ONCE they were grainy black and white photos that left parents-to-be struggling to make out much of their baby.
But the latest developments in ante-natal scans means parents are able to take a sneak peak at their babies’ secret lives in the months before they are born.
And fascinatingly, it appears these scans can offer an insight into the baby’s future habits, mannerisms and personality.
Parents are seeing the endearing yawns, smiles, waves and facial expressions that becomes their child’s traits once they are born.
Perhaps, the images might even help answer the eternal question whether mannerisms and habits are genetically programmed or acquired after being born?
Capturing little personalities before birth has emerged from live 4D high definition scan breakthroughs by French obstetrician Bernard Benoit.
The wonderscanner is based at the Hôpital Princesse Grace in Monaco.
All the Scots mums were scanned at a Glasgow scanning service Bumptobaby run by former NHS sonographer Gayle McTaggart.
Mum-of-two Gayle, 37, said: “I have been a sonographer for eight years and never really got to see the babies after they were born.
“It was only when the mums started sending picture of their babies after they born that I realised how many mannerisms were being displayed before birth.
“It may go some way to answer the question whether mannerisms and quirks are nature or nurture.
“I will scan a mum who is lying with her hand over the top of her head and her baby will do exactly the same on the screen.
“I’ll point to the screen and say, ‘Look, he’s takes after you!’
“I have a twin brother and my mum Louisa Addison, has the original black and white picture scan she had in pregnancy.
“The advances have been so great that I struggle to make us out on that old scan image.”
Cooper
A cheerful smile from baby Cooper Ward reassured his mum Sarah Stewart that he is happy inside the womb.
At three months old, he loves nothing better than having a nap after a feed.
Sarah, 25, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, said: “The pictures of him on my scan taken seven months into pregnancy, showed exactly what kind of baby he would be.
“He is a cheerful wee boy, always ready with an endearing smile.
“He looks exactly the way he did in his scan. I could even see that he looked more like my
partner Scott than me, from seven months into the pregnancy.”
Cooper was born weighing 6lbs 6oz at Glasgow’s Princess Royal Maternity Hospital.
Xander
A happy-looking scan of baby Xander Hill gave his mum Kirsty the message she was looking for during a tricky pregnancy.
Kirsty, 30, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, had spent weeks on crutches after developing a pregnancy-related pelvic problem.
Her hips were separating slightly because of the impact of pregnancy hormones; causing excrutiating pain every time she walked.
She only remained mobile by supporting her weight on crutches. Kirsty, an estate agent, said: “It wasn’t an easy pregnancy. But when I saw how content Xander was on the scan more than two months before he was born, I was hugely relieved. He still looks exactly the same.”
Skyla
At just three weeks, little Skyla McLean loves nothing better than to doze off for a nap.
She always puts her little hand up to her face just as she closes her eyes.
The trait was caught on screen as mum Danielle Hewitt was scanned more than two months before Skyla was born.
Daniella, 19, from Irvine, Ayrshire, said: “Skyla put her hand up to her face when she went to sleep in the womb and she does the same now.
“It’s amazing how much you can tell about the way babies behave before birth and after.
“I smile every time I see her put hand up to her face. It just takes me back to seeing her in the womb.
“Skyla is my first baby and eight of my family and partner Robert’s crammed into the scan room to see her on the high definition scan.”
Skyla was born, 6lbs 4oz at University Hospital Crosshouse Maternity Unit in Ayrshire.
Ciaran
Little Ciaran Drummond was born three months ago.
But his engaging laughs and chuckles were spotted more than 10 weeks before birth.
Mum Claire Gorman, 39, from Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, said: “Ciaran started smiling months before he was born and hasn’t stopped since.
“He’s the happiest baby anyone could wish for.
“It’s incredible to see his little personality shine through even at seven months in the womb.
“Every time I see Ciaran grin, I am reminded of his first scan.
“That first smile on the scan revealed he would be a happy baby after he was born.
“He charms everyone he meets.
“It’s uncanny. I never dreamed that it would be possible to tell so much about Ciaran two months before we saw him at birth.
“I took my mum Wilma Sweeney, along for one of the scans and she could hardly believe it.
“When she was pregnant with me she could only see me on an old black and white image on the screen. There was certainly no inkling of any smiles, quirky traits or personality back then.”
Ciaran was born weighing 7lbs 9oz at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.
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