Airport scanners while pregnant

[ThisMellowEagle]

We’re looking at flying from Bristol to either Glasgow or Edinburgh in the next couple of weeks, I’ll be about 24 weeks pregnant when we go. I’m feeling ok about the flight itself but are the security scanners safe to go through? I know you shouldn’t have an x ray while pregnant and figured the scanners are basically the same? I also ALWAYS (without fail) set the airport scanners off for some reason and so have to have extra scans after walking through the main scanner too.

I have no idea if they give off radiation or anything dangerous that could harm the baby and I’m feeling worried about it. Sorry if this sounds silly but I do suffer with anxiety so the strangest worries cross my mind.

You don’t have to go through and can ask for a manual scan with a wand. In the English ones anyway. Never flown from Scotland sorry.

And yes apparently they are safe. But considering no one could give me any information at the time besides ‘watch your husband go through and you will see nothing happens’. I thought forget it.

They really should have a pamphlet for pregnancy with the information etc if they want women to use it. But it’s impossible to find official information on what the actual model machine, any risks, safety assurances. etc.

The walk through scanners aren't X-rays, so not a concern.

The X-ray machines used to search hand baggage are shielded so walking past them doesn't give a detectable radiation dose.

You will receive extra radiation from the flight itself but it's very small compared with natural background radiation, equivalent to less than a day's worth of what you receive just by living on earth.

I wouldnn't risk it, sorry.

They aren't the same as an x-ray and they are safe - think how many pregnant women fly, don't you think it would be known if they caused issues with pregnancy?

You'll be getting more radiation from the flight than the scanner. Have a quick Google and you'll see it's safe for pregnant women. If you're worried, you can ask for a wand search or to be taken for a physical search instead.

I used to work at an airport....as mentioned above it is not the same as an xray and is perfectly safe.
If you are feeling particularly anxious though, you can request to be searched with the wand (although they're allowed to say no)