X-rays Whilst Pregnant

[saameetommy]

we have recently lodged the application for my fiance to migrate to australia at the embassy in Bkk.

does anyone have any experience with x-rays whilst your partner is pregnant(for the medical part of app) the aus immi dept has been very helpfull and suggests it could be dont later on, but they did make the point that it ultimately up to the embassy to make the final decision, unable to get any feedback from the embassy so far, so any thoughts?

we have spoken about it and feel ok with the idea of getting them done in thailand, so she can have the baby in aus, so time is important at the moment.

thanks for any input.

[bridge]

Pregnant women who are required to undergo a chest X ray are not recommended to do so whilst pregnant, and will generally be asked to postpone the test until after the baby is born. Sometimes a visa may be granted before the test are completed, but this depends on other 'risk factors' which may exist and compelling reasons why the visa should be granted before the test are completed. Pregnant women who intend to give birth at an Australian health facility also fall within an additional 'special significance' category which ordinarily requires a chest X-ray as to be undertaken.

Given that Thailand is a high risk country for TB and your wife would be entering an Australian medical facility to give birth, in my opinion there is no way she would be granted a visa without an x-ray. As for whether she should have the x-ray whilst pregnant, you need sound medical advice from a professional with regards to that one.

All the best

Bridge

[7by7]

For a UK visa pregnant women are not X-rayed but have a sputum test instead. Does not the same apply for Australia?

Another factor to consider is that most airlines will not carry a woman who is past the 35th week of pregnancy (see here) and may require a medical certificate if between the 28th week and the 35th week, Check before buying the ticket.

See also this old thread.

[saameetommy]

thanks for the input gentleman, given some research, i/we are happy to have the x-ray done while she is pregnant, the big issue is the traveling time (28wks onwards).

the aus gov, application form caters for the x-ray, (liability) and we are content to go ahead and do it for the sake of visa being approved quickly.

it's a $1705.00 application fee so obviously i don't want to make a dud application if there is "NO" chance of approval, but i really want the baby born in australia if all things being equal and the x-ray is not a major factor.

she has been to aus before and is not a liability to the social security system etc, ( i have strong thoughts on the current immi situation in aus at the moment, so obviously have a bias) so all i can hope for is a quick turnaround.

if all else fails, i lose $1700 and have to go to chaiyaphum and start again from scratch, not ideal, but that's the way it goes i suppose when you sign on with a long distance relationship.

this is a part of the reason for our acceptance of taking the xray, not all, but a part of.

ok, just found i can't post url/links,

i googled x-rays while pregnant and found many sites helpful, and the reading gives me a confidence that i feel comfortable enough to go ahead with the application.

[bridge]

thanks for the input gentleman, given some research, i/we are happy to have the x-ray done while she is pregnant, the big issue is the traveling time (28wks onwards).

the aus gov, application form caters for the x-ray, (liability) and we are content to go ahead and do it for the sake of visa being approved quickly.

it's a $1705.00 application fee so obviously i don't want to make a dud application if there is "NO" chance of approval, but i really want the baby born in australia if all things being equal and the x-ray is not a major factor.

she has been to aus before and is not a liability to the social security system etc, ( i have strong thoughts on the current immi situation in aus at the moment, so obviously have a bias) so all i can hope for is a quick turnaround.

if all else fails, i lose $1700 and have to go to chaiyaphum and start again from scratch, not ideal, but that's the way it goes i suppose when you sign on with a long distance relationship.

this is a part of the reason for our acceptance of taking the xray, not all, but a part of.

ok, just found i can't post url/links,

i googled x-rays while pregnant and found many sites helpful, and the reading gives me a confidence that i feel comfortable enough to go ahead with the application.

Hi Saameetommy,

What do you mean by the above (highlighted).

Also, is your wife at 28weeks now?

Regards

Bridge

[Sel]

We had the same dilemma last year when we applied. There was no option other than an xray if we wanted visa approval so we could give birth in Australia.

We consulted our pregnancy doctor in thailand, did all the research and finally decided that it was safe to do the xrays. The medical consensus seemed to be that done correctly with the knowledge that the patient was pregnant, that it was safe. We made sure that the dr and hospital radiologist communicated etc the pregnancy situation so that enough shielding, low rads etc were used and thought it was fine.

There are some real benefits to giving birth in Australia over thailand I think. Did they outweigh the potential risk of xrays I don't know. Our little 1 had a minor birth defect (webed little and second little toe on 1 foot) when she was born. Was it caused by the xrays? Research suggest not but we don't know but really makes us wonder if we made the wrong decision.

We traveled 3 months before the due date, about the latest that airlines say they will accept you. Get into your birth hospital straight away when you arrive in Oz to register because 3 months before being due is very late in Australia to get in the hospital system so as you can get pregnancy classes, check ups etc which are well worth it.