Early pregnancy, travelling and airport full body scanners

[Ginger84]

Hi everyone,

I am 5 weeks pregnant and have some travel planned next week which I planned before I knew I was pregnant. I am quite concerned about full body x-ray scanners at the airport and not really sure about whether they are really safe for a developing fetus especially at this early stage. With my first pregnancy, I asked to opt out at Gatwick and they made such a big issue, it was a terrifying experience (I haven’t taken a flight since). Here I am travelling again only to find out I am pregnant. This time I will be flying from Heathrow.
I guess my questions are: did anyone have experience asking to opt out of the full body scanners at LHR? Were they understanding or did they make a big fuss? I plan to go a bit earlier anyway to leave some time in case they ask me to wait until someone becomes available.

Are there any experts here who can say something about the potential risks of these scanners to pregnant women? I am not an expert and been reading a lot of conflicting information. I have no problem with these scanners otherwise, but just the thought that they could harm a developing baby terrifies me :(

Pretty sure pregnant women go through the scanners all the time. I did in fact because I found out I was pregnant whilst on holiday! It never crossed my mind it would be harmful to be honest (baby absolutely fine). I even had a x ray at the hospital later in pregnancy and they said the risk was minimal (not none though).
And I'm sure I read somewhere that the amount of radiation you are exposed to whilst on the airplane is higher than on the ground. So unless you refuse to fly you aren't minimising your risk at all!

I worked at Gatwick thru both my pregnancies. Went thru the scanners several times per shift. No worries.

I flew back from holiday this week at around 7 weeks. I hadn't even thought about this. Surely if it was potentially harmful there would be signs up saying that pregnant woman should avoid?

It’s not an issue. Surely you don’t think all pregnant women get to opt out?

I went through 6 months pregnant there and back, no issues, didn't even think about it really

I also opted out in my first pregnancy and they made a HUGE deal out of it (I had prior miscarriages so was quite anxious). I think it was Gatwick but could have been Heathrow possibly? However the European airports were all great, and I travelled later that pregnancy and opted out with no issue. You’re within your rights to opt out regardless of pregnancy, if they are difficult it’s because it’s more hassle for them. Though I do think the risk of the scanners is very very low.

Thank you all for your very helpful responses. That’s reassuring.

@nettytree, thank you! I heard that they got rid of the ionising x-ray scanners and now have the non-ionising mw scanners, which I think makes a huge difference in my mind about potential risks. I hope this is the case in LHR.

@SRK16, my experience as well with my first pregnancy. That’s why I am dreading another potential fuss if I ask for an alternative method of search. To be honest, if I can know for sure that they got rid of the back scatter x-ray scanners I would feel more reassured, but I can’t know for sure.

I am sure that millions of pregnant women go through these every day…I don’t deny that the majority of these women don’t think twice about these scanners. I am just anxious to be causing avoidable harm and am trying to find for some scientific info (I am a researcher by profession) to put my concerns to rest 🙈

I travelled through Heathrow last June whilst 17 weeks pregnant - and certainly the one I went through in terminal 3 was non-ionising, so I'd guess they have probably been changed.

@Nejnej2 that’s extremely helpful and reassuring to know, thank you. The non-ionising ones are definitely the ones that are safest and I wouldn’t be too concerned to pass through them. It’s the back scatter x-ray ones that have made me quite worried.

The new machines that they were intending to introduce use low-power, non-ionising millimeterwave scanning technology which are by far safer than their ionising x-ray-based predecessor. So I am quite glad to hear that they have probably installed now ☺️

I always opt out due to a medical device that is on me. It does mean that they check me manually and I have been asked to take my shirt off once to show it being attached to my body. Also my luggage got extra checks and swabbed. I've been taken away a couple of times for body searches. It's never been a problem to opt out, but it does mean extra time and consenting to other checks and searches. They're not going to let you board without any checks, and you shouldn't want them too. Safety of the airport and plane come first, so either consent to other checks or don't fly.

@Creepyrosemary I am definitely happy to have any extra checks necessary. Never meant with my question to say to opt out and not submit to manual private searches, which I did at Gatwick before. It is just that they were extremely rude and kept scaring me. So just wanted to know how are they like at Heathrow and whether the existing body scanners now use ionising or non-ionising technology. I know I am overthinking it, but I am just too worried and anxious about the whole thing - I actually wished I didn’t have to travel. Thank you for sharing your experience, that’s very helpful.

