A decade ago, when I attended my pregnancy scans, the sonographer's only way to involve me as a blind expectant mother was to amplify the heartbeat sound. Today, parents with sight loss can access tactile 3D models created directly from their ultrasound scans, transforming how they connect with their unborn children before birth.
Reece Finnegan-Knight, who has been blind since his teens, is among the first to experience this innovation. He and his wife Sophy received a 3D-printed model of their baby's scan through a new pilot scheme run by the charity Guide Dogs. At their 12-week scan, Sophy attempted to describe what she saw, but Reece found it difficult to feel genuinely involved. When they later showed the sonogram to family and friends, Reece felt excluded, saying it seemed as though
friends and family knew more about my baby than I did.
The 20-week scan proved more inclusive.
The sonographer described everything to me, and explained why what she was seeing meant that everything looked good,Reece recalls. With the 3D model in hand, his experience shifted dramatically.
I can't stop feeling it to be honest. It's so nice to be able to fully access something without the need for other people's descriptions or interpretations. It has enough detail that I know what things are and it just makes everything feel more real.
The scheme, called First Hello, works by uploading a 20-week 2D ultrasound scan through an online portal, which is then transformed into a render and 3D-printed into a tactile model. According to reporting on the pilot, the service is free of charge during its initial phase in the UK and allows users to trace the contours of the face, hands and body of their unborn child. The initial pilot is said to have about 50 moulds available to the public.
This innovation reflects broader progress in how technology is supporting blind and visually impaired parents. A 2021 study found that low-cost 3D-printed prenatal models significantly improved the sonographic experience for visually impaired and blind expectant parents, with participants reporting very high satisfaction levels with the tactile approach.
How has technology changed the experience for blind parents?
For Kim and Sean Randall, who have a teenager and an 11-month-old child, the technological advances between their two births—spanning 15 years—have been transformative. With their youngest, maternity notes arrived in an app accessible via screen reader on their phone, rather than in the traditional handwritten NHS blue book. This shift gave Kim greater autonomy.
I could check the notes, and any test results, when I wanted rather than waiting to have them read to me,she explains.
For the 20-week scan, Sean researched the meaning of different ultrasound measurements—such as the baby's thigh length or head circumference—and used a specialist AI screen-reading app to have the text read aloud and images described. Some parents prefer this audio-description method to a 3D model because it can provide more granular detail than physical touch alone.
What practical preparations do blind parents make?
Beyond scans, blind parents face distinct challenges in preparing for and caring for a newborn. Reece emphasises the importance of thorough preparation.
We've been labelling clothes, putting Braille in baby books and organising the baby bag so that I know where everything is,he says, wanting to be fully capable when the baby arrives.
Kim runs Facebook and WhatsApp groups for blind mothers, and together with other blind parents, we have compiled practical strategies developed over years of experience. When changing a nappy, the advice is to keep wiping longer than you think necessary and use barrier cream, since the early signs of nappy rash can be difficult to detect by touch alone. Scoring a raised mark on syringes or scoops used for preparing feeds helps identify the correct fill level. A folding mat carried for nappy changes keeps everything you need within arm's reach.
For mobility with a baby, a pram or carrier that can be pulled as well as pushed accommodates parents who use a guide dog or cane. Once children begin toddling, bells clipped to their clothing help parents track their location indoors. During weaning, a wipeable high chair with a waterproof mat underneath contains mess and makes it easier to know what the child has eaten versus what has landed on the floor.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People has produced guides for expectant parents and those with young children, suggesting practical measures such as using baby gates to block off the kitchen when removing items from the oven, or the hall when answering the door. For parents with partial sight, dressing children in bright colours while out makes them easier to spot. Those with no vision might choose distinctive tactile clothing—Kim favours a shirt with a castle design that opens to reveal a dragon inside, making it instantly recognisable by touch.
When her eldest child started walking, Kim ensured they
always held hands, but had a wrist strap connecting us in case she tried to run off. Clothes pegs have proven invaluable for keeping outfits together. Buying socks in matching styles and colours eliminates the ongoing challenge of pairing them—a task that remains difficult even a decade into parenting. If two items feel identical but are different colours, cutting the label on one distinguishes them.
What support exists for blind parents?
Reece and Sophy are taking full advantage of available resources as they prepare for parenthood. They received a hospital tour as an accessibility requirement, allowing Reece to familiarise himself with the maternity ward layout. This preparation means he can be
more independent and able to support Sophy as her birthing partner.
Looking back on my own early years of parenting, I am grateful for the blind parents who came before me, who discovered workarounds and offered reassurance when societal attitudes or unexpected challenges threatened my confidence. I now endeavour to pass that support forward. For blind parents, a community exists and stands ready to provide guidance, practical wisdom and emotional encouragement.
What happens next with the First Hello scheme?
According to international reporting on the initiative, the First Hello pilot is expected to roll out to around 50 moulds in its initial phase. The service operates as an online request process where families upload their scan and receive the printed model afterward. Coverage of the scheme highlights how it represents a significant step forward in ensuring visually impaired parents can fully participate in the prenatal experience.
The broader landscape of support for blind parents continues to evolve. Longer-running independent initiatives such as See3D have provided 3D-printed tactile models for people who are blind or have low vision, demonstrating sustained commitment to this need. As these services expand and technology advances further, blind parents have more tools than ever to prepare for and embrace parenthood with confidence and independence.
