While the bladder is filling, the doctor is taking pictures. After the bladder is filled, your child has to empty his bladder while lying on the table. We use clean towels or a urinal to do this. Your child will not be able to sit, stand or go to the bathroom to empty the bladder. The radiology technologist takes the first pictures, and the radiologist takes the rest of the pictures.
Radiation is a risk.
However, many precautions are taken to limit the amount of X-rays taken. A lead shield is placed over your child's private parts when it will not interfere with the part of the body being X-rayed. At Children's, our machines are designed to get the most information with the least amount of radiation. If there is a chance the parent is pregnant, we ask that she not be in the exam room, even when wearing a lead apron. If there is a chance the patient is pregnant, we ask that she inform us before the exam, so the radiologist can contact the doctor to see if the exam still needs to be done.