I have flown through Heathrow but I really can't remember which check they did where. I don't feel that I have ever been treated rudely on purpose, but I have had young/new staff act extra stern but they always seemed a bit panicked or insecure to me, it's the more experienced staff that doesn't get jumpy when a person presents themselves with a mechanical device strapped to their body. Maybe the difference is more clear to me because it's part of my normal flying routine. And so what if they are rude, they have a protocol to follow and will forget you by lunch time.

It's also normal to feel extra protective in pregnancy, if you don't want the scan then don't do it. You're not the only one opting out. The only advice that I can give you is to stay polite, stay friendly and work with them on each request. That's what works the best and quickest.

I went through these when I’m first trimester (and second and will do for third!). It didn’t even occur to me that it was an issue. If it was harmful there would be an exception for pregnant people and/or the nhs website would say to avoid the scanners

Just carried on reading and can see it’s the radiation you are worried about - for reassurance , radiation from these scanners won’t be much higher than the background radiation we are exposed to every day, or even the higher levels radiation were exposed to on a plane - it’s all still too low to be harmful

www.babycentre.co.uk/x561937/is-it-safe-to-walk-through-airport-security-scanners-when-pregnant#:~:text=The%20scanner%20bounces%20waves%20off,for%20everyone%2C%20including%20pregnant%20women.

This is some good clear medically reviewed information.

You can opt out. I did when I was pregnant. They look at you strangely, then have to offer to take you to a side room to examine you (clothes on). It takes time including waiting but is worth it if you feel anxiety. You don't have to if you don't want to OP

OP do you definitely have to travel? You sound very anxious I know someone who had a history of loss and refused to fly at all during pregnancy. The issue here wouldn't necessarily be at Heathrow but where will you be flying to and from. Will there be an issue there with language barriers if you need further information

Hello, currently 8w and I travel for work and am travelling socially next week. The scanners have images demonstrating safety for pregnancy etc., in Heathrow. Pretty sure they're all the same but any doubt I'm sure you can ask. Always female attendants around too if preferred.

I asked my consultant about this during my first pregnancy as I had to go through one a few times for work. He said that an X Ray- be it medical or in a security setting like an airport- emits as much radiation to the foetus as a one-way flight to Spain from the UK. So the likelihood is the radiation risk is more ON your flight than before it. You and the baby will be fine.

it should be absolutely fine OP 💜last year I went through the full scanners at Heathrow (and then LAX) when 12 weeks pregnant. Currently holding my 15 week old who is absolutely fine!

Thank you all so much! All very reassuring and to be honest, I feel more comfortable now about the whole thing. I think I just didn’t expect to be pregnant while going on this trip - but I am also over the mood which is why I am rather anxious. I guess it is a lot of overwhelming emotions at this point that is making me less rational than my usual self.

@SparkyBlue Unfortunately, there is no getting out of this trip - it is for work and I have to do it now, which is okay. I must say I don’t like flying when pregnant and last time after two trips I was too exhausted and stressed to travel again. This time I already told work I don’t want to have any other travel in the next period and my next trip would be on holiday by train! 😄

@cadink thank you. I also opted out last time but they made me feel as if I am crazy and paranoid and that no one else ever opts out. I think what I will do is simply tell them politely that I am very concerned and prefer to avoid this potential risk of harm and opt for a private search instead while allowing plenty of time for the hassle. Hopefully they will just act respectfully and do it. If it turns into a big issue then I may give in if it is indeed the MMW scanner.

I know that no matter what I do, I somehow always get selected but here is to hoping that this time it won’t happen and I can avoid a discussion ☺️

Btw I totally see everyone’s point that the radiation from it is much lower than that on the flight itself. I have read a number of research papers and read the product description of ProVision 2 (the current scanners) as well as the new scanner that won the latest bid by R&S (which will even be a better scanner than the one they currently have). I work in research and so I understand that the risk is very very small and I would have even advised me to go through it. But there is an irrational part of me (my pregnant self basically) that doesn’t trust all this and doubts the non-ionising bit and thinks that I must avoid at all cost to protect baby#2 (it also took a lot to get to baby#2 so I feel overprotective). So my rational self is literally laughing at my irrational self and I can’t help it 🙈