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2nd Trimester
Cass224
member
For those who travel - Airport Scanners?
Cass224
member
Hi Ladies!
For those of you who are or have traveled while pregnant - what is the verdict on the security walk through scanners? Are they safe for pregnant women? If you mention that you're pregnant to the security personnel...do they use an alternate method of scanning (the hand wands that they use?)...Just looking for your input on what to expect...
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Re: For those who travel - Airport Scanners?
I wouldn't go through one...
https://drlindagalloway.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/7-things-pregnant-women-need-to-know-about-total-body-scans/
"Physics professors and scientists from universities in California and Arizona have purported that the radiation of body-scanners is 10 times greater than what the TSA estimates and will increase the risk of cancer to children and other vulnerable populations. At question is whether the airport scanners will dump large amounts of radiation into the skin and tissue resulting in undesired side effects. Although the scanners were FDA-approved, the machines passed a test developed by the very companies that manufactured them thereby suggesting a possible conflict of interest."
"The Allied Pilots Union has rejected the use of body scanners thus making the issue as clear as mud. If the pilots don?t want to use the body scanner, why should pregnant women?"
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"Everything happens for a reason"
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Definitely opt out. They will likely do the thorough pat-down, the one that's nearly groping, but it's not going to irradiate you.
Some people have said that when they opt out because of pg, that they don't have anything done besides the standard metal detector.
Just returned from a week business trip in Europe with seven different security screenings (at seven different airports).
My OB says the new TSA scanners are fine for pregnant ladies. I would prefer to be safe (the scanners haven't been out that long) so I chose to "opt out". When you opt out this is what happens.
1) You go through a metal detector
2) A female TSA agent will pat you down, top to bottom. They go inside your neckline and pant band. They will pat down under/over your breasts and up your leg until "they meet resistance" (i.e. up to your crotch). The breast check is with the front of their hands (if I remember correctly) the leg check is with the back of their hands. Before the TSA Agent starts they will explain everything.
3) After they've patted you down they will check their gloves for explosive residue on a little machine.
So yes, you can opt out of using the TSA full body scanners. It's more than just using the wands - they're looking for more than metal. Overall, I had a fine experience each time. Takes a little longer (about 5 minutes rather than 30 seconds), but the agents were friendly and I didn't feel uncomfortable. You can request to go in another room if you don't feel comfortable having the agent do it behind a screen (I didn't go in another room, the pat down is not that invasive).
They don't really care why you are opting out. The agent will ask if you have any external/internal medical devices (like an insulin pump) or if you have any sensitive areas. That will not stop them from patting down that area, they would just be careful not to dislodge a medical device. Telling them you are pregnant will not really change their MO.
I'm happy to answer any questions if you have them.
I think the pilots and flight crew don't want to go through them because they would be going through so many. My understanding of the issue was the amount of screenings and how that could be a problem. This may apply to those individuals who travel frequently during the year.
Regardless, I choose to opt-out. There isn't enough longitudinal data for me to believe everything is hunky dory.
I just experienced this yesterday. I informed the TSA agent that I was pregnant and asked if it was safe to go through the body scanner. He said yes, but then added, "Honestly, I wouldn't recommend going through the scanner." I went through the metal detector and got the full pat down that the PP described. The woman agent was very nice. It still made me feel very uncomfortable, but I figured better to be safe than sorry. The woman who patted me down said that once I have the baby, I won't have these problems because they do not scan babies as a policy.
I fly a lot and opt out when I am selected to go through the scanner. You do receive far more radiation exposure from actually flying on an airplane. Doing it once or twice in a pregnancy, I wouldn't worry about it.
When I opt out, explaining I am pregnant, sometimes I am waved through the metal detector and sometimes I am hand screened...just depends on the TSA person you deal with at the time. Being hand screened makes me feel like a criminal FYI...I can't stand it.
I opted out early in my pregnancy, the last time I went anywhere. The personnel were a little put off, but did their thing without too much hassle. They did the pat down on me, and used a hand wand. Then they did some kind of bag check for explosives thing. It only took about 5-10 mins. And they give you the option to go in a private area, which I didn't b/c I sort of thought that would just make others think I was suspicious. But it's your own choice. I know I don't want to take any chances with LO. Just be mentally prepared the get "felt up." LOL. The woman that did my pat down was very thorough-which is good for safety. But she was also very nice and asked when I was due, etc, etc.
