If you are a pregnant mother , you may have felt your baby move around inside your womb when your husband puts his head on your belly and talks to your baby, or when you sing a song to your baby. Sometimes, when you gently tap one side of your belly, it feels like your baby responds in the same way, right? These are not just random things. This is the first communication between you and your baby.
There's a wonderful world inside the womb!
We used to think that the mother's womb was a silent place, devoid of any sound or light. But thanks to modern technology, especially ultrasound scans, scientists have discovered that the environment inside the womb is like a wonderful playground filled with everything a baby needs for sensory development.
Simply put, your baby responds to your voice and other sounds in the room from the moment you are born. When you move from a bright place to a dark place, your baby responds to the change in light. When you lie down and stand up, your baby rolls over in the womb. What's amazing is that your baby can even taste the sweet and spicy foods you eat. All of these experiences are essential for the healthy development of your baby's brain.
Can the baby really hear?
Yes, absolutely. The baby's hearing, or ability to hear, is well developed by the third trimester of pregnancy. During scans (`sonograms`) performed at that time, the baby can be seen turning its head in response to external sounds.
But studies show that babies can hear sounds as early as 20 weeks, and by about 25 weeks, they startle and react to sudden loud noises. Sometimes loud noises can cause a baby's heart rate to change, increase movement, and even urinate.
The environment inside the womb is not silent. It is constantly filled with sounds like the sound of your blood flowing, the sound of your digestive system, and the sound of your heart beating. Of these , your baby hears your voice most clearly. That's because your voice vibrates through your bones and fluids, rather than through the air.
Even though the sounds from outside are muffled, the baby can still hear them surprisingly clearly. Babies can hear low-frequency sounds, such as male voices and music , especially well.
Some studies have shown that a baby remembers a story that was repeatedly heard while in the womb or the theme song of a TV drama that was often listened to, even after birth, and that the baby becomes calmer when hearing those sounds.
How are the baby's other senses?
The baby's other senses also develop wonderfully in the womb. Let's take a look at that.
| Sense | How is the baby feeling? |
|---|---|
| Touch | From the very beginning of pregnancy, babies experience touch by touching the walls of the uterus, the umbilical cord, and their own body parts. They especially like to touch their faces. At around 8 months, they will reach for something and open their mouths when they are brought close to it. This is the beginning of the ``rooting reflex`` that is needed to suckle after birth. |
| Taste & Smell | It's hard to separate these two senses. From the fourth month of pregnancy, your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, which contains the flavors of the foods you eat. By the third trimester, your baby can distinguish not only sweet, bitter, sour, but also spicy flavors like garlic. This familiarization with flavors in the womb will help your baby get used to the taste of breast milk after birth. |
| Balance | Your baby's sense of balance develops as he floats and rolls around in the womb, as well as your movements. These movements stimulate the structures inside his ear that control balance. This is why many babies turn their heads down before they are born. Also, after birth, when you rock him when he cries, the movement reminds him of the comfortable movement he experienced in the womb, which calms him down. |
| Sight | Vision is the last sense to develop. Although the baby's eyes begin to develop, they don't open their eyelids until the 7th month. From that time on, the baby will be opening and closing their eyes, rolling their eyes, and seeming to be examining them. If a bright light suddenly shines on you, the baby can sense it through the womb. Then the baby is likely to be more active. |
Do you want to create a "Super Baby"?
There are various devices on the market today that claim to develop a baby's intelligence and skills. These include small speakers that are attached to the belly, and devices that make the baby listen to music (`fetal acoustic stimulation` devices). Some people say that the ``Mozart effect``, that is, listening to classical music, develops a baby's intelligence. Because of this, some parents are tempted to spend a lot of money and buy such things.
But there's really no need to worry or spend money on this. Many child development experts say that nature itself provides the baby with the stimulation they need at the right time and in the right way.
The natural stimulation your baby receives from things like what you do throughout the day, your conversations, and the music you listen to is more than enough to prepare him for his arrival into the world.
In fact, putting speakers or headphones on your baby's stomach and making them listen to music can disrupt their natural sleep patterns. Babies spend 95% of their time sleeping in the womb. Therefore, such artificial stimulation can also disrupt the natural development pattern of their brain.
So what is the point of talking and singing songs to a baby?
The biggest advantage of it is that it is good for both parents and baby. When you talk to your baby, sing songs to him, and rub his belly, you and your baby develop a strong bond. You start to feel that this new little guest is going to be a big part of your life. The baby also feels the love and care of his mother and father from the womb. That is the most important thing.
If you like classical music, listen to it. If it brings you joy and comfort, the baby will feel that joy and comfort through hormones. Apart from that, don't force yourself to do something you don't like, saying "it's good for the baby."
Take-Home Message
- The baby inside your womb can hear you, feel your touch , and even taste what you eat. It's the beginning of an amazing bond.
- The stimulation needed for the healthy development of your baby's brain and senses comes naturally through your daily life.
- Talk to your baby, sing songs, and rub his belly. These things strengthen the bond between you and your baby.
- There is no scientific reason to buy expensive devices on the market that claim to create a "Super Baby." They can even interfere with the baby's natural development.
- Every pregnancy is different. If you have any concerns or questions about your baby's movements or development, please talk to your doctor.
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