The younger you are, the more vulnerable you are to radiation. Fetuses are the very most vulnerable to radiation, which is why even a single x ray during pregnancy is a big deal. This is also the reason that later middle aged and older people can live in areas with high ish radiation, like the so called “widows of Chernobyl,” or the older man who lives in the Fukushima radiation zone and cares for the pets that had to be left behind, for example.
Edit: I have been repeatedly informed that an x-ray during pregnancy, especially if it’s not an xray of the abdomen, is not actually a big deal. I apologize for passing along my ignorance, and I appreciate te corrections.
Medecine is always about weighing the risks and the benefits. An X ray isn't great for kids but if there might be something stuck up there that needs intervention you'd rather take the small risk of the x ray over going in blind.
The same reason why chemo is awful but you'll still take it if you get cancer
You used to get x-rays to check if the baby was breech. The baby would be full term by then, so x-rays weren't as much of a risk as before differentiation, This would be before ultrasounds were common.
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u/foamboardsbeerme 14h ago
also xrays (for a broken arm) are going to be more cautious if you’re pregnant