Fetal MRI

The MRI scanner can be described as a big box with a tunnel through the middle. You will lay in the MRI tunnel either on your back, or if this is uncomfortable, as it is often in advanced pregnancies, on your left or right side. (If on your back, padding behind the knees helps take pressure of the lower back.) You…

The present data shows that the magnetic field and the radio waves that are used in the MRI are safe for the mother and the unborn baby. The MRI has been used for more than 15 years without a reported negative effect on the imaged foetuses. Therefore, pregnant patients can be accepted to undergo MRI scans at any stage…

All people entering the MRI room are required to complete a MRI questionnaire prior to the scan. It asks the patient’s medical history and helps the MRI team ensure the safety of all patients in the scanning room. Because the machine is a large magnet, no metal can be brought into the room. All body piercings must be…

Your obstetrician or perinatologist will send a referral to Children’s Hospital Oakland. Our radiologists will then decide when to schedule your test. The schedulers in Diagnostic Imaging will contact you with the day and time for your test. The Fetal Medicine Nurse Practitioner will call you prior to your appointment…

The MRI exam findings will be reported by the radiologist as early as possible, but sometimes results can take up to 24–48 hours. Naturally, in complex cases the image analysis may require more time, as the radiologist needs to consult and discuss the findings for the most accurate interpretation with the other…