https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 17:58:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1656854 Sat, 24 May 2014 22:23:24 +0000 SnowLion 1656854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can opt out, but they will give you a full body pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1656729 Sat, 24 May 2014 20:08:18 +0000 Tanjowen 1656729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't even given the choice! They ran me through the old machine and did a pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1656538 Sat, 24 May 2014 15:50:53 +0000 PixieStix 1656538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: Same here! I always feel awkward when I ask, as if everyone in the line behind me is going to roll their eyes and think, "Oh here's another nut who has to hold up the line." But I always feel better when I meet a nice TSA agent lady who takes care of me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655905 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:34:00 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1655905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beehive: @heartonastring: agreed! I have never had any problems even when asked why, I just said I prefer to avoid the radiation and they had no problem with that. I have also found that when I was pregnant they mostly moved me to the regular metal detector line without even saying anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655869 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:15:41 +0000 heartonastring 1655869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Baby Boy Mom: @Beehive: Yep, my stepdad was a radiologist and my mum's a retired professor of medical imaging. Both advised against the airport scanners - back scatter technology is not ideal. And I figure less radiation is always better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655863 Fri, 23 May 2014 20:10:55 +0000 Beehive 1655863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@heartonastring: @Baby Boy Mom: @PixieStix: It's nice to see that I'm not the only person who won't go through the machines! Whenever I'm at the airport I have never seen anyone else opt out (besides DH). None of the TSA people have ever said anything about it though or given me a hard time, they just give me the pat down and send me on my way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655786 Fri, 23 May 2014 19:15:25 +0000 Duckling 1655786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through the old scanners but asked for a "female assist" (pat down by a female security agent) when I was asked to go through a full-body scan with the rotating scanner. I researched the issue before leaving and found that the newer, rotating scanners did not have sufficient, scientifically credible research/testing published on them yet in cases of pregnancy; they are too new. Safe over sorry, I decided. They were pissed with me, but it's a high risk-pregnancy and I was 26 weeks. Was not taking chances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655754 Fri, 23 May 2014 18:58:04 +0000 autumnlove 1655754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked for pat downs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655727 Fri, 23 May 2014 18:32:09 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1655727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried to go through the older machines when I flew last, but they never let me (even though I was obviously pregnant). Also, an aeronautical engineer friend of mine told me that you get more radiation while flying then you do going through the machines, so I wasn't too concerned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655605 Fri, 23 May 2014 16:52:52 +0000 PixieStix 1655605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out, as I do every time. I've always gotten a nice TSA agent to do my pat-down, and they never touched my belly (I was 6 months pregnant). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655508 Fri, 23 May 2014 15:29:14 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1655508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always opt out. FWIW I was advised to do that by a radiologist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655459 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:58:17 +0000 heartonastring 1655459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I also won't go through it when I'm not pregnant. Always get the pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655457 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:57:23 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 1655457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't fly when I was pregnant, but I did fly a couple of times when Liam was an infant and wore him in the Ergo. I never went through the scanners - they didn't even tell me to, they just automatically sent me to the person with the hand swabs. No pat down, either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant/page/2#post-1655444 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:46:39 +0000 Pumuckl 1655444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew twice every week for the first 25w of my first pregnancy and since I'm in Europe we only have metal detectors at most airports. So no full body scans for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655425 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:36:02 +0000 Beehive 1655425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never gone through the machines (when pregnant or not) - I always ask for a pat-down (so does DH). I just say "I'm opting out" and they always get a female agent to do the patdown, it's never a big deal. No one has given me a hard time about it. </p> <p>I'm sure the machines are fine and give off the "correct" amount of radiation when they're perfectly calibrated, but I don't trust that they always are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655424 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:35:10 +0000 cheert16 1655424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out and got the pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655420 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:33:31 +0000 nana87 1655420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew internationally a bunch during my first 20 weeks and went through the detectors. I don't remember if I went through full body or older type ones... