MRI Safety
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging procedure commonly used in hospitals and clinical settings for all ages—from prenatal scans and throughout the lifespan. It has been fully approved by the Federal Drug Administration, and used with infants for over 20 years. MRI uses a strong magnet to produce images of the body and is considered biologically harmless. There is no radiation and there are no known side effects associated with MRI.
Because the MRI is a magnet, to enter the MRI scan room you must be metal-free (no metal objects are allowed inside the scan room). Prior to your scan session, we will review an MRI safety screening form with you and your infant to ensure that it is safe for you both to enter the scan room. As an added precaution, at the scan session, we will also use a handheld metal detector to check for anything you may have missed.
We scan during infant’s natural sleep and do not use any sedation or anesthesia. Given the loud noises that the MRI machine makes during scanning, we use several layers of hearing protection with infants – this ensures that we are not only protecting their hearing but also reducing the noise level that they are exposed to so that they remain asleep. We use a silicon ear putty as the first layer and secure that in place with a skin-safe tape. Second, we secure a pair of Styrofoam adhesive ear covers which are designed for muffling sounds during infant MRIs. Third, we position slim-fit headphones that play white noise once the infant is on the scanner bed and secure those in place with several foam pads, which also add an additional layer of hearing protection while keeping them comfortable.
Because the MRI is a magnet, to enter the MRI scan room you must be metal-free (no metal objects are allowed inside the scan room). Prior to your scan session, we will review an MRI safety screening form with you and your infant to ensure that it is safe for you both to enter the scan room. As an added precaution, at the scan session, we will also use a handheld metal detector to check for anything you may have missed.
We scan during infant’s natural sleep and do not use any sedation or anesthesia. Given the loud noises that the MRI machine makes during scanning, we use several layers of hearing protection with infants – this ensures that we are not only protecting their hearing but also reducing the noise level that they are exposed to so that they remain asleep. We use a silicon ear putty as the first layer and secure that in place with a skin-safe tape. Second, we secure a pair of Styrofoam adhesive ear covers which are designed for muffling sounds during infant MRIs. Third, we position slim-fit headphones that play white noise once the infant is on the scanner bed and secure those in place with several foam pads, which also add an additional layer of hearing protection while keeping them comfortable.
Preparing for your MRI
To prepare for the scan, when scheduling, our study coordinator will go through a list of questions about your infant’s sleep routine to make sure that we set everything up to fit your infant’s needs. We have also found that the following preparatory steps have been helpful for a successful scan and help infants fall (and stay) asleep more easily:
To prepare for the scan, when scheduling, our study coordinator will go through a list of questions about your infant’s sleep routine to make sure that we set everything up to fit your infant’s needs. We have also found that the following preparatory steps have been helpful for a successful scan and help infants fall (and stay) asleep more easily:
- When possible, we advise you to try and skip your infant’s last nap of the day on the day of the session. We find that when infants skip that last nap and arrive to the session tired, they are more likely to fall asleep easily.
- We encourage you to prevent your infant from sleeping in the car on the way to the session. This is usually accomplished by having someone attend the scan with you, but if that is not possible, we can either send a research assistant to your home to drive with you and keep your infant awake, or we can order you a rideshare (e.g., Lyft/Uber) so that you may sit with your infant in the back seat. If someone does attend with you but wishes to leave early, we are also happy to arrange for a rideshare to take them home whenever they would like.
- If your infant does not already sleep soundly on their back, we suggest practicing having them sleep on their back in the nights leading up to the session, as that will be the position they will be in for the scan.
- To acclimate to the sounds that the scanner makes, you can play this MRI sound audio file (audio link here) at a moderate volume while your infant is falling asleep, as well as when they are deeply asleep during naps and/or in the nights leading up to the session.
- Finally, we suggest practicing lifting and moving your infant while they are asleep to get them accustomed to any transitions we make (e.g., from your arms to the scanner bed) at the session.
Day of the MRI Scan
Parking: You will arrive for the scan at the Vanderbilt University Hospital, where you will be greeted by one of our research assistants. When you arrive, you may park in any of the self-park stalls on the basement or ground floor of the East Parking Garage. The address and map of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s East Parking Garage are as follows: 7209 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232.
Parking: You will arrive for the scan at the Vanderbilt University Hospital, where you will be greeted by one of our research assistants. When you arrive, you may park in any of the self-park stalls on the basement or ground floor of the East Parking Garage. The address and map of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s East Parking Garage are as follows: 7209 Medical Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37232.
Once you have parked, we will meet you at the lobby of the hospital’s main entrance which is located right across the street from the East Parking Garage entrance.
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Hospital main entrance that is right across from the East Parking Garage
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Session Overview
Once you have arrived, we will take you down to the MRI suite. We will give you an overview of the session, review some preparatory questions, and complete required paperwork. During this visit, you are invited to sit-back and let us take the lead in preparing your infant for the scan or to be there with us every step up the way (or anywhere in between). Our staff is flexible regarding your level of involvement and will check in with you about what is most comfortable.
We will get you settled in the prep room where there will be a pack-and-play, blankets, velcro swaddles (weighted and unweighted), diapers and diaper wipes, a rocking chair, body pillow, bottle warmer, snacks and drinks, and anything else you may need to get comfortable and go through your bedtime routine. |
We will take some measurements of your infant, apply hearing protection, swaddle your infant, and then give you privacy to feed or nurse your infant. If the scan room is available at the time of your arrival, we will have you put your infant to sleep directly in the scan room. Your infant will be a new place which can be exciting (and not the best for inducing sleep). Waiting for infants to fall (and stay) asleep requires a lot of patience for everyone involved, and we ask parents to be prepared for what is often a long visit.
During the scan, a trained research assistant will be with your infant to monitor them throughout the scan. Many infants wake up during the scan, and the research assistant will be there to comfort them and communicate with the scan team that we need to take a break until your baby falls back asleep. In the case that your infant wakes up during the scan and appears hungry, we may ask you to help feed/nurse the baby again before restarting the process. After the scan is over, you can take your time in preparing to leave (e.g., a room is available for diaper changing or feeding). Once you and your infant are ready, one of our research assistants will walk you back to your car.
During the scan, a trained research assistant will be with your infant to monitor them throughout the scan. Many infants wake up during the scan, and the research assistant will be there to comfort them and communicate with the scan team that we need to take a break until your baby falls back asleep. In the case that your infant wakes up during the scan and appears hungry, we may ask you to help feed/nurse the baby again before restarting the process. After the scan is over, you can take your time in preparing to leave (e.g., a room is available for diaper changing or feeding). Once you and your infant are ready, one of our research assistants will walk you back to your car.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Feel free to call or text us at (615) 348-5752 or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions before your scan session.
Feel free to call or text us at (615) 348-5752 or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions before your scan session.