My baby in the womb

Your baby in the womb: Development of the fetus by week

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From conception to labor, your baby is constantly growing and developing. Your baby moves through different stages, starting as a blastocyst, then maturing into an embryo, and then a fetus. Around the 5 week mark, your baby's heart will begin to beat, at 27 weeks they'll have regular sleep and wake cycles, and at 39 weeks your baby is physically developed. Use this timeline to learn how big your baby is, plus how they're developing throughout pregnancy.

Follow your baby's development week by week, from conception to labor, in these amazingly detailed, doctor-reviewed images.

2 weeks: Fertilization

At the start of this week, you ovulate. Your egg is fertilized 12 to 24 hours later if a sperm penetrates it. Over the next several days, the fertilized egg will start dividing into multiple cells as it travels down the fallopian tube, enters your uterus, and starts to burrow into the uterine lining.

Read about fertilization.

3 weeks: Implantation

Now nestled in the nutrient-rich lining of your uterus is a microscopic ball of hundreds of rapidly multiplying cells that will develop into your baby. This ball of cells, called a blastocyst, has begun to produce the pregnancy hormone hCG, which tells your ovaries to stop releasing eggs.

Read about implantation.

4 weeks

Your ball of cells is now officially an embryo. You're now about 4 weeks from the beginning of your last period. It's around this time – when your next period would normally be due – that you might be able to get a positive result on a home pregnancy test.

Your baby is the size of a poppy seed.

Read about your pregnancy at 4 weeks.

5 weeks

Your baby resembles a tadpole more than a human, but is growing fast. The circulatory system is beginning to form, and the tiny "heart" will start to beat this week.

Your baby is the size of a sesame seed.

Read about your pregnancy at 5 weeks.

6 weeks

Your baby's nose, mouth and ears are starting to take shape, and their intestines and brain are beginning to develop.

Your baby is the size of a lentil.

Read about your pregnancy at 6 weeks.

7 weeks

Your baby has doubled in size since last week, but still has a tail, which will soon disappear. Little hands and feet that look more like paddles are emerging from the developing arms and legs.

Your baby is the size of a blueberry.

Read about your pregnancy at 7 weeks.

8 weeks

Your baby has started moving around, though you won't feel movement yet. Nerve cells are branching out, forming primitive neural pathways. Breathing tubes now extend from their throat to their developing lungs.

Your baby is the size of a kidney bean.

Read about your pregnancy at 8 weeks.

9 weeks

Your baby's basic anatomy is developing (they even have tiny earlobes now), but there's much more to come. Their embryonic tail has disappeared and they weigh just a fraction of an ounce but are about to start gaining weight fast.

Your baby is the size of a grape.

Read about your pregnancy at 9 weeks.

10 weeks

Your embryo has completed the most critical portion of development. Their skin is still translucent, but their tiny limbs can bend and fine details like nails are starting to form.

Your baby is the size of a kumquat

Read about your pregnancy at 10 weeks.

11 weeks

Your baby is almost fully formed. They're kicking, stretching, and even hiccupping as their diaphragm develops, although you can't feel any activity yet.

Your baby is the size of a fig.

Read about your pregnancy at 11 weeks.

12 weeks

This week your baby's reflexes kick in: Their fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, and their mouth will make sucking movements, although you won't feel their movements quite yet.

Your baby is the size of a lime.

Read about your pregnancy at 12 weeks.

13 weeks

This is the last week of your first trimester. Your baby's tiny fingers now have fingerprints, and their veins and organs are clearly visible through their skin. If you're having a girl, her ovaries contain more than 2 million eggs.

Your baby is the size of a pea pod.

Read about your pregnancy at 13 weeks.

Entering the second trimester: What lies ahead

In this illustration, you can see how big – and yet, how tiny still – your baby is as you begin your second trimester.

After the first trimester, a miscarriage is much less likely. And for many moms-to-be, early pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and fatigue have faded away. If you're feeling more energetic now and haven't been exercising, it's a good time to start a regular pregnancy fitness routine.

Plus: See our ultimate pregnancy to-do list for the second trimester

14 weeks

Your baby's brain impulses have begun to fire and they're using their facial muscles. Their kidneys are working now, too. If you have an ultrasound, you may even see them sucking their thumb.

Your baby is the size of a lemon.

Read about your pregnancy at 14 weeks.