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655419 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:33:09 +0000 loveisstrange 1655419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew 3 times while pregnant. They were not using the body scanners the times I flew, but I would have refused and gone through a regular metal detector/opted for a pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655403 Fri, 23 May 2014 14:24:48 +0000 JerricaBenton 1655403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never felt like the pat downs were invasive or embarrassing, though the protocol did seem to vary between agents - one was super thorough, even running her fingers through my hair but the rest were fairly relaxed-but they should ask you if you want to step into a more private area, and you can ask if they don't offer. It's not like you have to undress so I never felt the need, personally. Most of the agents I dealt with were very nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655235 Fri, 23 May 2014 13:02:15 +0000 indi 1655235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same experience as @JerricaBenton:, most were totally fine with doing a pat down. One was a little huffy because it would hold things up until a female agent would get there (I could see her from where I was standing, so it didn't ale long at all), but he was corrected before she even got to me. </p> <p>She, however, was a little "you know the scanner is easier" blah blah blah, and "this will be bit invasive and out here in the open." (Like @Mrs. Blue: said, they sure get up close and personal.) I told her I was pregnant and used to being felt up monthly by the doctor with an audience - that ended her little rant. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655227 Fri, 23 May 2014 13:01:08 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1655227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time, I just puffed my stomach out as much as I could and rubbed it obnoxiously while waiting in line and TSA agent pulled me aside to go through the older type without me asking. :)</p> <p>The second time, I was in an airport that only had the new scanners and I asked for a pat down. Frankly, I had to FIGHT to get one because the TSA agent was super obnoxious about it not being harmful, but I insisted and just said, "my doctor has advised me to request a pat down," which was not technically true but the guy would NOT listen to me. The pat down is definitely a veeeerrry personal pat down, just so you know in case you haven't had one before..</p> <p>The third time . . . I just went through the scanner. I was hugely pregnant by then and didn't have the energy for a battle like I had the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655201 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:52:26 +0000 MsLipGloss 1655201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@butterbean: I opted out. The HS person who wanded me and the person who gave me a light pat down told me they would have done the exact same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655171 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:42:22 +0000 Foodnerd81 1655171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pat down. Only once did they give me a hard time and even then it was mild. I think I took nine flights total? Oh and the very first one, the tsa agent told me how she always know when ppl are pregnant and could just tell I was having a girl- at 8 weeks. Turns out she was right. </p> <p>I asked my midwives about it and they said t was safe. Then I asked what the one who just had a baby did when se was pregnant and she said she opted for the pat down, even though she was sure it was safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655166 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:40:14 +0000 sunny 1655166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The agents directed me to lines without the scanner. I was planning to opt out if I had to make a choice. </p> <p>Actually I generally ask to opt out unless we are overseas. Generally in other countries there is no option! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655153 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:35:54 +0000 pui 1655153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through the metal detector thing on my way to and back from Mexico. I think both times it was the older type machines. I was 25 and 26 weeks. I'm not worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655141 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:31:26 +0000 night cheese 1655141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out and got the pat-down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655115 Fri, 23 May 2014 12:19:36 +0000 PurplePeony 1655115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew twice while pregnant. The first time was really early on and I just went through the scanner. The next time was late in my second trimester and the agent at my departure airport sent me through the metal detector, but the one when I was returning made me choose between the scanner and a pat-down. I went through the scanner. I'm pretty comfortable with the millimeter-wave scanners (with the yellow "gingerbread man" display you can see when you walk through) but would NOT have gone through a backscatter x-ray machine (those were the ones where the agent sat in a separate room to view the images, but they're discontinued now and I think all or most of them have been replaced). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655027 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:55:42 +0000 Anagram 1655027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did both, but after the first pat down which I felt was really invasive, I just stuck with the walk-through detector. I only flew a couple of times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655020 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:54:03 +0000 rattles 1655020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've always opted out of those machines on principle, whether pregnant or not. Sometimes TSA does give me a hard time about it, but that's their problem, not mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/airport-security-and-pregnant#post-1655013 Fri, 23 May 2014 11:51:42 +0000 psw27 1655013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through traditional metal detector and opt out of the full body scanner. I too got the lecture/bullying/disapproving discussion about how it is safe but I stood my ground. It is my choice. </p>