Ultrasound art: Baby’s first photo shoot now occurs in utero
Viewed through a retail lens, the answer to when life begins is pretty simple: just as soon as it can be monetized.
“Ultrasound art” is one of the fastest growing trends in prenatal purchases, with spruced- up sonograms deposing professional newborn photo shoots as the first stop for parents. From jewelry to key chains, wall panels to suncatchers, once private images are being repurposed as public displays at a pace that’s raising red flags.
“It really does prey on ( parental) insecurity and the desire to see the baby and get to know the baby, and to have these items in your home that reflect your maternalism: You must be excited about your baby if you have this big wall canvas of the ultrasound picture,” said Jennifer Chisholm, a Western University researcher in London, Ont., who has been studying ultrasound trends for nearly four years. “But a lot of women, when they see things like this, think ‘ Oh, that’s cool!’ They don’t necessarily consider it too deeply.”
On Etsy alone, a search for ultrasound art retrieves nearly six- dozen vendors that ship within or to Canada. The options include custom paintings, memento boxes, cake toppers, canvas prints, greeting cards and Warholian colour screens, all in some way showcasing the first fetal photo.
Elsewhere online, the choices are no less varied, with independent retailers and artists turning sonograms into shareable mementoes of every stripe.
One of the more unique offerings is a collection of six titanium dog- tags that feature laser engravings of the sonogram, baby’s name, and vital measurements. The $ 150 gift set is the brainchild of an Illinois man who, while expecting his first child this year, wanted to afford the ultrasound the keepsake status it deserved.
“You get these printouts ( at the medical clinic) on this very thin, cheap, heat- transfer paper. There’s nothing archival or fancy about it, even though it’s a monumental time in your life,” said Jordan Witkov, marketing specialist at Eddystone Designs. “A dogtag is something really cool a dad can keep on his person ... Your wife gets to have the baby inside of her, but you have this ( physical representation) you can carry along as well.”