Are perceptions of the fetus shifting with new reproductive and genetic technologies? How is the fetus envisaged, imagined, defined, and by whom? For a number of years the contested status of the fetus has lain at the intersection of reproductive, abortion and disability politics. Arguably, the use of images, visualisation techniques and innovative medical procedures have focused our attention more firmly on the fetus than ever before. Though factors affecting the attribution of personhood are not fixed, it could be seen that the practices and rituals which impact on notions of personhood are increasingly being extended to the fetus – for example, they are ‘seen’, sexed, named, spoken to and about, and treated.