A Mother’s Womb, The Natural Transmitter
Babies in the womb actively response to external stimuli: touch, sound & sight/light as early as second trimester of pregnancy.
1. Touch: From 8-12 Weeks
The first sense to develop in a baby is touch, through touching or rubbing Mum’s belly gently.
Babies can feel and respond to their father’s touch and voice from 18 – 22weeks. They often respond to their father’s stimuli by becoming more active or go quiet/still to listen to their father – so please communicate with your baby/s right from the utero.
Babies normally respond by moving their arms, head, and mouth when Mum’s belly is stroked.
They respond to any pressure applied to mum’s belly that causes them to move. This is valuable at all times of pregnancy, even more so if you are worried about your baby’s movements whilst in the uterus.
If after gentle pressure: touch, rubbing, rocking or moving the belly from side-to-side, you are still worried about your baby’s movements – call or go to the maternity unit immediately for urgent attention.
2. Response to Sound: From 16-20 Weeks
Babies’ auditory system is intact from between 16-20weeks.
They react to loud noise and can distinguish their mother’s voice, which in effect calms them down by decreasing their heart beat.
They normally respond to external stimulus by turning towards the sound or touch from outside the womb.
Along with belly rubs, play music, sing, talk, chat or read to your baby so they can learn and remember your voice from before they are born.
Gentle talking or singing in a calm voice, playing soft music, gentle massage and maintaining low stress levels help babies feel secure, soothed, and loved.
Babies tend to increase their suckling motion + movements when the mother speaks, sings or touches her belly – this in itself instil sense of security, reassurance and comfort in babies whilst inside the womb, and good for their neurological development.
Chat to your baby, tell them what you are working on, how you are planning their birth, what name/s you are considering for them, how you are planning their first few weeks of life etc, talk to them, tell them anything positive on your mind; they will respond to both positive and negative neurones from both parents.
3. Sight/Light: From 28 – 40+ Weeks
Although the womb is dark, bright light directed to mum’s belly often prompts baby’s movements.
Babies’ eyes though still closed whilst in utero, can detect light by the 3rd trimester. Therefore, endeavour to keep your home well lit but with gentle lighting during pregnancy and the immediate period post-birth.
Points To Note
Evidence shows that high maternal stress during pregnancy predisposes mothers to preterm birth and/or increases risk of the baby developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Babies can sense their mum’s sadness or depression through chemical signals during pregnancy and after birth through: facial expression, voice tone, touch and behavioural changes.
Equally babies can sense their mothers’ love through the neurobiological mechanisms of oxytocin pathway, which plays a critical role in brain chemistry and behavioural patterns in the infant, with far-reaching consequences for their growth, development and adjustment to adult life.