Im getting a nuclear scan and have a newborn. what are risks for the baby?

None: Nuclear scans are safe to your baby as there is no radiation exposure, isotope life span is short , ( half life of radioactive isotope ) , but do not breast the baby for few days, as the isotope may be secreted in to milk. Ask your doctor for more information.

Usualy no risk: If isotope is low radiation burden with short half life no significant risk is present. Patient should refrain from breast feeding for 4 half lives with most common istotope technetium with half life of 6 hours. Patient should discuss risks with administering physician before having the test.

Depends: Depends on the type of scan you are receiving. For most, you may simply have to "pump and dump" your breastmilk for a day or two. You should let the nuclear medicine department know you have a newborn before you receive any injections; they should be able to give you excellent instructions.

Avoid a iodine 131 : If you are breast feeding u must avoid getting an I-131 scan which is used to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer as I-131 passes through the breast milk and will be absorbed by the baby's thyroid glad.