Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use X-Rays? Is X-Rays safe for nursing mother and child? Does X-Rays extracts into breast milk? Does X-Rays has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can X-Rays influence milk supply or can X-Rays decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About X-Rays usage in lactation

X-rays used to obtain dental images, x-rays of broken bones, chest x-rays, etc. are a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to light, but with a shorter wavelength. X-rays are present only during the time that the image is being taken and leave no radiation or radioactivity in the body or in milk. Diagnostic X-rays have no known effect on the milk in the breast at the time of imaging, nor on milk production. No special precautions are required.[1] For information on contrast media used with x-rays, see the LactMed entry for the specific contrast agent. For information on high-dose therapeutic radiation, see the LactMed record on Radiotherapy.
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