in the wrong. There is another pregnant girl now she just found out and they told her not to wear the apron when she takes x rays. I think because they heard me when i told her to take care of herself and cover her belly.

[@SydneyPipp]

Good job advocating for yourself and your baby! Although it is true that radiation dosage has been reduced over the years that doesn’t account for the fact that there is no threshold for a “safe” amount of radiation exposure. I’d rather take the precautions of abiding by radiation safety measures than potentially put my child at risk for any negative effects of radiation. I hope that your coworker follows your lead throughout her pregnancy as well even with naysayers around 😜

[@habtamuasfaw6530]

I like your video. I am a first-year radiology student at a community college. I am looking to purchase a radiography exam study guide. is there any book that you recommend that will prepare me well for the ARRT exam?

[@SydneyPipp]

Hello! I recommend two different books in my ARRT prep video that includes photos. Also I’ve heard really good things about the rad tech boot camp program. Good luck!

[@appletree312]

It better to wait unless you really really need a x-ray.

[@SydneyPipp]

This is more focused on x-ray technologists working in their field while pregnant. Physicians ordering x-ray examinations would be a different conversation based on risks versus benefits of medical imaging while the patient is pregnant.

[@shrislifestyle2025]

My sister is a pregnant dentist so plas tell me is it ok to enter xray room once after the xray is done

[@asiaasmr8202]

X-Rays travel in one position right ? It means it only goes in the direction what we point it. ?

[@mylaporerecipes4454]

Today i sat infront of Nuclear Medicine Administering Doctor room for around 10 mins without realising..then i got out..am pregnant ..am very scared after finding out that i was infront of that room..Should i worry ?.

[@SydneyPipp]

I wouldn’t worry but if you have concerns then I would suggest contacting their department directly. I don’t work with nuclear medicine equipment so I can’t speak for their particular safety precautions.

[@AyshorjoOyshi]

When I was 2/2.5 months I went to the x-ray room. For my brother's baby xray. At that time I did not know that x-rays were harmful to pregnasi. Will my baby be harmed? I find out today. I held her head backwards. His chest xray has been done. If the pregnant mom is in the room during the x-ray, the child is autistic Pls help me😭😭😭😭😭

[@SydneyPipp]

The concern for x-ray exposure to a fetus is that it has the potential to cause a gene mutation. This is unlikely to happen within the limits of what we would use in a diagnostic x-ray examination. A child’s X-ray is also less radiation than what we would use for an adult. From what I see it doesn’t look like scientists are able to link x-ray exposure to autism so there are probably other contributing factors to their genetics if that is the case. Ultimately a single exam is extremely unlikely to have a significant effect on a fetus- especially if the mother wears a lead shield.

[@esmeraldaramirez887]

Hi! I'm a little anxious. I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant and had to take my 3 year old for a dental check up. She had 4 x rays taken. However I was not asked to wear an apron. I was not holding her but I was in the room close to her. Is there a chance I was exposed to radiation? If so will it harm my unborn baby.

[@SydneyPipp]

I wouldn’t be worried if I was in that scenario. After the first trimester your baby isn’t as susceptible to the effects of radiation. Also dental X-rays are an extremely small dose of radiation.

[@imeldacordova7908]

How is your pregnancy now? And your baby? Thanks

[@user-pk3bh4ey1z]

Hi, is it safe for a female dentist to take dental X-rays without wearing lead apron for multiple patients on daily basis ? If not how much are the chances that x-rays have harmed the foetus ?

[@SydneyPipp]

I believe that in dental practices the exposure button is behind a wall greater than six feet from the source of radiation. This should be sufficient protection with minimal chances of harm to a fetus. However it is not guaranteed to be “safe”.

[@whatevervlogs9663]

Do you think if I take time off like a year or two because of pregnancy and choosing to be there for the baby it will affect my ability when I go back to work. I hear the technology is always changing. Like will I forget a lot of things about my job as a rad tech

[@SydneyPipp]

I would suggest taking a PRN position to maintain your skills while you are focusing on spending time with baby. This way you can work maybe one day a month while your baby is with a partner or family member. It will also be easier to slide into a part time or full time position when you are ready as there won’t be a large gap in your work experience.

[@jmmmyyu926]

Hi! I had my emergency chest xray dis twice dis month 15 days apart due to hard cough tho i wear abdominal shield and i am 13 weeks pregnant 🤰 But I am more worried about its effects to my baby 😢😢😢 am very anxious.

