Are “foetus parties” a step too far?

Would you print your scan onto a fridge magnet?

An increasingly comercialised view of pregnancy is putting strain on mums and midwives, says the chief exec of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

In a piece written for the BBC website, midwife Cathy Warwick warned that growing interest in celebrity pregnancies, the rise of buzz words such as “yummy mummy” and the latest fad, “foetus parties”, gives women unrealistic attitudes and expectations from pregnancy. Cathy adds that this puts a strain on midwives, who have to explain the reality.

“Foetus parties” are when mums invite their friends round to see scan pictures or watch ultrasound videos and give out keepsakes and party favours.

Packages for “foetus parties” are now available for around £185. Some companies offer VIP champagne packages that include various items, including magnets and teddy bears, printed with scan pictures of your foetus. This comes hot on the heels of Coleen Rooney reportedly playing £300 to hire a 4D ultrasound scan machine to share her scan experience with friends and family.

“This is a far cry from the original purpose of ultrasound,” Cathy complains, adding that this comercialisation raises ethical questions.

“If a woman is celebrating much more overtly than she might normally do regarding a pregnancy at an early stage during the pregnancy and then, at a later stage, a serious problem emerges, a mother may need increased counselling.”

Would you throw a foetus party?

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