Can an MRI scan be done during pregnancy?

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves rather than X-rays. It can provide detailed images when ultrasound does not answer the clinical question or when a wider view is needed. The decision is individual: the team considers the reason for imaging, the pregnancy stage, the body area and whether the result will change care.

Tell every clinician and the radiology team that you are pregnant or might be pregnant. Contrast is a separate decision and is not automatically included. The team will explain why it is being considered, whether a non-contrast scan can answer the question and what alternatives exist.

Share your pregnancy details, symptoms, medicines, previous operations and any implanted device. Follow instructions about food, fluids and clothing. Remove metal items before the examination and tell the technologist if you feel anxious, have trouble lying still or need support with positioning.

The [MRI Scan](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/mri-scan/) guide describes the appointment. You can also review how the [MRI Scanner](/technology/mri-scanner/) works so the enclosed equipment is familiar before you arrive.

The scan itself is not a reason to delay urgent pregnancy care. Contact your maternity service promptly for vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, severe abdominal pain, regular painful contractions, reduced fetal movement after you have been advised to monitor it, severe headache with visual changes or sudden breathlessness. Use emergency services for collapse or severe breathing difficulty.

Ask: Why is MRI needed now? Can the question be answered without contrast? What information could change my care? How will you position and support me? When will the report be discussed with me and my maternity team?