The only reason I'm posting this here is because of where it MIGHT go. Admins...feel free to move it if it's here inappropriately. I'm the jackass who won't let this subject go. http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-12773312,00.html SMILING FROM THE WOMB Pioneering scanning techniques have produced astonishing images from inside the womb which show babies apparently smiling and crying. Experts believe the breakthrough could lead to advances in baby health for a whole range of conditions, including Down's Syndrome. The pictures offer a new insight into foetal behaviour. The ultra-sound scanning techniques capture images which show the foetuses yawn, blink, suck their fingers and seem to cry and smile. Up to now, doctors did not think infants made such expressions until after birth and believed they learned to smile by copying their mother. The procedure has been pioneered by London obstetrician Professor Stuart Campbell at the Create Health Centre for Reproduction and Advanced Technology. His pictures reveal foetuses moving their limbs at just eight weeks. The new techniques, known as 3D and 4D scanning, allow for far more detailed examination of the foetus. "There are many questions that can now be investigated," said Prof Campbell. "Do babies with genetic problems such as Downs Syndrome have the same pattern of activity as normal babies? "Does the foetus smile because it is happy, or cry because it has been disturbed by some event in the womb? "Why does a foetus blink when we assume it's dark inside the uterus?"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1041287,00.html New hi-tech scans show babies smiling and crying before birth James Meikle, health correspondent Saturday September 13, 2003 The Guardian Images published for the first time yesterday seem to suggest that unborn babies can smile, blink and cry weeks before they leave the womb. The pictures of foetuses about 26 weeks after conception have been captured by state-of-the-art scanning equipment now being employed at some clinics and teaching hospitals. Experts can now debate whether this apparent grin reflects an emotional response or is a simple physical reaction, helping prepare baby for the outside world. The smile might appear at 26 weeks development, but the new techniques clearly show limb movements at eight weeks, the foetus leaping, turning and "jumping" at 11-12 weeks, intricate movement of fingers at 15 weeks and yawning at 20 weeks. Obstetrician Stuart Campbell, who has been using the Austrian-developed equipment at the private Create Health Clinic, London, for two years, said: "It is remarkable that a newborn baby does not smile for about six weeks after birth. But before birth, most babies smile frequently. This may indicate the baby's trouble-free existence in the womb and the relatively traumatic first few weeks after birth when the baby is reacting to a strange environment." Professor Campbell, who is also head of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's medical school, London, said: "With this new advance, there are many questions that can now be investigated. Do babies with genetic problems such as Down's syndrome have the same pattern of activity as normal babies? "Does the foetus smile because it is happy or cry because it has been disturbed by some event in the womb? Why does a baby blink when we assume it is dark inside the uterus?" The £120,000 scanner that makes this possible costs two-three times more than conventional equipment. Prof Campbell thinks he was the first to use it in Britain. The machine develops ultrasound so that it can be transformed and shaded to produce detailed surface features from the foetus which move in real time. It is already improving diagnosis of abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate. "One woman I scanned, whose baby had a cleft palate, wanted to take the pictures to a surgeon to discuss the surgery after birth. Parents often don't know what such abnormalities look like so they have terrible mental images. The parents faced up to the reality of what the cleft palate looked like and bonded with the baby. It helped them come to terms with the problem long before the birth of the baby." Prof Campbell said scanner techniques were improving. "Some mothers say: 'I feel I am almost cheating. I am enjoying my baby before it is born.' "The bond between parents and baby is enormous. The reaction is overwhelming especially with fathers, who rarely get involved. Before they sat in the corner. Now they really show emotion. I enjoy scanning and looking at babies. It is so informative about babies and behaviour. Every scan is an adventure."
LIFE is a wonderful thing so full of Mysteries. . . . Rocket River The Idea of babies smiling. . . makes me happy
The images that have been captured from the 4D (that is what our OB calls it) ultrasound are truly amazing. Unfortunately, the procedure costs $2000 to $3000 (not covered by insurance) and I have heard that right now you have to go to Dallas to have it done. If I had the money, I might have one done if I didn't have to go to Dallas.
$2,000 - $3,000???? He is vastly over-charging. We paid $125 for it about 3-4 months ago and a freind of our had it done last year and paid about $250.
they might be reconsidering some previous assumptions: Obstetrician Stuart Campbell, who has been using the Austrian-developed equipment at the private Create Health Clinic, London, for two years, said: "It is remarkable that a newborn baby does not smile for about six weeks after birth. But before birth, most babies smile frequently. This may indicate the baby's trouble-free existence in the womb and the relatively traumatic first few weeks after birth when the baby is reacting to a strange environment."
At week 7 of the current 12, our fetus waved at us. It's an image you just can't get out of your mind.
I had my boy circumsized two days after he was born just a few weeks ago. I was there for it and remarkably, he didn't cry at all (just kind of squirmed a tid). I was talking to the Dr. about the whole thing before hand. They use this small plastic ring and string that slowly takes off the foreskin over the course of about a week. It is suppose to be as close to pain free as you can get (Dr. said he believed that it is pain free for the most part per a study they did where they monitored the baby's stress level). In the end, it never seemed to both my kiddo at all.
One disturbing thing about the article is I it sounded like the doctors want to use the knowledge gained to be able to detect things like Down's Syndrome. Down's Syndrome really can't be treated, the only reason someone would need to know early was to abort the baby.
I was wondering if anyone else saw the irony of Max posting this. Prenatal screening is often used to determine if a pregnancy should be terminated early.
That isn't what our doctor quoted, I got the cost estimate from a 60 minutes special about 18 months ago, I assumed the price would go down, but didn't think it would go down that much. My OB said he was looking at getting the machine, but when he found out that insurance wouldn't reimburse, he ditched that idea.
I don't see the irony. On the contrary, there are some on this board who consider a fetus a "mass of cells" and don't consider it a true life until it is physically out of the womb. I think the more these types of scans can be performed and advertised, the more people's opinions may change concerning the "status" of their child in the womb.
Unfortunately, the people considering termination will never see one, added to the fact that most people getting abortions do it way too early to see a smile or a wave.
I bet seeing ultrasounds and pictures of your fetus is an amazing experience. Gotta take your breath away.
I am not talking about seeing their own. I am talking about being educated to see how alive their child may be earlier in their pregnancy than they are currently thinking. Those who consistently see a fetus moving its arms/legs 8 weeks into a pregancy, or see one smiling less than 3 months into a preganancy may realize that there is a child inside the womb as opposed to a "mass of cells" as some seem to use as their description of choice. The more popular and adverstised that this sort of information becomes, the more people may begin to see something other than a "mass of cells" in the womb and think twice about what they may or may not do regarding termination.
