Working with Radioactivity (C-14) while pregnant.

[RBarron]

I just found out I was pregnant yesterday and I am an oceanography grad student. I'm going on a short cruise in early April where I've been asked to work with C-14 - a mild beta emitter. I'm only suppose to be the back-up person in case everyone else gets busy, though. The only way to become exposed to it is through the skin, and I will be wearing gloves, but I am freaked out about being around it at all. Especially in my first trimester. Because I just found out and am only 5 weeks, I didn't want to tell any of my co-workers yet. What should I do? Does anyone know more about radioactivity that could help me out, or tame my worries?

Also, has anyone ever been on a cruise while pregnant? What can I take for sea-sickness?

[RBarron]

Thank you for your advise. I do plan to talk to my ob about the radiation. I don't feel comfortable telling anyone on the boat about my pregnancy because I don't know anyone that well on this cruise.
Great suggestion for the sea-bands. I've never heard of them before. I'm going for a day cruise next week I'll try them out then if I can find some by that time. I do get nauseous at sea and I've been sea sick once. It was horrible! The area my project is located is somewhat rough and I usually take Claritin. I haven't needed anything stronger than that in the past but with the pregnancy I'm expecting it to be worse. I haven't had any nausea associated with this pregnancy yet, knock on wood, but I'm still really early.  

[Ashelen]

I'm definitely not a scientist, and correct me if I'm wrong...but the beta-emitters, H3 and C14, don't damage flesh when they decay, do they? C14 is a naturally occurring biological element from what I remember from archaeology...and I wouldn't worry about it because I would imagine the chance of exposure and subsequent harm would be very low. Tritium I would worry about only slightly more....You may simply have to pull your boss aside and talk to them. Or maybe you have a co-worker who will keep your secret but help cover for you until you're ready to tell everyone? I don't know. I don't think that your chance of exposure or harm is very high, but it's best to avoid any unknowns when possible...although it may not be possible. Ask your OB. it's not likely that they'll know, but they may have a colleague they can call who might have more experience with something like that.

I would recommend sea-bands!!! They're little elastic bands that contain this little plastic or ceramic button that puts pressure on pressure points in your wrists and helps decrease nausea and vomiting naturally. They helped eased my nausea first trimester with this pregnancy, and they were originally created to help sea-sickness....that combined with something like ginger tea might help. Or you could talk to your doctor about medication, but you may want to try sea-bands and ginger tea at home and see how your nausea goes, because it's a similar mechanism and would probably have the same effect on sea-sickness. Have you had sea-sickness in the past? I've spent my entire life on the water during the summers and I got sea-sickness once...it was awful!

[RBarron]

Excuse me, correction: the only way to become exposed is through ingestion, so if I get it on my hands then eat something I will be exposed. I also may work with tritium (H3) which is a little stronger beta-emitter but same exposure route.