How To Hold Your Baby Before Birth

Posted by Madeline Holler at 8:30 AM on June 30, 2009

fetus1 300x144 How to Hold Your Baby Before BirthA new application of ultrasound technology has now made it possible for parents to hold their babies before birth. Not their underdeveloped, flesh, blood and two-chambered heart babies, but exact replicas of them. In plaster.

Brazilian inventor, Jorge Lopes, figured out a way to use 3-D printing technology to create models from 3-D ultrasound images. The purpose, initially, was for archeological digs. But dinosaur bones? How can you make a fortune from dinosaur bones? You don’t.

But you can make a fortune preying on pregnant women’s fears, hopes and dreams.

Dr. Stuart Campbell at Kings College London, a pioneer in ultrasound diagnosis, is totally jazzed by the fake-real babies. He says they’re a great educational tool and that they’ll help moms who are having trouble bonding with their babies.

Huh?

I’ll grant that they’re educational, since they can be made from any foetus, any size, any point in the pregnancy. But wouldn’t a standard set of plastic models serve the same purpose for a lot less money?

And trouble bonding? Before the baby is even born? It’s not OK to not feel bonded to a 13-week-old foetus? Or even a 24-weeker? Aren’t we at a point in our understanding of pregnancy, birth, parenthood, baby-loving that we know there’s nothing wrong with not bonding with a baby in-utero. There’s barely anything wrong with not bonding in the first couple of weeks post birth.

Plus, before we go selling more crap to help us bond, can we define bonding? It’s a bit of a blanket term.

Anyway, is the possibility of seeing your unborn baby’s face cool? Yes. Is it necessary? Hell no. Will it be expensive. Sure. It will be.

32 week fetus1 300x144 How to Hold Your Baby Before Birth

Yes, something like this would be great for pregnant women who are blind — unable to see their babies during ultrasounds. But ultrasound pictures aren’t even necessary. They’re just fun. Which is what a series of plaster dolls of your unborn baby are too. Don’t sell this as the greatest thing since amniocentesis and Spanx maternity. Don’t add this as another freaking expense of pregnancy.

Above all, don’t set up pregnant women for yet another way to fail in pregnancy and impending motherhood. Surely it’s OK to look deeply into a perfectly formed pair of stark white eyes with no irises and feel nothing.

Tags:

,

Comments
  • Columcille says:

    This lady writes a parenting blog!?!

    This is what is wrong with the logic of “abortion as the protector of women’s civil rights” – it leads women to become callous and weirdly monstrous.

    Let’s face it, this technology helps us to realize that a human fetus, is in fact a human being, yes, a baby. And let’s face it, abortion is baby killing.

    This lady’s comments are all about abortion – that is the all too obvious subtext of this post.

  • timmy says:

    seems a little bit threatened doesn’t she? me thinks she doth protest too much. we’re coming, and if we have to make ten foot tall babies out of solid gold to get the truth across then we will. women will eventually rise above this lie and return to the fullness of their created existence. and to the author; dont worry your kids will grow to know that you did actually love them all along;)

 

Post Your Comments

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Comment:

Strollerderby

Updated daily by the wittiest parents in the blogosphere, Strollerderby provides a scroll of breaking news, spot-on reviews of entertainment and products, and irreverent discussions of hot topics.

Send your tips to strollerderby@babble.com.au.

FameCrawler

Celebrity Sighting: Hugh Jackman Takes Ava Out For Ice Cream

3:15 PM Yeah, no wonder Hugh Jackman’s kids seem to adore him. Not only is he a hands-on dad and always playing with them, he also treats them to ice cream! Hugh was spotted in New York... read more

Rebecca Gayheart Takes Billie For A Checkup

2:15 PM Rebecca and hubby Eric Dane were spotted in Los Angeles yesterday, leaving the paediatrician's office with two-week-old Billie Beatrice in tow. Only two weeks after giving birth... read more

Droolicious

Little New Yorker Onesie

10:45 AM Even if you don't live in New York City, this outfit is sure to create a smile, particularly among mums who love shopping. Perhaps your kid can hail a taxi wearing it? It’... read more

Big Deal: All Kids T-Shirts Are $US12 At Busted Tees

4:30 PM A good way to start thinking positively about a change of season is to start figuring out what kind of awesome t-shirts you’re going to make your kids wear. Today over at Busted... read more
Babble Partners