Medical science has come a long way since historical figures such as Catherine Parr and Martha Jefferson lost their lives during childbirth, though tragic modern cases like the 2023 death of athlete Tori Bowie show it can still carry serious risks.
In an effort to better understand exactly how the body works during labor, one woman agreed to step inside an MRI scanner while giving birth, offering researchers a rare and detailed view of the process.
That said, women have given birth in all kinds of unexpected places, from fast-food bathrooms to busy city streets, including a New York City incident nicknamed the “Miracle on 68th Street”.
Considering that MRI scanners have been used for everything from medical exams to unusual scientific experiments, giving birth inside one may not be as unthinkable as it first sounds.
Because MRI machines are extremely narrow, researchers had to widen the opening to accommodate both the expectant mother and the obstetrician, while removing metal from the fetal heart monitor to avoid interference with the scanner’s magnetic field.
According to Scientific American, the 24-year-old woman wore earmuffs to protect her hearing from the loud machine, and the scan was stopped as soon as the baby’s head emerged to safeguard the newborn’s ears.
The most useful images were taken shortly before and immediately after delivery, including one that showed the baby’s head moving toward the birth canal.
This marked the first time scientists were able to clearly document how the uterine muscles contort and how the fetus rotates while making its way out of the body.
Experts stressed that MRI scanners are not recommended as a routine tool for monitoring labor, but said the images are valuable for understanding obstructed labor, which occurs in roughly 15 percent of vaginal births.
Thankfully, this woman volunteered to give birth inside an MRI scanner, meaning others can benefit from the findings without having to attempt the same experience themselves.
