Radioactive Iodine

[Tee1991]

I’m 35 weeks pregnant and my mum had radioactive iodine treatment on Wednesday and was tested before she left the hospital and was told that she would be allowed to be around me by Saturday as her levels were already 75% gone when she left hospital. I went and sat in her garden today to give her Mother’s Day present and sat at a distance the whole time but now I have major guilt and fear that I’ve done something wrong and potentially harmed my baby. Can anyone provide any reassurance about this 😣

She was told by professionals that it was safe to be around you on Saturday. It's now Sunday so one would assume fine?

3 reasons why you are fine -

baby at 35 weeks is much more robust than at 6 weeks
your mum is 4 days post treatment which is much better than the 3 day limit
Nothing can spread when you are out in the fresh air

put all these together and you are fine.

Thank you. My anxiety is just through the roof at the moment, she’s even had it in writing off her consultant so I know I’m overthinking everything. Thank you for taking time to reply!

It’ll be fine. A 35 week foetus is not really at risk of radiation in the same way a developing embryo is. That plus the fact that you’re way past the ‘ok’ date the consultant gave AND you didn’t get close to her, means you’ll be perfectly safe.

Thank you. This has reassured me and made me feel a lot better.

Have you spoken to your midwife about your anxiety?