Passing through security checks

[Anonymous]

This question came out to me during my visit to the White House visitor center. When I arrived at this place, a security lady notice I was pregnant (6 months pg), she proceed with the manual security check and ask me not to pass through the x-rays, to protect the baby. That was very considerate. Anyone of you had this experience at the airports?

[Anonymous]

Um, the security woman who let you pass through isn't considerate, she's an idiot. Those machines aren't x-rays, they're metal detectors. There's no radiation involved.

When I was really pregnant I went to DOE for a meeting and the security guy did the same thing. My coworkers worked on DOE security audits and their eyes got pretty big when I told them about it. You'd think an agency responsible for so much related to nuclear materials would have that figured out.

[Anonymous]

DHS Mom here - PP is correct - those machines are not X-ray machines. No harm will come from metal detectors. It is a serious security breach not to have everyone go through the metal detectors. Not to get too paranoid, but women are perfect for carrying dangerous objects, because they don't fit the "profile" and many security guards do not want to frisk or wand women as thoroughly.

[Anonymous]

Regardless of whether the metal detectors have any effect on the pregnancy, every airport I've ever gone to will let pregnant women opt to be manually frisked. They know that there's some misinformation out there, and are used to being asked.

I have to admit to taking advantage of it when there's a really long security line.

[Anonymous]

I had the same experience while touring the Washington Monument with family. At the time I wasn't showing, but the tour guide ask before the tour if any one was pregnant. I said yes before I knew why. He took me around the side entrance and did the wand test instead. I knew the machine's were metal detectors, but the only thing I could think of at the time was that maybe because they are so close to the xray machines that you put your bags on for screening that they were cautioned to not have pg women too close to them. Could that be the reason?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks you all for the responses.
Last July I was 3 mo. pg and didn't ask myself this question when my DH and I were at the airport ready to start our vacation.
Next time I see my OB doc I will bring this topic to her.
More replies are very welcome.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone hit the points here. If I was going to ask my OB about risks I would ask about: Microwaves, Computer Terminals, and cell phones

[Anonymous]

To the above poster: I appreciate your point, but let me tell you that I don't care if the question will sound silly to the OB doc.

[Anonymous]

I work in a federal building and I had to go through metal detectors every time I entered the building. And so did my daughter who was in the daycare in the building. One thing I did not like was having my breast milk go through the xray machine every day.