The model details anatomical features of the foetus so precisely that researchers claim the model bares a remarkable similarity to the postnatal appearance of the newborn baby.

Dr. Heron Werner, said: “It provides fetal images that are sharper and clearer than ultrasound and MR images viewed on a traditional display.”

Incorporating information about the womb, placenta, umbilical cord, and even internal organs, the technology will be valuable for doctors who are tracking the development of the child.

Using a virtual reality headset, the model is ‘brought to life’ as parents and medics can listen to the baby’s heartbeat and look out for any potential health problems.

This immersive visualisation is the first of it’s kind, developed by the Radiological Society of North America, and obviously has numerous implications for both the industry, and parents who want to watch their child grow.

One of the most important medical benefits is the ability for doctors to assess foetal airways patency – the state of airways being open and unblocked – which is an important issue for developing babies.

Researchers hope to take the technology beyond Brazil in 2017, for wider global tests.

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