ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that digital birth of a child is inseparably linked to digital birth of the mother. In transition to parenthood, expectant mothers seek to verify their emergent identities and constitute their experience as meaningful in the social environments they belong to. Nowadays, a child's digital life may start prior to their actual birth. Despite the growing visibility of sonogram pictures online, there are as yet few critical explorations into how prenatal "digital birth" generates new ways of conceptualizing pregnancy, parenthood and life course of children. Photo sharing can occur in person or via postal mail, but digital technologies have added a new dimension to this conventional practice. The online portfolios are obviously made without the child's consent; the phenomenon of digital birth raises concerns with potential risks and harm for the children. The chapter concludes with a discussion on potential ethical implications and privacy dilemmas with respect to the digital birth.
