Pregnancy is a wonderful experience. But during pregnancy, there are many dos and don’ts you need to follow to ensure the safety of your baby and a smooth delivery. So, it’s natural for a pregnant woman to wonder if MRI is safe.

Can you get an MRI while pregnant or are there any risks? Let’s find out everything about MRI during pregnancy.

MRI: an overview

Before discussing MRI risks in pregnancyit’s crucial to understand the meaning and purpose of MRI or magnetic resonance imaging. This non-invasive imaging technique is a major advancement in the field of medical science.

MRI is different from CT scan as CT scan relies on ionizing radiation. MRI, on the other hand, uses powerful magnet and radio waves to get detailed images of vital organs in our body. It can create clear images of the spinal cord, bones, organs, soft tissues, brain, and blood vessels.

Doctors suggest MRI for a variety of reasons:

    • Diagnosing diseases/ ailments 
    •  Planning the course of treatment 
    • Checking if the treatment is effective

Is MRI scan during pregnancy considered safe?

A person can get ill anytime, even when pregnant. Certain sicknesses/ conditions demand immediate medical attention. And if you are carrying a child, a significant illness should be taken even more seriously. So, in such a situation, your doctor might suggest diagnostic imaging to detect the illness accurately.

In case you are concerned about MRI trimester safety, let us assure you that there is no reason to panic.

According to healthcare professionals, there is no such risk associated with MRI exams during pregnancy. Thousands of pregnant women need to undergo MRI exams, and they all deliver perfectly healthy babies. Once the baby is born, no harmful effect of the MRI has been noticeable in the baby.

Fetal MRI guidelines

Although MRI is safe for a pregnant patient or a lactating mother, there are still some safety guidelines to be followed. These will ensure that no harm is caused to the baby and the mother. The guidelines include:

  • Removing electronic items and metals like hearing aids, phones, hair accessories, and jewelry before stepping into the MRI room
  • Communicating it to the radiologist (if you have medical implants)
  • The appropriate use of contrast and imaging agents during lactation and pregnancy
  • Wearing earplugs or headphones as the loud noise of the machine can be disturbing during pregnancy and lactation
  • Ensuring that an experienced and certified radiologist does the procedure
  • Communicating to the staff openly and promptly if you feel any discomfort during the procedure
  • Keeping the exposure time short (without compromising on the diagnostic goals)

Although rare, a potentially dangerous occurrence is if the helium present in the MRI machine gets released quickly, the oxygen levels in the room can drop drastically. So, while entering, it will be better to ask if the scan room has an oxygen monitor.

MRI alternatives for pregnant women

There are many myths surrounding medical imaging during pregnancy. As radiation is not used during MRI. Let’s start with answering the most basic question: MRI vs ultrasound pregnancy: which one is less harmful. 

Exposure to MRI in the first trimester, second trimester, or third trimester is far less damaging that exposure to harmful radiation. That’s because when you are exposed to MRI, a magnetic field and radio waves are used. But are there any other alternatives to MRI? 

The most common alternative is ultrasound. During an ultrasound, sound waves generate images. So, the patient is exposed to neither contrast media nor radiation. However, when it comes to creating images of internal structures and organs, an ultrasound cannot be as effective as an MRI. The resolution of pictures created through an ultrasound is not as high as the images produced through MRI.

Parting Thoughts 

Therefore, if your doctor thinks an MRI scan would be necessary, there must be some reason behind it. You should go ahead with it as refusing the MRI can lead to some serious illness remaining undiagnosed for months. Don’t forget that your baby depends on you to grow and survive. So, first, you must take care of yourself. To know more about MRI safety, risks, and benefits of MRI, book an appointment with your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can you have an MRI during any trimester of pregnancy? 

Yes, MRI in pregnancy is not unsafe during any trimester. However, for the first trimester of pregnancy, 1.5 T MRI is the safest option.

Q. Are there risks associated with getting an MRI while pregnant?

Although people are skeptical about getting MRI during the first trimester, there are no risks, and you can be certain that MRI will not affect the fetus in any manner. Only Gadolinium-based contrast MRIs must be limited.

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