Recently, more and more women choose breastfeeding as the only right nutritional option for the newborn. Refusal of mixtures and bottles inevitably leads to some restrictions that the mother of a small child has to experience. It is not only about changing the usual diet and the need to follow a diet. In the first days after birth, a woman is faced with a difficult choice. Whether or not to take certain drugs, will they harm her baby? When can I return to sports without harm to health? Is it possible to undergo fluorography of a nursing mother?
The answer to the last question worries every woman whose birth took place in a specialized maternity hospital. On the very first day after the baby is born, the puerpera is sent to undergo fluorography. Is it safe for the newborn, and is this research necessary?
What is fluorography?
This method is one of the most common for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. Fluorography is an examination of the lungs using x-rays. At the same time, an image is displayed on the screen by which the doctor tries to find various deviations. The question of whether it is possible to do fluorography of a nursing mother is quite justified. During the study, a woman receives a certain dose of radiation (from 0.03 to 0.5 mSv, depending on the device). Many fear that this effect may adversely affect the condition of the newborn. The desire to protect her child is characteristic of any mother, so some women refuse to be examined, jeopardizing their own health. Let us consider in more detail how justified these fears are.
Fluorography for nursing mothers: why is it needed?
Most respiratory diseases are much easier to detect in the early stages than to treat the consequences and complications later. In this case, fluorography comes to the rescue, allowing you to get information about the state of the mediastinum in a few minutes. It is primarily about tuberculosis, as well as some types of lung cancer. Unfortunately, young mothers are in no way protected from the development of these dangerous diseases. Fluorography for lactation is indicated in the following cases:
- contact with a tuberculosis patient in the last six months;
- a positive Mantoux test in people in the immediate environment;
- living in a region with a high incidence of tuberculosis.
In any of these conditions, fluorography of a nursing mother is a necessary risk that it is worth taking for the sake of her health and well-being of the baby. The sooner a pathology is detected, the more chances there are for a successful outcome of the disease and the less likely it is to develop serious complications.
Types of fluorography
Thinking about whether it is possible to do fluorography of a nursing mother, most women fear the adverse effects of radiation on the body. Not everyone knows that there are two types of apparatus for examination: film and digital. In the first case, the image is recorded immediately on film, which makes it impossible to somehow adjust the level of the received radiation dose. Digital devices display information on the screen, have a higher sensitivity and allow you to use doses 4-5 times lower. If there is a technical possibility, nursing mothers should choose the latter option.
Fluorography of a nursing mother: is there any harm?
X-rays are a type of radioactive radiation, so the concern of women is quite justified. Another thing is that during the procedure minimal doses of radiation are used. This is enough to get the desired result, but not enough to somehow harm a woman or a child.
Can fluorography be breastfeeding or not? A clear answer to this question still does not exist. Some experts believe that a small dosage of x-rays is not able to cause serious health problems. Others argue that it is better for a nursing mother to be safe from any influences that can at least somehow affect the condition of her baby. No reliable studies have been conducted on this issue. Most doctors believe that fluorography for nursing mothers should be performed according to strict indications and only when there is a real need for it.
How to prepare for the examination?
Young mothers are most worried if fluorography will affect the quality of breast milk? Very often you can hear recommendations about the need for decantation both before the examination and after it. Some experts recommend not feeding the baby for two days. Is it really?
Modern studies have shown that no significant effect of the procedure on the quality of breast milk is observed. Even frequent fluorography does not cause any serious consequences. There is no need for nursing mothers to express themselves, as well as make reserves for several days. There is no scientific evidence on the negative effects of fluorography on breast milk quality.
When can I feed my baby after the examination?
Perhaps this is the question that worries every woman who, for one reason or another, had to take a picture of her lungs. Can I feed the baby after fluorography or not? Given that irradiation during the procedure does not adversely affect the quality of milk, you can give the baby a breast immediately after the examination.
It does not make sense to offer the child expressed milk, as well as skip feeding. Even a single use of the bottle can lead to a rejection of the breast and the subsequent transition to artificial feeding. This is especially dangerous during the neonatal period, when lactation is only being established and any intervention in the process can be fatal. It is not worthwhile to conduct such experiments at the age of three to four months, when many babies go through the stage of false breast rejection. The appearance of a bottle with expressed milk can only worsen the situation, leading to an unreasonable cessation of breastfeeding.
Fluorography in the hospital
In the first day after the birth of a baby, young mothers are faced with the need to undergo a lung examination. Doctors insist on this, threatening otherwise not to be discharged from the hospital. Women who have just given birth, not knowing whether it is possible to do a X-ray of a nursing mother, rush about between the reluctance to leave the child in the ward unattended and the need to comply with the prescription of the doctors. What to do in this case?
First of all, you should know that lung examination is voluntary and no one can force a young mother to do fluorography without her consent. If a woman does not want to undergo the procedure, she needs to write a refusal to diagnose in the prescribed form. A form with the patient’s signature is attached to the medical history, after which the woman calmly returns to the ward. This will not affect the discharge process - without other good reasons, doctors have no right to detain the patient in a hospital. When undergoing a physical examination in a children's clinic, the refusal procedure will have to be repeated.
conclusions
Summing up, we should focus on the following facts:
- Fluorography is a quick and relatively safe way to timely detect tuberculosis and other dangerous lung diseases. There are cases when you should not refuse this examination.
- X-ray irradiation does not affect the quality of breast milk. Breastfeeding after fluorography is possible without any interruption. It is pointless to concentrate, as well as store milk for the future.
- At any time (including during a stay in the hospital), a nursing mother may refuse to perform fluorography. This does not affect the quality of medical services.
When wondering whether it is possible to do a x-ray of a nursing mother, many women turn to their recently-born friends, neighbors for help, or try to find information on the Internet on their own. It is worth remembering that situations can be different. Where one young mother could do without an examination, another may be at risk for developing tuberculosis and other diseases. In case of any doubt, it makes sense to consult your doctor. An experienced doctor will be able to dispel all doubts and help a nursing woman find the best option in any situation.