Ultrasound Descriptions May Shape How Parents View Their Unborn Children

Ultrasound descriptions may shape how parents view their unborn children

Most parents can think back to the first ultrasound image they saw of their unborn child, and may even be able to remember what impression that image had on them.

First Impressions Count: How Babies Are Talked About During Ultrasounds Impacts Parent Perceptions, Caregiving Relationship

University of Notre Dame psychologist Kaylin Hill studied the impact of a parent's first impression of their baby during an ultrasound exam. The words used by the medical professional to describe the baby (positive or negative) influence how the parents perceive their baby, relate to them after they're born and even how that child behaves as a toddler. The research has broad implications for how we train medical professionals to interact with ex…