MRI: fetal weight and adiposity estimation with maternal pelvimetry
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The feasibility of a test accuracy study of combined MRI fetal weight and adiposity estimation, with maternal pelvimetry, to predict failure of induction of labour or birth complications
IRAS ID
263420
Contact name
NW Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Difficultly with birth may be due to the size of the baby or the maternal pelvis or the position of the baby’s head during the labour. It remains an important issue and can result in delivery by emergency Caesarean section during labour or normal birth with difficulty delivering the baby’s shoulders. The risk is highest for first time mothers as a history of a previous normal birth makes the problem less likely to happen.
Historically, doctors tried to assess the size of the pelvis with X-rays however this was not helpful in identifying women who could have a problem as subtle differences in pelvic diameters are not easy to see with this technique. More recently work has focused on identifying bigger babies with ultrasound (USS) and offering delivery to avoid further growth of the baby in the womb although the accuracy of USS in estimating the size of the baby is inadequate. MRI can be used to study size and composition of the baby and size and shape of the mother’s pelvis. Using MRI we also have the ability to scan women in differing positions (lying, sitting, standing) where the shape and size of the pelvic measurements may change.
Previous work has shown that MRI is better than ultrasound at predicting baby’s size and can measure baby’s leanness. MRI can also examine the dimensions of mum’s pelvis but no study has put all this information together. Cochrane have suggested further work should be undertaken to see if there are clinical situations that measuring the pelvis would be of value. What we are still uncertain of is which measurements are valuable and which are not in this situation and is the position of the mother when these measurements are taken important. This study aims to answer these questions.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1219
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion