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Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Q. I had a mammogram about 9 days into my pregnancy. They took a pregnancy test that came up negative so they took the x-rays. Why would a blood test come out negative when I was pregnant and will it hurt the baby? Thanks

A. The pregnancy test came out negative because it was too early for the test to read it. The test looks for levels of hCG in your blood. Higher levels of hCG are produced as you begin the pregnancy, and they drop later in the cycle. It is a quantitative test, looking for a certain amount of hCG---if it is too early on the test will register negative... A mammogram should not be harmful to the baby. Xrays at diagnostic levels (such as dental xrays, chest xrays etc) are at relatively low levels and are not cause for concern. Xrays at higher levels (such as those used for treating cancer) are widely known to cause birth defects, and in fact it was out of this population (pregnant women treated for cancer) that the original harmfulness of xrays was discovered.

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.