Too many ultrasounds

A recent Canadian study suggests that women with uncomplicated pregnancies are having too many ultrasounds. According to the study, out of 1.4 million cases of pregnancies studied from 1996 to 2007, 37 percent of the pregnant women were having three or more ultrasounds. 20 percent of women were having more than four tests.

How many ultrasounds have you had in a single pregnancy?

Foetal fascinations

So, I'm sure all of you pregnant gals out there have been wondering how you can commemorate your foetus' first photo more spectacularly than just shoving the thing in your purse and yanking it out for every person that notices that you're pregnant.

How about a turning your ultrasound image into a decorative canvas? Or a personalised ultrasound postage stamp? Or, my personal favourite: CUFFLINKS.

Has the world gone cuckoo? Cufflinks? Seriously?

I think I need a little lie down.

Seeing embryos

I've just come upon a fascinating online exhibition from Cambridge University tracing the ways in which embryos and foetuses have been visualised through history. This is what I wrote my Master's thesis about, particularly trying to understand what it means to look at foetuses in 3D today.

Also have a look at A Short History of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology if you're keen!

Anyone out there looking to have a 3D ultrasound? Had one already?

Bump to Baby

Check out my article 'From Bump to Baby: Gazing at the fetus in 4D' in the latest edition of Philament, the arts and humanities journal from the University of Sydney:

http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/philament/issue10_contents.htm