Is My Unborn Baby Safe? The Truth about Drinking, Pills, and More!

I had x-rays.

Shortly before Christmas 2002, Cynthia Hinz had her left foot x-rayed. "I found out I was pregnant on New Year's Eve!" says Hinz, a Northern California mom of five, who was immediately worried that the x-rays would negatively affect her newest little one. He's now a healthy toddler.

X-rays are a frequent concern, says Dr. Greenfield. However, a dental x-ray, chest x-ray, or similar x-ray performed in early pregnancy is not really worrisome. "The amount of radiation that your uterus gets is not very high and won't put the pregnancy at risk." X-ray studies of the pelvis, such as a barium enema, allow more radiation to get to the uterus. In these cases, Dr. Greenfield advises women consult their healthcare providers about what their individual risks might be.

I got a flu shot.

If you're proactive about your health as winter approaches, you may have gotten a flu shot. Should you worry? No, says Dr. Greenfield. Not only are flu shots safe, they're a good idea for all pregnant women.

If you come down with the flu during your pregnancy, you're more likely to have complications that could put you and your baby at risk. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for all women who will be pregnant during flu season (November through March), even women in their first trimester.

I had a few drinks.

Tanya Murphy found out she was expecting shortly after the holidays. "I drank wine at a Christmas party before I knew I was pregnant," says Murphy, of Haughton, Louisiana. "I was so concerned that could have caused [my son] some damage." Murphy's baby, born the next August, was unharmed by the holiday drink.