What harm do xrays do to my baby?
Xrays are a very important tool used to show what is going on inside your baby. Xray machines pass radiation through the body to form an image on a piece of film. Unfortunately the radiation causes damage to the cells of the body. Most cells are not prone to severe damage and/or heal quickly from the effects of radiation. However, ovaries and testicles, collectively known as gonads, are particularly sensitive to damage by xrays. Very high dosages and/or numerous exposures have been linked to increased rates of birth defects and sterility. This type of damage is unlikely for your baby and it is only in extreme circumstances that lasting damage will occur.
