Bundle & Feed Instructions

What to expect before the scan

Your child will need to be NPO (nothing to eat or drink) for at least 2 hours prior to scan. This can be longer based on your child’s eating schedule. The scheduler will discuss these instructions while scheduling the appointment.

You will need to bring formula or breast milk to feed your child once you are at your appointment. It’s recommended to be in a bottle due to the difficulty of nursing once the baby is bundled. If they take a pacifier, we encourage you to bring it also for comfort if necessary.

You and your child will need to arrive 1 hour prior to your exam so that you can get registered and prepped by your appointment time.

What to expect during the scan

Once you are registered and checked into the radiology department, an employee will bring you and your child into one of our prep rooms.

You will be given a gown to change your baby into. If contrast is required for the exam, a nurse will place an IV.

A tech will put ear protection on the infant, swaddle, then lay them onto our infant immobilizer. This device resembles a papoose but has small beads that when air is suctioned out, it conforms to a baby’s body, so they are snuggled and secure.

At this point, you will be instructed to feed your child and attempt to get them to fall asleep. We even have a sound machine that can be turned on at your request.

Once your child is sleeping soundly, a tech will take them into the scan room to attempt the MRI. You will be allowed to stay in our prep room for the duration of their scan, but you cannot go into the MRI room with your child. We turn on lullabies or white noise while the infant is in scanner. If patient takes a pacifier, the tech may ask to take it with them for extra comfort if necessary.