Family Life

The next step in sonograms? You can now get a 3D printout of your unborn baby

Expectant parent can now get 3D printed version of their unborn baby. 

The company Embryo 3D, create accurate models of the babies, right down to tiny details in the face, hands and feet. 

Head of Embryo 3D, Ivan Gridin, also said the company is able to make metal-plated versions – so parents with a bit of extra cash can get themselves a gold-plated or silver-plated foetus.

Eh, okay…

The idea came to Gridin when his friend was worried about the health of their unborn child. 

 "I was fond of new technologies at that time and 3D-printing. And I said, 'let’s print it.'" he told The Mirror.

"Earlier we printed only from plastic, but now we are able to make plaster models and cover them with precious metals," he added. 

So your when you say your babies as good as gold- you can actually mean it. 

The models are the next step up from 3D imaging, which is used to spot birth defects. 

In 2016, Brazilian researchers used MRI imaging to construct realistic reconstructions of the scans.

So instead of getting a blurry Polaroid of a baby-blob, parents-to-be could have a sharp realistic image instead. 

Not only does this new technology let you visualise what your little bub looks like, but it can also be adapted for medical purposes. 

According to researcher Heron Werner, the possibilities for 3D imaging are endless.

"The 3D foetal models combined with virtual reality immersive technologies may improve our understanding of foetal anatomical characteristics and can be used for educational purposes and as a method for parents to visualise their unborn baby." 

The virtual reality models are astonishingly lifelike. They are able to recreate the entire internal structure of the foetus, including views of the respiratory tract, which helps doctors in diagnosing abnormalities.

"It provides fetal images that are sharper and clearer than ultrasound and MR images viewed on a traditional display," Warner added.

One example of how this imaging can be used is assessing blockages in the respiratory system, figuring out how best to deliver the baby. 

An amazing step forward for healthcare. 

What d oyou think? Would you want a gold-plated foetus? 

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