15 weeks

Your baby's eyelids are still fused shut, but they can sense light. If you shine a flashlight on your tummy, they'll move away from the beam. Ultrasounds done this week may reveal your baby's sex.

Your baby is the size of an apple.

Read about your pregnancy at 15 weeks.

16 weeks

The patterning on your baby's scalp has begun, though their hair isn't visible yet. Their legs are more developed, their head is more upright, and their ears are close to their final position.

Your baby is the size of an avocado.

Read about your pregnancy at 16 weeks.

17 weeks

Your baby can move their joints, and their skeleton – formerly soft cartilage – is now hardening to bone. The umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker.

Your baby is the size of a turnip.

Read about your pregnancy at 17 weeks.

18 weeks

Your baby is flexing their arms and legs, and you may be able to feel those movements. Internally, a protective coating of myelin is forming around their nerves.

Your baby is the size of a bell pepper.

Read about your pregnancy at 18 weeks.

19 weeks

Your baby's senses – smell, vision, touch, taste and hearing – are developing and they may be able to hear your voice. Talk, sing or read out loud to them, if you feel like it.

Your baby is the size of an heirloom tomato.

Read about your pregnancy at 19 weeks.

20 weeks

Your baby can swallow now and their digestive system is producing meconium, the dark, sticky goo that they'll pass in their first poop – either in their diaper or in the womb during delivery.

Your baby is the size of a banana.

Read about your pregnancy at 20 weeks.

21 weeks

Your baby's movements have gone from flutters to full-on kicks and jabs against the walls of your womb. You may start to notice patterns as you become more familiar with their activity.

Your baby is the size of a carrot.

Read about your pregnancy at 21 weeks.

22 weeks

Your baby now looks almost like a miniature newborn. Features such as lips and eyebrows are more distinct, but the pigment that will color their eyes isn't present yet.

Your baby is the size of a spaghetti squash.

Read about your pregnancy at 22 weeks.

23 weeks

Your baby's ears are getting better at picking up sounds. After birth, they may recognize some noises outside the womb that they're hearing inside now.

Your baby is the size of a large mango.

Read about your pregnancy at 23 weeks.

24 weeks

Your baby cuts a pretty long and lean figure, but chubbier times are coming. Their skin is still thin and translucent, but that will begin to change soon too.

Your baby is the size of an ear of corn.

Read about your pregnancy at 24 weeks.

25 weeks

Your baby's wrinkled skin is starting to fill out with baby fat, making them look more like a newborn. Their hair is beginning to come in, and it has color and texture.

Your baby is now the same weight as an average rutabaga.

Read about your pregnancy at 25 weeks.

26 weeks

Your baby is now inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which helps develop their lungs. These breathing movements are good practice for that first breath of air at birth.

Your baby is the size of a bunch of scallions.

Read about your pregnancy at 26 weeks.

27 weeks

This is the last week of your second trimester. Your baby now sleeps and wakes on a regular schedule, and their brain is very active. Their lungs aren't fully formed, but they could function outside the womb with medical help.

Your baby is the size of a head of cauliflower.

Read about your pregnancy at 27 weeks.

Entering the third trimester: What lies ahead

In this illustration, you'll notice that your growing baby takes up quite a bit of room these days. In the third trimester, you might be peeing more often or have leg cramps as they press on nerves in your hips and back.

Now's the time to do things like sign up for a childbirth class, choose a doctor for your baby, and create a baby registry, if you haven't done so already.

28 weeks

Your baby's eyesight is developing, which may enable them to sense light filtering in from the outside. They can blink, and their eyelashes have grown in.

Your baby is the size of a large eggplant.

Read about your pregnancy at 28 weeks.

29 weeks

Your baby's muscles and lungs are busy getting ready to function in the outside world, and their head is growing to make room for their developing brain.

Your baby is the size of a butternut squash.

Read about your pregnancy at 29 weeks.

30 weeks

Your baby is surrounded by a pint and a half of amniotic fluid, although there will be less of it as they grow and claim more space inside your uterus.

Your baby is the size of a large cabbage.

Read about your pregnancy at 30 weeks.

31 weeks

Your baby can now turn their head from side to side. A protective layer of fat is accumulating under their skin, filling out their arms and legs.

Your baby is the size of a coconut.

Read about your pregnancy at 31 weeks.

32 weeks

You're probably gaining about a pound a week now. Half of that goes straight to your baby, who will gain one-third to half their birth weight in the next seven weeks in preparation for life outside the womb.

