Re: x-rays during pregnancy

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Tami,

This is going to be general information for any of you with similar circumstances, whether it be medications or radiation. There is something called the "all or none" phenomenon. This means that at very early stages of pregnancy, prior to the embryo becoming a fetus, and even before you have an embryo, per se, all of the cells are toti-potential. This means that any cell can do any job. There are no heart cells or stomach cells, just cells that can become anything. If one cell dies at this stage, another can take it's place. If too many cells die, the pregnancy is lost. That's where the "all or none" phenomenon comes in. In very early pregnancy, prior to organ formation, "insults" to the pregnancy wipe out either "all" of the pregnancy or "none" of the pregnancy.

Hope this helps. For a specific medication or exposure to radiation the risk is usually small but unknown.

--
Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
Great Neck, New York
http://www.obgyn.net/states/bios/marchbein.htm
http://www.obgyn.net/women/advisors/harveym.htm

**Note:  Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
and/or interventions.

**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
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**Thank you for your understanding ;-)

• Next message: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D.: "Re: Computer Use in Pregnancy"
• Previous message: William F. von Almen, II, MD: "Re: Low Blood Pressure"
• In reply to: Tami: "x-rays during pregnancy"