What does a Baby Experience in the Womb?

Pregnancy is a time of wonder and intrigue, making it hard not to wonder – what does a baby experience in a womb? Thanks to ultrasound and other high-tech monitoring devices, scientists have discovered that growing babies are developing their hearing, smell, sight, touch and taste while still in utero.
How Much Noise Does a Baby Experience in a Womb?
Snuggled up in a warm fluid-filled space, you imagine an unborn baby’s experience to be one of quietness, peace and tranquillity, but the reality is pretty much the opposite. The womb is a pretty noisy place with many sensory experiences gearing babies up for life on the outside. A baby’s ears are fully formed around halfway through pregnancy meaning a baby can respond to its parent’s voices, their sibling’s screams or the family dog’s howling session as well at midnight! They can become startled by loud noises, with some even prompting a change in heart rate and movement.
Living amongst major organs provides a constant soundtrack: the whooshing of blood, the steady beating of mum’s heartbeat and the gurgling noise of a digestive system. With all this going on in the background, it’s no wonder white noise and loud shushing is all some babies need to drop into a state of deep relaxation once they are born. You can help replicate these sounds for your baby with a Lulla Doll (for heartbeat and breathing sounds) and a Baby Shusher (for white noise).
What Other Senses Does a Baby Experience in a Womb?
Mothers who stroke their bellies can prompt their baby to respond back through kicks. Some research has shown a baby will respond more to a mother’s touch than to that of a stranger or father. They are particularly responsive to touch during the third trimester. A baby also responds to a mother’s movements, tumbling around to find a new position within the womb. Babies can also be seen touching their own faces as well as sucking their thumbs and hands while in utero.
By the time a baby has been in the womb for 25 weeks, they can blink and respond to light. Taste and smell also develop half way through pregnancy. This means the baby can enjoy some of the things mum has been eating through nutrients in the womb which may lead to a preference for certain foods later in life.
So, what does a baby experience in a womb? A lot! A baby’s sensory experience in the womb is their earliest learning experience, setting them up for life in our highly stimulating world!