I opted out in Austin during my first trimester and told them it was because I was pregnant. They made a huge deal out of it and it was really awkward. However, I didn't really care because it was their issue if they had a problem with it. They made me stand in the way until someone from beyond the scanners could come get me and that part was kinda awkward - all these people trying to dodge me on their way into the scanner. Eventually another guy refused the scanner and requested a pat down and at least I wasn't the only one at that point. The pat down is a little uncomfortable because nobody in line has anything else to look at, so they watch you. I was really annoyed, but at the same time it's really not all that bad and it's 5 minutes of annoyance versus who knows how much radiation.
I do find it interesting that women are up in arms about having a single glass of wine during pregnancy and are totally 100% fine about going through these scanners, when it is new technology that uses radiation and we don't have long term results.
The "scanners" we're referring to are the newish full body TSA scanners -the TSA "Advanced Imaging Technology". You can read about them here https://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/index.shtm and see a picture. Not all airports have these scanners. At some airports you either go through the advanced scanner or just the metal detector - the TSA agents randomly select. Other airports have more machines (like the Detroit or Atlanta airports) and everyone goes through the scanner. I do travel quite frequently and I've never gone through both the metal detector and the advanced scanner.
The metal detector is fine. Some people, like myself, are concerned with the additional radiation from the advanced scanners and the unknown risk to fetal development. Most medical professionals will say the advanced scanners are fine for the baby, but I choose to opt-out (and get a pat down) because I'd rather be safe.
The scanners that people are talking about are kind of like x-ray machines. You stand between two boxes with your arms over your head, and the machine basically takes a photo of you without your clothes on- which is sent to a remote area where there is a person looking at that photo. They can determine if you have guns, bombs, (whatever) taped to you. Once the information comes back that you are not carrying anything, you move on. Google "airport body scanners" for more information.
I have flown into/out of San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, and JFK, and in all of those airports it seemed as though everyone was going through the back scatter machine- not just "randomly selected" people.
I respectfully disagree. We don't really know yet whether they are safe or not- they just have not been in use long enough. This has happened with many other products- for example, people used to think that cigarettes were safe, and now we know that to be false; another example is thalodomide- it was thought to be safe enough to prescribe for nausea in pregnancy, but then a lot of baby were born severely deformed.
Furthermore, just because there are no "babies with two heads" wandering around your airport does NOT mean that this product is safe. Since the major concern is radiation exposure, which leads to cancer, the effects of in-utero exposure would not be immediately visible.
Finally, some people HAVE put a stop to their use- The European Union has banned the use of X-Ray scanners (but not millimeter scanners) because they do not believe them to be safe: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2011/11/15/europe-bans-airport-body-scanners-over-health-and-safety-concerns/
Obviously, you can make whatever choice you feel is right for your health and your baby's heath; the point that I am trying to make is that just because someone tells you that something is safe doesn't mean that you should take their word for it!
Supposedly... But the European Union has banned the use of these machines until there have been more extensive tests. That concerns me, so I will not take the risk.
Also, from my limited research, there are two types of these machines... backscatter and millimeter wave. The backscatter are the questionable ones. They look the same, so you will either have to ask the TSA agent or look for a posted sign. I might risk the millimeter wave machine the next time I fly, but not the backscatter.
I opted out, and the TSA guy was really rude to me and made me cry. The pat down wasn't awful, just the guy I told I was opting out of the full body scan was.
My dr told me to opt out as thy haven't done enough research on the machines to know I they are safe or not.
When we travelled at Christmas, my DH told the agent that I was pregnant and preferred not to go through the scanner. He was totally understanding and just scooted me over to the metal detector line.
From my experience, the agents are totally cooperative when the reason for opting out is pregnancy. Its totally whatever you're comfortable with, but I just thought best to be safe than sorry.
I travel about 1-2x/mo, and I just say, "I opt out". I don't tell them why. I found that if I explain b/c I'm pregnant, some will tell me it's perfectly safe. I don't want to debate them. You have the opt out option and they shouldn't belitte you or anything.
If you're at an airport that doesn't have them at every security checkpoint, I just try to avoid the lines that have them, then you don't have to do the hassle of a pat down. But the pat down is no big deal. Takes 1 minute, and I've found the TSA women who do it to be very professional.
I figure it's better to err on the side of safety. Sure, you get more radiation in other parts of your life but I'll avoid it when it's convenient to do so!