For many expectant parents, the ultrasound appointment creates a mix of excitement, anticipation and curiosity.
But beyond medical checks and images of tiny limbs, new research suggests that the words spoken during these moments could influence how parents perceive – and potentially bond with – their unborn child.
The study, led by psychologist Dr Kaylin Hill at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in the US, found that the language used to describe a foetus may affect parents’ perceptions of their baby’s personality and behaviour, even after birth.
Phrases as simple as ‘stubborn’ or ‘uncooperative’ were associated with parents later viewing their toddlers as more emotionally reactive or attentionally challenged, while positive descriptors were linked to perceptions of greater emotional stability.
The research involved two phases. In the first, pregnant participants described their unborn babies using five words and later reported on their toddlers’ behaviour at around 18 months.
In the second, participants imagined an ultrasound scenario where a technician struggled to capture the required image.
Depending on the framing – technical difficulty, the baby being ‘uncooperative,’ or being offered a follow-up appointment – participants’ perceptions of the foetus varied.
Those told the baby was uncooperative consistently chose more negative descriptors, while those offered a follow-up scan chose more positive words.
These findings suggest that language, even casual or unintended, may shape parental expectations and early attachment.
Hill argues that ultrasound moments are emotionally charged, and parents view technicians as trusted authorities, giving their words extra weight.
The study does have limitations. The evidence is largely correlational, so we can’t be sure that one factor caused the other.
Many other factors, such as parental personality, stress, or prior experiences, could also influence how toddlers are perceived. And because the study relied on imagined scenarios and self-reported behaviour, it may not fully capture real-life dynamics.
Other research presents a more nuanced picture.
Some longitudinal studies have failed to find strong associations between prenatal perceptions and later child behaviour, suggesting that postnatal environment and parenting practices may play a larger role, and that bonding is shaped by many influences.
Still, the broader message remains valuable: words matter. Simple shifts in phrasing, like ‘We’ll try again’ or ‘Let’s get another view’, are unlikely to harm and may help parents frame their unborn child more positively.
By contrast, inadvertently labelling a foetus as ‘difficult’ could subtly feed negative expectations, even if other factors dominate long-term outcomes.
Ultimately, this research reminds us that the parent-child relationship begins before birth.
Language alone may not determine attachment, but it’s one of many modifiable influences that healthcare professionals and parents can use to support early bonding and positive perceptions of the child.
For this reason, both clinicians and parents may wish to consider their words carefully during prenatal scans and appointments, recognising that even small choices in language could shape the emotional lens through which a child is first seen.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Marie Siegert, Düsseldorf) 'Can what happens at an ultrasound really influence how parents bond with their baby?'
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