Conference moira::parenting_v3

    They usually let you into the x-ray room w/your child.  All you need
    to concern yourself with is that you are hidden behind the area with
    the x-ray technician (which she/he will enforce) when the x-ray is
    done.  Also, make certain your son is wearing ALL THE PROPER SHIELDS!!
    2 years ago the technician said they no longer need to shield the
    genital area of males during some hip x-rays my son had, however, a few
    months later he had some more of the same x-rays at Children's in
    Boston and I questioned the tech.  She said to INSIST that they always
    use a shield......
    
    good luck!

    Andrea,
    
    You should be able to accompany Berk for his X-rays -- insist on it! 
    My son was exactly 2 1/2 and I was 38 weeks pregnant when he had his
    chest X-rays.  I was there and I just stepped back with the tech when
    the actual picture was taken.
    
    I don't know how your hospital will have your son situated for his
    x-rays.  When my son had his done, he was very, very restrained in
    quite a contraption.  I don't totally recall how it looked except that
    they sat his legs thru this seat and this thing folded around him and
    his arms were positioned straight up beside his ears and over his head. 
    Quite a horrible site, and he was screaming!!  Jason has a wonderful
    memory and surprises me with the things he remembers.  Luckily, he has
    never spoken about this.  Maybe if he needs more x-rays some day he
    will remember.
    
    Good luck,
    Donna
         

    RE: .2
    
    My son was also put in that contraption for chest x-rays he had
    as an infant.   He screamed bloody murder ... the technician 
    informed me it is good for them to scream as it fills their
    lungs with air and gives a good picture.  (didn't make me feel
    any better about the whole thing!)
    
    carol

    Andrea,
    
    Cory had head x-rays shortly after his first birthday (he had fallen
    on the playground at daycare and had quite a bump).
    
    His x-rays were done at the Northboro Medical building (that's where
    his pedi is located).  Not being pregnant, I stayed with him while
    the x-rays were taken (wearing alead aapron).
    
    They had a "sling" that we placed Cory in.  It's a lightweight nylon
    rectangle fabric with velcro tabs down the front.  We put this around
    him with his hands placed at his sides.  Someone held his head in
    position, while I held his body in position.  Definitely not an easy
    experience for any of us !
    
    They used a lead shield for his genital area.
    
    Also, they asked me several times if I was POSITIVE that I wasn't
    pregnant.  In your case, I guess the answer is obvious 8-).
    
    
    - Terry
    
    
    P.S.  Everything was fine with Cory - just a big multi-colored
    goose-eg for a while.

    When Daniel was 11 mos., he had chest x-rays for a severe pneumonia. My
    wife held him while covered with a lead apron (she was not pregnant at
    the time). For any x-rays our kids have had when older, we went in with
    them, until they were all set up, then stepped behind the shield with
    the technician.
    
    BTW, x-rays, while never really recommended during pregnancy, are not
    likely to cause any damage to the baby at 34 weeks. The singly most
    damaging time is the first 12 weeks, when internal organs, brain and
    nervous tissue, etc. is all developing. At your stage, basically all
    the baby is doing is growing bigger and allowing already formed organs
    and tissue to mature. We have several friends who actually had doctor
    ordered x-rays within a couple of weeks of birth to examine for things
    such as pelvic size in mom, and for a suspected broken hip. Doctor told
    them it would almost certianly do no harm to the baby, although there
    are never any guarrantess, and the benefit gained at that point was
    much greater than the risk of harm. *BUT*....I would never want my wife
    to have any x-rays (including dental) at any point in a pregnancy
    unless I could be absolutley convinced it was the only way to determine
    something that *Had* to be determined (such as a broken limb).
    
    Stay behind that shield, but talk to him and encourage him with a calm,
    soothing voice,a nd assure him that you're right there even though he
    may not be able to see you (that's why it's good to keep talking to
    him!).
    
    Good luck to you and Berk!
    
    --dave--

    MY son had to ahve X-rays for pneumonia when he was about 4.  They
    would NOT let me remain in the room with him.  I guess it differs with
    hospitals.  As it were, I was unknowingly pregnant at the time, so it
    was possibly a good thing I didn't remain with him.  He did just fine. 
    I was with him while they set up the thing, then stepped completely out
    of the room for the X-rays.
    

    Well, thanks for all your replies. Berk had clear lungs this morning, 
    2 TB tests and a bottle of Ceclor later. He's prone to bronchitis so
    we'll have to deal with that everytime he gets a cough or cold but
    there was no pneumonia and the TB results were negative.
    
    Again, thanks!!
    Andrea and Berk

    Not to make light of this, but in our case we seem to think we've had
    *too many* X Rays when the technician knows both your son (the patient)
    and me (hismom) on a first and last name basis, and makes comments like
    "my hasn't he grown", or remembers his little quirks and fears of
    Xrays!
    
    Anyway just a little trivia, the awful platic thing is called a
    Piggostat, what an awful name and not sure what it came from, and from
    what I can gather it's designed to keep the little ones pretty much
    immobilized, and if it scares them enough to cry then they get a good
    "full-lung" picture!  But by 2.5 they ought to be old enough to get a
    good picture without the "Piggy".  By that time AJ was such a pro they
    never got him upset enough to cry, and get a full lung picture!
    
    As for rules, at UMass Medical, they ask me time and time again if I'm 
    possibly pregnant, either way I wear a lead apron and if he's
    relatively calm I still step behind the wall with the tech.  As for
    Xrays in late pregnancy, as was pointed out, if there's going to be any
    damage done the most will be done in the first trimester.  I've had
    accident victims who went directly to Xray from my stretcher in their
    last few weeks.  Just my 2 cents worth...a little late!!
    
    Lyn