Airport Security???

Shaky23 · April 2011

I am flying to FL this Saturday and wondering for those that have flown pregnant is it safe to go through the security/xray machines? Is there an alternative to going through those machines?

4realyo · April 2011

yes it is safe and no there is not really an alternative. you can refuse the new body scan machines and they will make you go through the metal detector machine instead.

eatmorecupcakes · April 2011

It's suppose to be perfectly safe, but I personally chose not to go through the last time I flew. If you refuse however, you will have to have a "pat down."

The security was really nice and the pat down was super quick and not at all uncomfortable. I think it's less about safety and more about what you are personally comfortable with.

DestinedtobeDomestic · April 2011

When we flew a couple weeks ago they had the body scanner machines, and the metal detectors. We were able to choose which line we wanted to go through, and I chose the metal detectors because I was unsure of the safety of the body scanners. If you're not comfortable with going through either you can request a pat-down instead.

Shaky23 · April 2011

Thank you, ladies. I think I will choose the pat down just to be safe.

Matt Dvorak · April 2011

I fly a lot (including lately), and I really don't think that you can avoid the x-ray things, although I guess maybe you can? I think an older guy I know has to get a pat down instead every time because of a device in his heart, but he might have a doctor's note or something for that.

I have never yet been selected for the full body scan (I choose my lines based on those without a machine if I can!), but I would opt out for that while pregnant.

heathlyn9 · April 2011

We flew to & from Texas when I was very early in my first trimester & I had to go through a full body scanner only once. LO is still in there & is healthy thus far. So it should be fine. I even told the security lady I was expecting & she said it wouldn't cause any harm.

vstevens · April 2011

I fly literally all the time (like 2x per month). There are NO human x-ray machines at airport security - they only x-ray your carry-on bags, not you! The machine you walk through is a metal detector and my OB and everything I have read says it is 100% safe. Since the body scan machine is so new I do avoid it, but I would prefer the metal detector over some TSA agent touching me any day of the week.

StefandTodd · April 2011

I go through the metal detectors, but wouldn't go through the full body scanners even if I weren't pg. They recently released information that suggests they were off on the amount of radiation produced by those machines by a factor of 10. Plus, they violate my constituational rights, protect no one, and pad the pockets of already wealthy lawmakers who promote them...but that's neither here nor there.

No, I would not get the scan. Yes, I would go through the metal detectors. GL!

Matt Dvorak · April 2011

yeah..I mistakenly called the metal detector an x-ray. woops. Anyway, I don't feel uncomfortable with the metal detector, but choose against the full body scanner.

StefandTodd · April 2011

Crash Into Me:

Security does not equal x-ray unless you lay down on the belt with your luggage. It's perfectly safe to go through the scanner or metal detector.

Sometimes, a little research goes a long way.

From your link:

The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) claims the potential for dangerous radiation exposure from the backscatter machine is low and that it doesn't pose a significant risk to pregnant passengers. The agency says each scan emits less than 1/1,000 of the radiation given off in a standard chest X-ray, or the equivalent of two minutes of high-altitude flight.

But some medical experts have questioned whether the machines have been tested thoroughly enough and they're worried about what would happen if a machine malfunctioned. If you have safety concerns or feel uncomfortable being scanned, the TSA insists that you can opt for a physical "pat down" search instead. You can find out more about the machines (known as Advanced Imaging Technology) on the TSA website.

So...your research really indicates that you can believe the TSA (which...God help anyone who just willynilly believes the TSA) or "some medical experts" but does not exactly specifically indicate that "It's perfectly safe to go through the scanner or metal detector" as you say in your post.

I remain concerned along with those "medical experts," especially after things like this have come out in the last month: TSA Admits Bungling of Airport Body-Scanner Raditation Tests <---- research that basically debunks the numbers provided in the Babycenter link.

plumag · April 2011

I flew when I was pregnant with DD and asked my OB/GYN - she said it was fine.

mplesset23 · April 2011

Shaky23:
Thank you, ladies. I think I will choose the pat down just to be safe.

I had to fly to Florida a few months ago and I got a HUGE attitude from the TSA people when I asked to be patted down instead of going through the machines. The TSA guy asked me who told me I couldn't go through the x-rays and I said "my doctor", which wasn't exactly true, but whatever not the point. Then the guy said "who is your dr., dr. phil" he was a real jerk. By law we have the right to be patted down if we request it, but TSA was not having it. I got his badge number and told him if anything was wrong with my baby due to him making me go through the machines then they would be hearing from me. I'm sooooooooo not like that normally, but what a jerk!

meltag · April 2011

The regular old metal detectors are perfectly safe, and most of the airports still have these. But I live in Boston, and Logan Airport has the new body scanners - those have not been extensively tested on pregnant women. Everybody - pregnant or not, has the option of refusing this scanner and having a personal pat-down instead. I have done this 3 times now and it was perfectly fine. As you are in line putting your things in the bucket you just tell the security person that you are opting for the pat down. Each woman security person who has given me mine was extremely accommodating, told you everything she was going to do, was not overly invasive (as some reports have been). They even said they would do the exact same thing if they were pregnant. It takes a few minutes longer - so just prepare for that. On each of my trips home - the other airports had the basic metal dectectors so I just went thru those normally.

StefandTodd · April 2011

Crash Into Me:

Again, you do not pass through x-rays unless you lay down on the belt with your luggage. The incorrect phrasing used around these boards is ridiculous.

Scanner, metal detector, those are what you walk through.

You are wrong. Wrong again.

A little research goes a long way.

But wait...instead of admitting the error of your ways, explain to me again how I'm just being paranoid and should be more concerned about my computer and microwave.

Confused

LJR 84 · April 2011

StefandTodd:
Crash Into Me:

Again, you do not pass through x-rays unless you lay down on the belt with your luggage. The incorrect phrasing used around these boards is ridiculous.

Scanner, metal detector, those are what you walk through.

You are wrong. Wrong again.
A little research goes a long way.

But wait...instead of admitting the error of your ways, explain to me again how I'm just being paranoid and should be more concerned about my computer and microwave.

Haha. Love it.

QuincysBerry · April 2011

LJR 84:
StefandTodd:
Crash Into Me:

Again, you do not pass through x-rays unless you lay down on the belt with your luggage. The incorrect phrasing used around these boards is ridiculous.

Scanner, metal detector, those are what you walk through.

You are wrong. Wrong again.
A little research goes a long way.

But wait...instead of admitting the error of your ways, explain to me again how I'm just being paranoid and should be more concerned about my computer and microwave.

Haha. Love it.

Yes

Want a personalized experience?

Airport Security???

Re: Airport Security???

Choose Another Board

Search Boards