New ultrasounds show hidden world of the unborn

1.00pm - By DANIELLE DEMETRIOU

Images showing the hidden world of unborn babies inside the womb, moving limbs, sucking fingers, hiccupping, crying and smiling, have been published for the first time.

The 3D and 4D photographs chart the complex development of the foetus throughout pregnancy and provide the most startling pictures of unborn babies available.

From the defined formation of a foetus just 10 weeks after conception to a range of physical movements later in pregnancy, the pictures exceed the traditional ultrasound test in clarity and quality.

They were captured using a new scanning technique pioneered at the Create Health Centre for Reproduction and Advanced Technology in London by the consultant obstetrician, Professor Stuart Campbell.

The scanning aims to shed light on the complex development of the foetus, enabling doctors and parents to view the movements of the unborn baby in detail.

"The conventional ultrasound scans are excellent for measuring the foetus and assessing growth but convey very little information about the behaviour and emotions of the baby," said Professor Campbell, the former head of obstetrics at King's College Hospital.

"The advanced scanning techniques have opened a window on a hidden world."

The images released yesterday, which are to be published in a book entitled Watch Me Grow, reveal how unborn babies can move their limbs by stretching and kicking as early as 12 weeks after conception.

At 18 weeks, foetuses were able to open their eyes, while from 26 weeks they displayed an array of moods and actions, including scratching, smiling, sucking and crying.

"Most doctors thought eyelids were fused until 26 weeks and smiling was thought to start six weeks after the birth," said Prof Campbell.

The images may reignite the debate surrounding the deadlines for abortion, which are currently permitted in Britain until the 24th week of pregnancy.

Nuala Scarisbrick, a trustee of the anti-abortion group LIFE, said: "These are remarkable pictures and show babies in the womb developing much earlier than people realised.

"From our point of view it helps educate people about how a child in the womb is a fully developed person."

The new scanning technique costs £275 ($785) for a one-hour session.

Ultrasound pictures and videos

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Herald Feature: Health