Work

A survey of parental experiences while viewing MRI images at a fetal care center

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Fetal MRI (fMRI) is now recognized as the standard imaging when abnormalities are detected on the routine US [ 1 ]. Prior research focusing on decreasing anxiety during the MRI screening, found that parental anxiety also largely stemmed from anticipation of how the MRI results would be interpreted [ 2 , 3 ]. Although it was shown that the fMRI images were found valuable by the expectant couples [ 4 ] there is a paucity of data exploring parental experiences while viewing their baby’s MRI images in an interdisciplinary fetal care conference setting, the way increasingly used to counsel parents at fetal centers [ 5 ]. In this study, we aimed to explore parental experiences while viewing fMRI images as part of fetal care conferences, specifically how viewing MRI images has affected parents’ emotions, feelings of attachment to their baby, and decision-making for their baby.

Source: Journal of Perinatology

DOI: 10.1038/s41372-025-02319-9

Authors: Nicholas D. O’Connor, Louis J. Martin, Rachel L. Tullar, Brandon P. Brown, Zeynep N. I. Salih

Institutions: Indiana University Indianapolis, Indiana University School of Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders

Subfield: Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,790