The Impact of Healthcare Provider Language During Prenatal Visits on Parental Perceptions of Children

Pregnancy is a profoundly transformative experience filled with anticipation and mental imagery of life after birth. The perceptions parents form during this time can substantially influence their future interactions with their children. Recent research suggests that the language used by healthcare providers during prenatal ultrasounds and visits can uniquely shape these perceptions, potentially affecting parent–child relationships well into the child's development.

A study conducted by researchers at Vanderbilt University and the University of Notre Dame investigated how the words and descriptions healthcare professionals use during prenatal care can influence parental beliefs about their unborn child's personality. Published in Communications Psychology, the study highlights that even casual comments made by medical staff can become ingrained in parents' mental models of their children, often lingering into early childhood.

Lead researcher Kathryn Humphreys shared that her team noticed many expecting parents would echo comments made by healthcare providers when asked about their baby's expected personality traits. These repeated remarks, sometimes negative, could significantly impact how parents perceive and relate to their children long-term.

The study comprised two key experiments. In the first, 320 pregnant women described their baby's personality based on different sources, noting whether comments originated from prenatal visits or elsewhere. Follow-up at 18 months revealed that descriptions linked to prenatal care, especially negative ones, were associated with higher behavioral and emotional difficulties in toddlers. This indicates that negative perceptions during pregnancy might predict future child development issues.

In the second experiment, 161 participants watched ultrasound videos with different interpretations—some blaming the baby or citing technical reasons, others emphasizing bonding opportunities. Participants exposed to blaming language were 23 times more likely to describe the baby negatively than those who heard positive or neutral explanations. This strongly suggests that the framing and wording used by healthcare providers can have lasting effects on parental perceptions.

These findings emphasize the importance of mindful communication during prenatal care. Instead of focusing on negative personality traits of the fetus, providers could prioritize explanations that foster connection, such as highlighting technical aspects of ultrasound procedures or emphasizing opportunities for parental bonding.

Humphreys advocates for developing new communication guidelines that support healthy parent–child relationships from the earliest stages. Future research aims to further explore how early perceptions influence interactions and development, with potential for improving prenatal practices and postnatal outcomes.

In summary, healthcare provider language during prenatal visits is not merely informational but can shape parental beliefs about their children, influencing emotional and behavioral development. Being conscious of the words used during these emotionally charged moments may help foster healthier, more positive parent–child relationships from the outset.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-words-health-prenatal-parents-children.html