MRI in early pregnancy: description of the procedure, safety for the child and recommendations

More recently, a new method has been used in medicine, thanks to which it became possible to obtain an image of virtually any tissue of the body, and especially soft ones: intervertebral discs, brain, cartilage. This is magnetic resonance imaging, which is recognized as the best for diagnosing a variety of pathologies and changes in the body. Thanks to such a study, any organ can be seen right down to the smallest details, which makes it possible to make an accurate diagnosis.

During pregnancy, a woman gives a large number of tests and several times she undergoes ultrasound to observe the development of the fetus. But there are situations when this is not enough, and the doctor recommends resorting to magnetic resonance imaging. In these cases, the question arises: is it possible to do an MRI during pregnancy? Let's try to figure this out.

Influence of magnetic resonance imaging on the process of bearing a child

Whether it is possible to do or make MRI at pregnancy? Doctors believe that it is completely safe. This procedure uses a magnetic field that is considered harmless, in contrast to X-rays, which are used in computed tomography and x-rays. And after the procedure there are no consequences.

It is better if MRI during pregnancy will pass without contrast, since the special substance used can cause allergies. In addition, if it was used, after its introduction, mothers can only feed the child after 24-48 hours. However, many researchers believe that you can do this right after the procedure. So in this case, only the woman should decide, after consulting with her doctor.

The reasons for being referred for MRI during pregnancy

This procedure is appointed in order to diagnose various diseases in both the future mother and the fetus. The doctor sends the woman to the MRI, having the conclusion received after the ultrasound. If the suspicion of pathology is confirmed, then the necessary treatment is prescribed.

MRI during pregnancy is also conducted for more information. There are situations when a gynecologist needs to take a difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy. In this case, thanks to the results obtained, you can be 100% sure that this is really necessary.

Thus, the following are the reasons for the MRI scan:

• Fetal pathology;
• Intention to confirm or disprove the diagnosis;
• Wrong position of the fetus during the last period of pregnancy;
• In case of impossibility of carrying out ultrasound of the fetus because of the large weight of the mother;
• To clarify the diagnosis, if there are indications for medical termination of pregnancy.

During which period of gestation, is the MRI better not to be carried out?

If there is no necessary indication for the appointment of MRI in early pregnancy, then the procedure should be postponed to a later period. This is explained by the fact that during the first trimester all the organs of the child begin to be laid and it is strongly influenced by negative factors. And this device emits a lot of noise and heat, which can cause stress in the mother and the fetus.

Absolute contraindications for magnetic resonance imaging

MRI is not recommended in the following cases:

• Availability of pacemaker;
• Intracranial aneurysm;
• The presence of a metal body in the eye socket;
• Presence of a defibrillator;
• Being in the body of a pacemaker;
• Hematopoietic anemia;
• The presence of orthopedic devices that hold the bones.

Relative contraindications:

• Metal prosthesis;
• The weight of a woman is more than 200 kg;
• Narcotic or alcoholic intoxication;
• Tattoo containing metal compounds;
• Severe pain during movement;
• Metal teeth and tantalum plates.

It is also not recommended to carry out this procedure if the woman suffers from a fear of enclosed space (claustrophobia). She may even not suspect that she has a disease that can manifest itself during pregnancy. The female body reacts in this way to a stressful situation.

Preparation for the procedure

MRI during pregnancy is completely painless, and somehow specially prepared for it is not necessary. Also, you should continue taking medication if they are prescribed. The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, or you can take a small amount of food.

Before research, a woman puts on a robe and removes all metal objects from herself. If there is a hearing aid, a denture, a wig, all of this should also be removed, since these objects interfere with the accuracy of the image. Metal products create a magnetic field, disable electronics, and also harm a person. If there are articular prostheses in the patient's body, artificial heart valve, electronic implants, she must tell the doctor about it.

What is the procedure for magnetic resonance imaging of the fetus?

The procedure is usually done in the morning hours, because at this time the woman and the child are at rest. Food is best not to take, and before the test should empty the bladder.

The woman lies down on the couch. This helps prevent a claustrophobic reaction. If it is difficult for her to breathe on her back, then she is allowed to turn to her left side, this will not affect the result in any way. The doctor also warns the patient that she can stop the procedure at any time. This allows her not to be nervous. Before the scan begins, the woman must lie down for a while in the tunnel, so that the child calms down and stops its spontaneous movements occurring in the first minutes after the change of position.

Basically, the fetal MRI is prescribed after ultrasound to determine the nature of the changes. With ultrasound, some developmental defects may not be fully identified. According to the results of tomography, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment, and also decides whether to terminate the pregnancy. The results of MRI during pregnancy can refute the preset diagnosis.

The procedure will not be as effective if it is performed before the 20th week of pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that during this period the child has a high activity and is still very small in size. With an increase in the gestation period, the quality of the image improves.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain

Diagnosis of MRI of the brain during pregnancy is also performed. The very fact of an interesting position of a woman is not a contraindication for the implementation of such a procedure, since the safety of this method of research has been proved. Scanning is performed in the usual way: the patient's head is worn with ring sensors and placed in a tunnel tube of a tomograph. The brain is examined in pregnancy for the detection of various injuries, tumors and for examination of the vessels of the organ.

Conclusion

Thus, the answer to the question was asked: MRI in pregnancy - is it safe? Long-term studies have confirmed the fact of absolute harmlessness of such a procedure. However, in the early stages of doing it, it is undesirable, but it is better to wait for the 20th week of pregnancy to get a more accurate result.