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Tuberculosis Testing During Pregnancy

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
I am about 3 months pregnant and have not yet been in to see a doctor because I have no insurance. I have just accepted a position as a preschool teacher and they asked that I have a TB test done. I have tried to contact Ob/Gyn offices for an answer but no one will give me info because I'm not their patient. I was wondering if I can get a TB test done while I am pregnant. Thank you for your help.

ANSWER

It is safe to take a TB test while you are pregnant. If you don't pass it and they want to do a chest X-ray, make sure that you are well-shielded. But you do need to get prenatal care as soon as possible, for your baby's sake and your own. Help is available if you do not have insurance. Contact your local welfare office for information. In most states, you do not have to be on welfare in order to get help with a pregnancy.

-- Cynthia, CNM

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Cynthia Flynn

Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.