[@SydneyPipp]

If your doctors knew that you were pregnant then they would weigh the risk versus benefits of getting an X-ray. Chest X-rays are a very small amount of radiation and there is a low risk of any negative effects from the exam.

[@Bharathiindhu]

Women Radiographer can work in xray while they plan for pregnancy

[@asiaasmr8202]

Hi Thanks for this video it helps me a lot I was wondering if I am working as a dental assistant and I am planning to get pregnant, Are there any risks when taking x-rays? Usually assistant don’t use protection, should I use one ? Is it dangerous stand out of room (without door ) while I take the x- Ray? I have heard before that the power of a dental x-ray is not very strong and that it does not travel very far but since Idk the material of the wall and I don’t have any knowledge about x-Rays I would like to know if this is ok if I keep taking dental X-Rays

[@SydneyPipp]

Dental X-rays are very minimal. We don’t wear lead while doing portable exams so the rule is to remain 6 feet away from the X-ray tube during exposure. The primary beam of the X-ray is isotopic meaning equal in all directions as it exits the tube. Although it is pointing in one direction there are scatter X-rays that will not follow the path directly to the patients mouth. This isn’t said to worry you though.. just stay 6 feet away and behind a wall preferably.

[@asiaasmr8202]

@@SydneyPipp thank you so much im planing to get pregnant but I wanted to make sure that is ok one more thing, do you thing those belly apron tunic silver fabric shield tank could help a little or those are no good enough

[@SydneyPipp]

@@asiaasmr8202 I am not sure that I have seen the type of shield you are speaking of. Shields that are used to block x-rays are made up of lead (.25mm or .5mm thick are most common). I am unsure if silver would do much of anything to reduce exposure so I would be weary of wasting money on that.

[@Elak-be2dz]

Hi, I take X ray during my menses it cause any problem?

[@SydneyPipp]

No, X-ray exams won’t impact your menses.

[@Elak-be2dz]

Ok tq

[@easysamayal2410]

When i am one or two weeks pregnant.. That time we went to taken an chest x ray.. But we don't know I am pregnant or not..this is any harm to my baby.. Pls tell me

[@SydneyPipp]

It is very unlikely that the fetus would be affected by a chest X-ray. If you need an X-ray in the future while pregnant you can request to have a lead shield to cover your abdomen.

[@shrislifestyle2025]

Are dental LED curing light exposure safe while pregnant

[@SydneyPipp]

I don’t see how it would be unsafe but that is outside of my field.

[@sukhwinderkaur-oj9hk]

Hi, do X-rays safe for infant nearly 11 month old , worried about my baby , hopefully you will answer Thanks

[@SydneyPipp]

I avoid using the word safe because nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the use of radiation. Since our bodies are mostly made up of water it is most likely that the x-ray will interact with water molecules and not affect our bodies. When x-rays interact with other molecules they typically repair themselves quickly without long term consequences. There is little risk for your baby to be negatively impacted by their exam.

[@shrislifestyle2025]

Is it okay to enter x ray room after taking x ray

[@SydneyPipp]

Yes it is safe to enter the room after an X-ray exposure is complete. The X-rays don’t hang out in the air causing exposure to people after the “picture” is taken.

[@shrislifestyle2025]

Means is it true that they stop immeduately after exposure?? Or little anount present in the air??

[@SydneyPipp]

@@shrislifestyle2025. X-rays travel at the speed of light so if you think of how quickly the light turns off once to flip a switch that is the time it takes for an x-ray to exit the room. Also, within the radiology department the walls are lined with lead which absorb the x-rays so they aren't just floating around present in the air.

[@asiaasmr8202]

x-Rays lose strength or power with distance? I mean if I take a dental x-ray and I am outside the door of the room, does it reach six feet with the same force as it and 2 feet away?

[@SydneyPipp]

Great question, it does lose its energy as it travels through objects or even just air. The three cardinal principles of X-ray is to decrease the time you’re around them, increase the distance between yourself and the X-ray and the least effective is to implement shielding.

[@garrysinaiti6742]

Try keeping your explanation short

[@SydneyPipp]

Agreed, my older videos are long winded. Working on it! Thank you for the critique.

[@charlie77577]

Alhamdoulleh