Breathtaking new 20-week scans lets parents see babies wiggling - and their hearts beating

The 20-week scan is a big moment for any new parent – but high technology could be about to change the grainy ultrasound images which parents have seen up until now.

The London-based iFind project is testing new magnetic MRI technology which offers far more detail – letting parents see babies’ hearts beating, and watch their unborns wiggling and swallowing.

A new video released by iFind shows a baby gently turning in the womb and tugging on its umbilical cord.

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Dr David Lloyd says, ‘In fetal ultrasound, the images produced can be excellent; but unfortunately that’s not true for every patient.

‘MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images and can see the structures inside the body regardless of whether there’s bone, muscle or fat in the way.

‘MRI, which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images, isn’t so limited.

‘It can see the structures inside the body regardless of whether there’s bone, muscle or fat in the way; and in some cases it can give us even more detailed images than ultrasound.

‘Importantly, it is also one of the few imaging techniques that is safe to use in pregnancy.’