Can I take X-rays while breastfeeding?

There are many breastfeeding mothers who need to undergo X-ray examinations to understand their physical condition due to various reasons. However, they are worried that X-ray radiation will have adverse effects on the baby and breastfeeding, which makes many mothers feel entangled. Therefore, as to whether taking X-rays will cause harm to the baby who is breastfeeding and whether she can continue breastfeeding, you can learn more about it through the following.

1. We usually know that pregnant women should try to avoid X-ray and CT examinations, because X-ray radiation will bring certain malformation risks to the fetus, but orthopedic doctors often encounter women who have just given birth and are still breastfeeding and need to do the above examinations. Some doctors do not recommend it either, believing that it will affect breastfeeding and is not good for the baby; some suggest stopping breastfeeding for 24 to 48 hours after the examination before restarting it again.

2. Occasionally, breastfeeding women will not have any effect on their health if they undergo low-dose ordinary radiation examinations. Although medical X-rays have a certain amount of ionizing radiation, the occasional small amount of radiation has almost no negative impact on adults. After exposure to x-rays, your body will carry radiation. These radiation particles will stay in your body for about three months before dissipating, but the amount is very small and generally does not cause harm. Even the contrast agents injected into the body during enhanced CT and enhanced MRI do not have much effect on breastfeeding. In 2001, the American College of Radiology concluded that "we have sufficient evidence to prove that breastfeeding women can continue breastfeeding after using these contrast agents."

3. Therefore, if breastfeeding women need to undergo X-ray or CT scans due to medical reasons, they can do so without any worries. There is no need to stop breastfeeding for 24 or 48 hours. Some foreign literature even emphasizes that breastfeeding does not need to be stopped for even one second[1]. Therefore, we must weigh the pros and cons and not exaggerate the negative impact of these examinations on the body, let alone affect breastfeeding.