Guide Dogs Turns 20-Week Ultrasound Scans Into Sonograms for Parents with Sight Loss

For many parents, seeing their baby on an ultrasound screen is a moment they’ll never forget. But for millions of people with sight loss, this milestone hasn’t been accessible. The charity Guide Dogs is changing that with the launch of ‘First Hello’, an exciting new pilot designed to make this experience more inclusive.

By transforming traditional 2D 20-week baby scans into tactile sonograms, a touchable 3D version of a standard ultrasound, Guide Dogs is giving parents, grandparents, family members and friends with a VI the opportunity to trace the physical contours of the face, hands and form of the little one they’ve been waiting to meet, bringing a vital family first to life in a tangible way.

The launch is supported by new research from Guide Dogs, polling 2,000 UK adults with a form of sight loss, which exposes a stark picture of a world built without true accessibility in mind. Over half (54%) of parents with a VI believe that standard formats, such as traditional videos or 2D print photos, should be made more inclusive to give people with sight loss equal access to important family milestones.

Crucially, 80% of parents with a VI believe every parent should be able to experience pregnancy milestones in an accessible way, 64% believe being able to experience an ultrasound scan through touch could help parents or family members who are blind or partially sighted feel more included in the milestone moment.

This visual exclusion impacts wider family life, with 42% of parents with a VI (and 39% of adults with a VI overall) reporting that they would value more ways to fully share in significant family memories and life’s important “firsts” alongside others.

The research further reveals a critical need to move beyond standard visual media and make major life moments fully accessible, as 73% of parents with a VI (and 68% of adults with a VI overall) emphasise how vitally important it is to access and celebrate key family moments in ways that work for them.

As of today, expectant parents, family members and friends with a VI can access a dedicated, accessible online ordering portal to request a free bespoke tactile sonogram. Users simply upload their 20-week 2D ultrasound scan, which specialist technology transforms into a bespoke render. The render is then 3D-printed and dispatched free of charge, allowing parents and loved ones to physically feel and explore the contours of their baby.

Kerry Bevan, head of support services, at Guide Dogs commented, "Every parent, grandparent, and loved one deserves to experience the joy of early parenting milestones.”

"Too often, people with sight loss are excluded from significant life moments that others take for granted. While this tactile sonogram project is an exciting pilot, it represents just one of the many ways Guide Dogs supports people who need it - breaking down barriers, celebrating life's important firsts, and empowering individuals to live life unleashed."

To bring the campaign to life, Guide Dogs has released an emotive hero film following real parents and grandparents with VI as they experience holding their tactile sonograms for the very first time, turning what was once an abstract concept into a moment they can enjoy.

Talking about the experience, Reece Finnegan-Knight, an expecting parent added, “Holding the tactile scan for the very first time was an incredible experience. I didn’t feel like I got much from our first scan appointments, and I found it really hard thinking that friends and family knew more about my baby than I did. First Hello gave that moment back to me. It’s so important because it’s giving parents like me that special moment.”

Expectant parents and family members with VI can apply for their free tactile sonogram today by visiting the campaign portal here.