9. Expectant and breastfeeding mothers
Contents
9 Expectant and Breastfeeding Mothers
9. Expectant and Breastfeeding Mothers
9.1 Introduction
There are many sources of natural background radiation (for example from the Earth, from Radon gas, from cosmic radiation and from traces of natural radioactive isotopes in food). In general this radiation will not pose a significant risk to the foetus in the womb. On average the background dose is between 1-8 mSv per year (variation is due to different quantities of radon gas).
On average, individuals are exposed to about 0.4 mSv per year of diagnostic radiation (e.g. X-rays). Although many X-ray examinations will not give rise to a significant dose to the mother and/or foetus/baby, some may do. It is, therefore, very important that expectant mothers should notify their doctor before the mother is exposed to any diagnostic radiations.
9.2 Expectant Mothers
The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 require employers to ensure that the dose received by an expectant mother is kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) and an expectant mother must not receive a dose of 1mSv or more during the pregnancy or a woman of reproductive capacity must not receive a dose of 13 mSv to the abdomen in any consecutive three months.
To ensure that an expectant mother is not exposed to significant doses of radiation, the mother should inform the Head of the School/Unit, in writing, that she is pregnant as soon as reasonably practicable.
Note: It is not a legal requirement that expectant mothers must tell the Head and mothers can choose to keep this information private.
Once the Head has been notified, the School/Unit should perform a specific risk assessment of the radiation work being carried out by the mother. This risk assessment should involve the expectant mother and she should be provided with a copy of this document.
The risk assessment should identify the hazards (i.e. the radionuclides, the type of radiation being emitted etc) and determine the risks (i.e. internal or external risk, dose rate, potential annual dose etc). Once the risks have been determined, control measures to ensure the dose of radiation received by the foetus/baby is ALARA should be implemented. Examples of such control measures are:
- Stopping work with certain radionuclides;
- Stopping work on certain high risk procedures;
- Reducing the amounts of radiation the mother can work with;
- Reducing the time that a mother is exposed to radiation;
- Increasing the amount of shielding being used.
Care should be taken that the measures implemented to reduce the risks from radiation should not pose a different significant risk e.g. moving or wearing lead shielding may now pose a significant manual handling operation for the expectant mother.
If an expectant mother receives a significant dose, the mother will be informed and the URPA will conduct an investigation.
Where personal dosimeters have been issued to a worker, records of the doses received are kept by Environmental, Health and Safety Services. If an expectant mother wishes to see the dose she has received, then she should contact the University Safety Adviser.
Further information regarding the risks to Expectant and Breastfeeding Mothers can be obtained from the University Safety Adviser.
9.3 Breastfeeding Mother
External radiation sources such as X-rays do not contaminate the body and thus pose no risk for breastfeeding. If you are working with unsealed radioactive sources, however, these may enter the mother's body or may enter the baby's body thus posing a significant risk of contamination. To ensure that the dose received by the baby is kept to As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA), the mother should notify the Head of the School, in writing, that she works with unsealed sources of radioactivity and that she intends to breastfeed her baby.
Note: It is not a legal requirement that expectant mothers must tell the Head and mothers can choose to keep this information private.
Once a Head has received this notification, they should ensure that an appropriate risk assessment of the work is done and suitable control measures implemented to ensure the baby is exposed to a dose of radiation that is ALARA. The assessment should involve the mother concerned and she should be provided with a copy of this document.
Controls on exposure will be implemented for six months as this is the normal period of breastfeeding. If you intend to breastfeed for longer, you should notify the Head.
Further information regarding the risks to Expectant and Breastfeeding Mothers can be obtained from the University Safety Adviser.