https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:09:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2333030 Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:59:21 +0000 JenGirl 2333030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through them! All my friends who work in medicine agree they're safe! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2333026 Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:42:00 +0000 pachamama 2333026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Astro Bee: helpful, thank you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2322623 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:01:03 +0000 wrkbrk 2322623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: Yes! I flew about three times pregnant and requested a pat down at all 6 security check ins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2322622 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:00:34 +0000 MrsRcCar 2322622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2322619 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:55:35 +0000 Astro Bee 2322619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I travelled quite a bit while pregnant, and never opted out. As pp have stated, there is less radiation absorbed by your body than during a typical flight. I'm an aerospace engineer and also have degrees in physics and imaging science, and was not at all concerned about the particular kind of radiation used in the scanners. If it were more penetrating radiation (higher frequency), say x-rays or gamma rays, then sure. We're bombarded by electromagnetic radiation all day long, in the form of radio waves (tv and radio), light (including infra-red, visible, and ultra-violet) etc. So just because we are imaged with "radiation" doesn't necessarily mean it is excessively harmful. A suntan/burn is also harmful to your body, yet we don't close beaches. </p> <p>Feel free to ignore my nerd rant. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant/page/2#post-2322467 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 18:36:02 +0000 yin 2322467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During my pregnancy I was lucky enough to have gone through the old scanners each time. I was prepared to opt out and ask for a pat down though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2322265 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 16:27:30 +0000 Thrifty Mama 2322265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB told me it was completely safe, but I didn't go through while I was pregnant (I flew twice while pregnant with DS). I got patted down instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2322205 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 15:52:23 +0000 mrsjyw 2322205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew a ton my second pregnancy and I opted out once and it was a pita waiting for someone to of me down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2322190 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 15:48:36 +0000 sapphire 2322190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: just because you are exposed to more when flying doesn't mean you should be exposed to even more. The flying might not be that avoidable but the scanner is. The machines are still but that well studied and no long term data exists. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321685 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:53:51 +0000 pwnstar 2321685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: It's not pointless if it makes a mama feel less stressed/worried! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321645 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:44:08 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2321645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through them at 6, 12, and 25 weeks. I did not opt out. It's pointless to opt out because you're already exposed to way more radiation when you're flying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321634 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:40:37 +0000 MrsYellowJacket 2321634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out each time. It was a little longer and I travel a lot for work, but for piece of mind, it worked for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321504 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:53:38 +0000 lemondrop 2321504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through them. I work with radiation, to me the risk at the airport is so minimal that I didn't worry about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321489 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:48:21 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2321489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted for the pat-down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321442 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:34:30 +0000 pregnantbee 2321442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always opt out regardless of pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321428 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:31:40 +0000 alphagam84 2321428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out, not a big deal to have a pat down and why risk it? I didn't find the pat down's invasive-not like they are groping you or anything. I flew a lot and probably had 5 pat downs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2321127 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 10:01:21 +0000 erinbaderin 2321127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my last pregnancy I always opted out, with this one I'm flying next week and I think I'll just go through the scanners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320785 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:37:17 +0000 nana87 2320785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always just go through </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320777 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:35:57 +0000 Alivoo01 2320777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: Ditto! I went through it every time. No problems and much quicker than pat down. Especially since we travel with DS. Ain't nobody got time to wait around longer than necessary! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320775 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:35:18 +0000 yerpie110 2320775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320704 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:18:09 +0000 catomd00 2320704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No I went through it multiple times. Quicker than a pat down and the radiation exposure is so low it wasn't even on my radar. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320699 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:14:26 +0000 ms.line 2320699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just flew this weekend and opted out. I'm not a huge fan of the body scanners anyway, so being pregnant put me over the edge. I did have to wait an extra 10 minutes in O'Hare for them to find someone to give me a pat down, which was annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320693 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:12:08 +0000 starlitsky 2320693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm flying tonight and didn't even think about this! I'm still early (5 weeks) and getting used to being pregnant! Lol. Hmm not sure what I'll do... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2320008 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:19:02 +0000 sapphire 2320008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Opted out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319985 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:04:30 +0000 Torchwood 2319985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always opted for the pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319983 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:02:34 +0000 misolee 2319983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I traveled quite a bit when I was pregnant with my first. The first time I traveled (I was not really showing), I asked to be opted out and it was no big deal at my home airport. Granted it was ATL Hartsfield and it's the "world busiest." </p> <p>On my way home, I again asked to be opted out at the New Orleans airport. It was a small terminal and not that many people. It took 20 minutes for a female TSA agent to come and another 5 minutes to guide me into an off location room. The pat down took another 10 minutes, which was highly uncomfortable. I almost missed my flight and had to run to my gate to make it in time.</p> <p>Afterwards, I just opted to go into the scanner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319977 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:57:59 +0000 cheert16 2319977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I opted out the first time. The second time i just went through! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319976 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:57:29 +0000 snowjewelz 2319976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did and got a patdown instead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319963 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:52:54 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2319963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went through because my doctor said that we get more radiation from the plane itself than we do from that machine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-opt-out-of-tsa-screening-when-pregnant#post-2319946 Wed, 14 Oct 2015 15:42:21 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2319946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went through the scanners. It is totally safe! </p>