Your baby is the size of a large jicama.

Read about your pregnancy at 32 weeks.

33 weeks

The bones in your baby's skull aren't fused yet. That allows them to shift as their head squeezes through the birth canal. They won't fully fuse until adulthood.

Your baby is the size of a pineapple.

Read about your pregnancy at 33 weeks.

34 weeks

Your baby's central nervous system is maturing, as are their lungs. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems usually do well in the long run.

Your baby is the size of a cantaloupe.

Read about your pregnancy at 34 weeks.

35 weeks

It's getting snug inside your womb! Your baby's kidneys are fully developed, and their liver can process some waste products.

Your baby is the size of a honeydew melon.

Read about your pregnancy at 35 weeks.

36 weeks

Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. They're also losing most of their lanugo hair that covered their body, along with the vernix caseosa, a waxy substance that was protecting their skin until now.

Your baby is the size of a head of romaine lettuce.

Read about your pregnancy at 36 weeks.

37 weeks

Your due date is very close, and though your baby looks like a newborn, your baby is now considered at term. Over the next two weeks their lungs and brain will continue to mature. You can go into labor any day now.

Your baby is the size of a bunch of Swiss chard.

Read about your pregnancy at 37 weeks.

38 weeks

Are you curious about your baby's eye color? Their irises are not fully pigmented, so if they're born with blue eyes, they could change to a darker color up until they're about a year old.

Your baby is the size of a leek.

Read about your pregnancy at 38 weeks.

Turning full term

At 39 weeks, your baby will be considered full-term. In the illustration, you can see the mucus plug sealing your uterus and how squished your intestines are now.

39 weeks

Your baby's physical development is complete, but they're still busy putting on fat and growing bigger.

Your baby is the size of a mini watermelon.

Read about your pregnancy at 39 weeks.

40 weeks

If you're past your due date, you may not be as late as you think, especially if you calculated it solely based on the day of your last period. Sometimes women ovulate later than expected.

Your provider will continuously assess your pregnancy to make sure you can safely continue your pregnancy.

Your baby is the size of a small pumpkin.

Read about your pregnancy at 40 weeks.

41 weeks

Your baby is now considered late-term. Going more than two weeks past your due date can put you and your baby at risk for complications, so your provider will probably talk to you about inducing labor. They may perform a Fetal Non-Stress test to monitor your baby's fetal heart rate and your contractions to make sure your baby isn't in any fetal distress.

Read about your pregnancy at 41 weeks.

Labor and delivery

Meeting your baby for the first time is so exciting – but exactly what will lead up to that moment is unpredictable, and it's natural to feel nervous. Here's some help as you prepare for the big day. Find out how you'll know you're in labor and what to expect from delivery, understand your childbirth choices, and more.

Learn the signs and stages of labor

Watch live birth videos

Take our free childbirth class

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Kate Marple

Kate Marple is a writer and editor who specializes in health, pregnancy, and parenting content. She's passionate about translating complicated medical information into helpful pregnancy and parenting advice that's easy to understand. She lives in San Francisco with her family.

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My pregnancy week by week

weeks
pregnant

How big is my baby? Baby fruit size comparisons

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Photo credit: Karla Martin for BabyCenter

During pregnancy, your amazing baby grows from poppy seed to pumpkin. Isn't it incredible that something the size of a grape can turn your world upside down? To get a sense of baby size by week, check out our baby fruit size guide comparing your baby's approximate length and weight to fruits and vegetables. We've used official averages for baby growth by week and produce sizes.

How big is my baby?

The next time you walk through the grocery store, spend a few minutes perusing the produce aisle. Though it may seem odd to compare your baby to something edible, it's a practice that goes back centuries. In olden times, people used common agricultural items (like seeds, nuts, and fruits) to estimate the size of babies in the womb. These days we have more variety – including fruits and veggies from around the globe. BabyCenter's baby fruit size comparisons were the first on the web, started in 1997 by staffers who noticed that parents call babies-to-be "little peanut" or "little bean" and ran with the concept.

4 weeks: Your baby is the size of a poppy seed

Your pregnancy may be detectable in a week or so by a home pregnancy test.

Read more about what's happening at 4 weeks pregnant.

5 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a sesame seed

Your baby now looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human.

Read more about what's happening at 5 weeks pregnant.

6 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a lentil

Your little lentil is now about 1/4 inch long.

Read more about what's happening at 6 weeks pregnant.

