Long before they first look into their mom’s eyes, babies already start getting to know them. While in the womb, a growing fetus is able to discover many things about the fascinating world around them as well as their mother. Here are 3 of them.
They learn what the outside world sounds like
Experts have found that babies respond to various sounds of the world around them. This includes good music, which can either be soothing or rhythmic, as well as the calming sound of their mother’s voice.
Once they are born, babies often react to familiar sounds heard in the womb, so take care to let them hear nice things and positivity!
photo: fotolia
They learn to like the food you like
Around the 8th week of pregnancy, the growing fetus starts to develop a sense of taste for sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami flavors. By week 16, starts to develop taste pores, allowing her to taste salty amniotic fluid. Their tastes continue to grow as they swallow and process the fluid, expanding their palate until birth.
The food and drinks you consume while pregnant help shape the development of your baby’s taste buds. According to research, babies develop a preference for food their moms craved while they were pregnant. Even until the age of 9, kids can show fondness for these foods.
They learn to respond to the light of the outside world
A baby’s optic nerves start to develop during the 4th week of pregnancy. Shortly after this, their eyes’ lens develop, allowing them to focus on objects, depending if they are near or far. At week 8, their retina forms, giving them the capacity to “perceive and process light.” And at 16 weeks in utero, their eyes pick up on light and they respond to it by moving side to side.
At the end of the 2nd trimester, they can sense light as well as open their eyelids! Even though the womb may not offer much to see, there are plenty of stimuli just beyond it! Try shining a flashlight on your belly at 22 weeks, and your baby just might respond by wiggling or even kicking about.
Do you have anything to add based on your experience moms and moms-to-be? Let us know in the comments below!
READ: 6 Alarming eye problems in kids with long-term effects parents should know about
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