1. What do I do if I become pregnant while working with radiation?
Office of Radiation Safety

2. I’m pregnant, what happens next?
You will be provided with a copy of the regulatory guide NRC 8.13
You will be ask whether you would like to declare your pregnancy by completing the declaration of pregnancy form.
Your fetus will be issued a radiation dose monitoring badge (ie. “fetal badge”).
This fetal badge will be work UNDER YOUR APRON AT WAIST LEVEL in addition to the badge you normally wear on your collar.
Your fetal badge will be exchanged EVERY MONTH so that we can keep a close watch on your monthly fetal dose.
Your fetal badge dose will be monitored carefully by the office of radiation safety.
You will be issued a monthly fetal dose memo.
Your participation in the fetal dose monitoring program will automatically be discontinued one month after your due date unless you inform the Office of Radiation Safety otherwise.

3. 1.) NRC Guide 8.13
“Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure” is provided by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Regulatory Guide This document is posted on the Radiation Safety Website (Site Map  R  Radiation Safety) and will be provided to you when you declare your pregnancy.

4. 2.) Declaring your pregnancy
NR Regulation 8.13 requires that a radiation worked be provided the opportunity to declare her pregnancy IN WRITING (including estimated date of conception). Declaring a pregnancy is VOLUNTARY (to protect the worker’s right to work and medical privacy). The pregnant worker my withdraw her declaration at any time.

5. 3.) Fetal Badge
Usually you will be immediately issued a temporary or spare fetal badge that will be worn until your assigned fetal badge arrives. If you would like to conceal your pregnancy, feel free to keep your fetal badge in your locker.

6. 4.) Where do I wear my fetal badge?
Regular badges are worn OVER the apron at the collar level.
Fetal Badges are worn UNDER the apron at the waist level.

7. 5.) When do I exchange my badge?
Fetal badges are exchanged every month. Please promptly exchange your badge in the first week of the month.
Normally we exchange badges on the badge holders but if you pregnancy is top secret, we can hand deliver your badge to you. Please contact radiation safety if you require clandestine delivery.

8. 6.) Fetal dose limits
Declaring a pregnancy allows the Office of Radiation Safety to lower the occupational exposure limit for the employee/fetus in accordance with national guidelines.
Lowering the occupational dose limit may require a change in job responsibilities during the pregnancy, though this is seldom the case at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
A declared pregnant worker will be asked to refrain from duties which involve the handling of teratogenic isotopes, such as radio-iodine therapy (I-131).
Status
Fetal Dose Limit
Fetal Dose Rate Limit
Declared Pregnant Worker
500 mrem / 9 month
50 mrem/month
Undeclared Pregnant Worker
5,000 mrem / year
No conditions

9. 7.) Fetal Dose Memo
You will receive monthly fetal dose memos from the Office of Radiation Safety by .

10. 8.) Let us know the good news
Your participation in the fetal dose monitoring program will automatically be discontinued one month after the “anticipated due date” on your pregnancy declaration form (unless you inform the Office of Radiation Safety otherwise).

11. Thank You!
For further information, you may contact: The Office of Radiation Safety Or visit the Radiation Safety Home Page by navigating to “R” on the Portal Site Map and selecting “Radiation Safety”: