Fetal MCG Subject Information

Fetal magnetocardiography (MCG) testing is performed in 1043 Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR). Parking in this area is limited. We have a nearby parking stall and can provide you with a parking permit when you arrive.

The purpose of the study is to assess the rhythm and rate of your unborn baby’s heart by recording the magnetic signals produced by the heart’s electrical currents. The MCG sensor does not emit anything. It passively detects naturally occurring magnetic signals; therefore, the test is perfectly safe. The testing time varies depending on the strength of the heart signal and the regularity of the heart rate and rhythm. You should plan to be here for 2-3 hours. Please tell us if you are claustrophobic. The test is Shielded Roomperformed within a closed, shielded room in order to screen out environmental magnetic interference.

After you arrive we will ask that you change into clothing that has no metal. We will provide hospital gowns for this purpose. Body piercing needs to be removed. Even small pieces of metal, such as the hooks on your bra, are a problem. Please tell us if you have orthodontic braces or bars, a permanent metal retainer behind your teeth, or other metal on your body, such as surgical plates or pins or a pacemaker.

You will lie on a patient bed inside the shielded room and we will perform an ultrasound exam to determine the position of your baby. We will then place the sensor on your abdomen, near your baby’s heart. We will change sensor positions several times during the test in order to obtain the best signal. MCG is painless and non-invasive, but you do need to lie very still. The recordings are made in 10-minute segments. If you become uncomfortable or wish to stop for any reason, let us know. An intercom allows us to hear you at all times.