Diagnostic scans (x-rays, mammograms, MRI, and CT/CAT)

In her article Breastfeeding and Cancer1, Diane West, BA, आईबीसीएलसी, writes that radiation from diagnostic procedures using x-rays, mammograms, MRI, and CT/CAT scans are all safe during lactation. While this kind of radiation does have the ability to mutate DNA in live cells, it does not collect in the milk and is therefore compatible with uninterrupted breastfeeding. Radiopaque और radiocontrast agents typically used in ductogram, CT/CAT, MRI, MIBI scan, or PET scan diagnostic tests are extremely inert and virtually unabsorbed when taken orally, so they do not pass into the milk and it is not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding when they are used. Additionally, स्तनपान उत्तर पुस्तिका2 reports that nursing may safely resume immediately after X-rays. Lactating people who receive iodinated contrast or gadolinium can continue breastfeeding without interruption.3

Although the vast majority of circumstances do not require interruption of breastfeeding, certain exceptions do exist.4 More information on the safety of radiocontrast dyes can be found in Thomas Hale’s Medications and Mothers Milk.5 6 Radioactive isotopes are not safe while breastfeeding, and breastfeeding should be temporarily interrupted when having a procedure requiring these isotopes. Generally, a short interruption of breastfeeding is necessary and a baby should be fed previously pumped milk.7

Please disclose any diagnostic scans you may undergo to a recipient family in order to allow for their full informed choice process.

For more information also see the sectionMedication.

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  1. West, डी. BA, आईबीसीएलसी, Breastfeeding and Cancer, Breastfeeding Today, Issue 10, 2011 ↩︎
  2. Mohrbacher and Stock. 2003. स्तनपान उत्तर पुस्तिका. छाप ↩︎
  3. University of California – UCSF Department of Radiology ↩︎
  4. कटरीना बी. मिशेल. 2019. एबीएम क्लिनिकल प्रोटोकॉल #31: स्तनपान कराने वाली महिलाओं में रेडियोलॉजी और परमाणु चिकित्सा अध्ययनपीडीएफ छवि ↩︎
  5. Hale TW. Medications and Mothers Milk. 15वें संस्करण. Amarillo, Texas: Hale Publishing; 2012 ↩︎
  6. A list of generic names for contrast dyes and radiopaque agents can be found here and this 2011 poster as well. के हूवर, एम एड, आईबीसीएलसी. 2011. रेडियो-कंट्रास्ट एजेंट और स्तनपानपीडीएफ छवि ↩︎
  7. Mohrbacher and Stock. 2003. स्तनपान उत्तर पुस्तिका. छाप ↩︎