French researchers used MRI to capture 3D images of babies as they made their way through the birth canal, offering insights they hope can indicate which may have trouble during labor.
The team of doctors from University Hospital Center, Clermont-Ferrand in France had women give birth inside an MRI machine, capturing images of seven babies in 3D, according to an NBC News report.
Until now, according to the report, doctors have never seen how a baby’s head and brain compress in real-time during childbirth. Most can endure the trauma, but sometimes problems occur which can result in long-term damage.
In the future, the team hopes to develop software imaging to predict which babies may have trouble before labor starts.
"We hope in the very near future, we will be able to counsel the women correctly, inform them, and choose the best delivery mode," principal investigator Olivier Ami, MD, said to NBC News.
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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.