“Hand of God” in the Womb: A Sign of Divine Providence for a Cincinnati Mother

Fr. Scott Haynes

 For Amanda Foster, a Cincinnati mother expecting her fourth child, pregnancy has become a journey not just of physical preparation but of deep spiritual trust. After months of tearful, kneeling prayer in the doctor’s office, imploring God to keep His hand upon her unborn son Kyler, Amanda witnessed what she believes is a visible sign of Divine Providence: a mysterious hand appearing in an ultrasound image, cradling her baby’s head.

Amanda’s prayers were the cries of a heart that knows God not as an abstract force but as a loving Father who listens, sees, and acts. “I’ve asked the Lord repeatedly to please keep His hand on my baby,” she wrote online. “And there it was.”

The phenomenon was first spotted by Amanda’s young daughter, Bailey, who looked at the ultrasound and innocently asked, “Whose hand is that?” The image shows a form resembling a hand, resting near the baby’s head, as if in benediction.

The Catholic Church teaches that God’s Providence guides all things with wisdom and love, even in ways that remain hidden. But sometimes, it seems, He grants a glimpse—especially to the little ones who trust Him. This moment recalls the words of Isaiah: “Fear not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee” (Isaiah 41:10, Douay-Rheims).

Reflecting on the event, Amanda said, “I was brought to tears, so thankful for all He continues to do for me. I couldn’t ever fathom a thought of living without Him in my life.”

The ultrasound image may never be fully explained by science. But for Amanda—and for many who have seen it—it is a gentle reminder that God's hand still guides, still blesses, and still holds His children, even in the womb.