Before your baby is even born, they are learning and becoming familiar to sounds outside the womb.
Coming to the end of your first trimester, you will notice your little one is moving around and by the end of the second trimester they can hear sounds.
According to a number of studies, playing music and reading stories to your little one can teach them simple things while they are in the womb; however, other experts dispute this fact and believe the learning happened after birth.
However, by about week 23, your unborn baby starts to hear sounds including your heartbeat, voice, pumping of blood, gurgles of digestion and muffled noises from outside your womb. While there is no evidence to suggest playing classical music or chatting to your bump increases their intelligence, they may recognise the sounds and find it easier to bond with you after birth. While it may help them become accustomed to everyday sounds it will encourage you to relax thus reducing stress which will beneft your baby.
Experts believe babies can be soothed by voices and music that they heard in the uterus, and are soothed by them after birth. Don’t worry if you’re not comfortable with singing and having conversations with your unborn baby - not all mums are - your baby they will still benefit from the stimulation of your everyday conversations and various sounds around you.
Getting used to rocking and soothing sounds and sensations like a car engine or the theme tune to your favourite television show before birth may can help ease your little one into the world as they can remind them of the movement and sounds of your body. They may also become accustomed to strange sounds like a vacuum cleaner which they may not be startled by as a newborn.
Your youngster may also demonstrate that they prefer the sound of your voice to others as they became used to it in the womb and will therefore pay particular attention when you speak.
