Gross Anatomy and pregnancy

[uptoolate]

Does anyone know how pregnant women handle gross anatomy? I'm wondering about fetal exposure to the preservation chemicals. One person told me she had to take anatomy a year later but I know someone else that just didn't do any of the dissection. Anyone have this experience? Or know schools' policy on it?

Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[flighterdoc]

Does anyone know how pregnant women handle gross anatomy? I'm wondering about fetal exposure to the preservation chemicals. One person told me she had to take anatomy a year later but I know someone else that just didn't do any of the dissection. Anyone have this experience? Or know schools' policy on it?

Thanks

Wear an organic solvents respirator?

 

[Arginine]

At UCLA, one of the anatomy professors holds special anatomy sessions with students who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. They can't be exposed to the chemicals in the anatomy lab, so they don't do dissection. Instead, they look at anatomical models and discuss anatomy. It's like having a more focused, intense tutorial session in anatomy, but without scalpels or formalin.

 

[chopper]

Wear an organic solvents respirator?

My sister was pregnant during MS-1. That is exactly what she did. Pain in the a*% for her, but what are you going to do?

 

[njbmd]

Hi Folks,
I would advise that one of the things you should do on an interview is get a good look at the ventilation system in the Gross Anatomy lab. Even if you are NOT pregnant, an antique system can be hazardous for your health. The pregnant ladies in my Gross Anatomy class wore organic respirators during dissection even though the ventilation system was brand new.

njbmd 🙂

 

[MeowMix]

We had a woman who was 5 to 9 months pregnant during Gross. No respirator, nothing special, just gloves. The anatomy instructor told her he didn't know of any potential problems, and her ob said he didn't know of any potential problems. 😱 I worked as an industrial chemist - if it were me, I'd be in gross lab with a full solvent respirator.

 

[daphnetoo]

Does anyone know if students can use respirators if they wish in gross anatomy lab?

 

[Sugar72]

I wa pregnant during the second quarter of gross anatomy and I was not allowed to go into the lab. I took the written part of gross with my class and the lab during winter quarter of my ms2 year with the first years. I was also given the option of deccelerating to a 5 year schedule. Some medical schools don't even require a gross lab anymore - they have digital or viewing only options. According to my gross instructor there are no studies that link formalin (whatever the chemicals are) exposure to fetal abnormalities - she had two children while elbow deep in cadavers. Regardless - our school makes us sign consent forms at the beginning of the year stating that in the event of pregnancy we will notify the school and stop attending gross lab.

 

[uptoolate]

I wa pregnant during the second quarter of gross anatomy and I was not allowed to go into the lab. I took the written part of gross with my class and the lab during winter quarter of my ms2 year with the first years. I was also given the option of deccelerating to a 5 year schedule. Some medical schools don't even require a gross lab anymore - they have digital or viewing only options. According to my gross instructor there are no studies that link formalin (whatever the chemicals are) exposure to fetal abnormalities - she had two children while elbow deep in cadavers. Regardless - our school makes us sign consent forms at the beginning of the year stating that in the event of pregnancy we will notify the school and stop attending gross lab.

Thanks for all the information- much appreciated!

 

[Amy B]

A girl in our class is due at the end of September. She has been wearing a big ol' respirator mask ever since she found out about the baby. She was in her first trimester so it was very important that she wear protection. Luckily we have one of the very best filtration systems in the country so that helps. It changes the air 7 times per hour. Most only change 2-3 times. My husband who is an engineer said the system is overkill, but I said to him..."you spend hours in there and see if you care if it is overkill 😎 "

 

[beanbean]

I was breast-feeding and wore a respirator. It leaves ugly,red suction marks on your face and your lab partners will have difficulty understanding what you are saying, but the up-side is NO SMELL! The school left it totally up to me and was very supportive.

 

[dagwood1]

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTt5xT_nVs6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--

Here's a link to a pdf that explains the different masks available. I couldn't find the 6075A1 model but did find a 3M formaldehyde filter cartridge #60923.

 

[Law2Doc]

http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTt5xT_nVs6EVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--

Here's a link to a pdf that explains the different masks available. I couldn't find the 6075A1 model but did find a 3M formaldehyde filter cartridge #60923.

Just FYI, you are responding to a several year old thread. Most of the folks on here are now long past anatomy as well as their 2005 pregnancies..

 

[lilnoelle]

Just FYI, you are responding to a several year old thread. Most of the folks on here are now long past anatomy as well as their 2005 pregnancies..

It was his first post too.

I guess I'll respond anyway.... I have a classmate who was pregnant during anatomy lab. She didn't wear any extra equipment and didn't have any problems.