First Hello
Transforming the pregnancy ultrasound experience for people with sight loss.
For many parents, seeing their baby on an ultrasound screen is a moment they’ll never forget. It is a milestone treated as entirely universal but for millions living with sight loss, it isn't. An experience that we wanted to change.
We believe everyone deserves to experience this exciting moment. For the very first time, Guide Dogs has launched First Hello, a pilot transforming traditional 20-week printed ultrasound scans into tactile sonograms. They are designed to give parents, grandparents, family members and friends with sight loss the opportunity to experience ultrasound scans and connect with their baby through the power of touch.
Our research found 80% of parents with a vision impairment believe every parent should be able to experience pregnancy milestones in an accessible way, while 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.
Guide Dogs’ First Hello tactile sonograms open up this moment to allow expectant parents, family members and friends with a vision impairment to share the joy of this key parenting milestone. To receive your free tactile sonogram, you simply need to upload a picture of your 2D ultrasound scan and specialist technology will transform it into a bespoke render that will allow you to feel and explore all the features of the little one you’ve been waiting to meet.
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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.
When you select the link below, you'll leave the Guide Dogs website and be taken to the First Hello service, operated by Hope & Glory.
Any personal information you provide through that website, including your ultrasound scan, will be collected and processed by Hope & Glory, not by Guide Dogs. Please read Hope & Glory's Privacy Notice before submitting your information.
Guide Dogs will not receive or have access to your ultrasound scan or the personal information you provide to create your tactile model.
"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."
Reece, parent-to-be