7 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a blueberry

Your baby has doubled in size since last week and is now about 1/2 inch long.

Read more about what's happening at 7 weeks pregnant.

8 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a kidney bean

Your little bean is now just over 1/2 inch long and is constantly moving and shifting.

Read more about what's happening at 8 weeks pregnant.

9 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a grape

Your baby now weighs almost an ounce and is almost 1 inch long. Their eyes are fully formed but their eyelids will be fused shut until 27 weeks.

Read more about what's happening at 9 weeks pregnant.

10 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a kumquat

Your baby now weighs a little over an ounce and is a little over 1 inch long from head to bottom.

Read more about what's happening at 10 weeks pregnant.

11 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a fig

At just over 1 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, your baby is still teeny-tiny – so while they're already kicking and stretching, you won't feel their acrobatics for another month or two.

Read more about what's happening at 11 weeks pregnant.

12 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a lime

Your lime-sized little one now weighs about 2 ounces and is just over 2 inches long from head to bottom.

Read more about what's happening at 12 weeks pregnant.

13 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a peapod

Your little peapod is now about 2 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces.

Read more about what's happening at 13 weeks pregnant.

14 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a lemon

Your baby – now weighing more than 3 ounces and measuring almost 6 inches from head to heel – can squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck their thumb.

You may wonder why this week's length measurement is so much bigger than last week. Until 13 weeks of pregnancy, babies are measured from the top of their head to their "rump." That's because their legs are curled up against their torso during the few weeks of pregnancy, so they're hard to measure. From here on, you'll see the head-to-heel measurement.

Read more about what's happening at 14 weeks pregnant.

15 weeks: Your baby is about the size of an apple

The future apple of your eye now weighs more than 4 ounces and is about 6 1/2 inches long from head to toe.

Read more about what's happening at 15 weeks pregnant.

16 weeks: Your baby is about the size of an avocado

Your baby now weighs 5 ounces and is 7 inches long from head to bottom.

Read more about what's happening at 16 weeks pregnant.

17 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a turnip

Your little turnip now weighs about 6 1/3 ounces and is roughly 8 inches long.

Read more about what's happening at 17 weeks pregnant.

18 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a bell pepper

Your baby now weighs almost 8 ounces and is more than 8 1/2 inches long from head to bottom. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Read more about what's happening at 18 weeks pregnant.

19 weeks: Your baby is about the size of an heirloom tomato

Your tomato-sized baby now weighs more than 9 1/2 ounces and is roughly 9 1/2 inches long.

Read about your baby's development at 19 weeks.

20 weeks: Your baby is about the length of a banana

Your burgeoning baby now measures about 10 inches from head to heel, and weighs roughly 11 1/2 ounces.

Editors' note: As much time as we spent at the farmer's market and on the USDA site, it wasn't easy to find the perfect produce for every week of development. The banana is just an approximation of length.

Read more about what's happening at 20 weeks pregnant.

21 weeks: Your baby is about as long as a carrot

Your carrot-sized cutie is now a little over 10 1/2 inches from head to heel and weighs about 14 ounces.

Editors' note: We know what you're thinking – "There's no way my baby is the size of a carrot. I feel ginormous!" You're right that your baby is bulkier than a carrot, but the head-to-heel length is similar to a good-sized carrot.

Read more about what's happening at 21 weeks pregnant.

22 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a spaghetti squash

At 11 1/2 inches and a little over 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn as their lips, eyelids, and eyebrows become more distinct.

Read more about what's happening at 22 weeks pregnant.

23 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a large mango

Your baby now weighs about 1 1/4 pounds and is more than a foot long – and if you turn on some tunes and sway to the music, they can feel you dance.

Read more about what's happening at 23 weeks pregnant.

24 weeks: Your baby is about as long as an ear of corn

Your baby is now about 12 1/2 inches long from head to heel and weighs nearly 1 1/2 pounds.

Read more about what's happening at 24 weeks pregnant.

25 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a rutabaga

Your baby now rivals the average rutabaga in weight – about 1 3/4 pounds – and is roughly 13 1/4 inches long from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 25 weeks pregnant.

26 weeks: Your baby is about the length of a scallion

Your baby, now nearly 14 inches from head to heel and roughly 2 pounds, may be able to hear both your voice and the voices of people you talk to.

Read more about what's happening at 26 weeks pregnant.

27 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a head of cauliflower

Your baby is now as hefty as a head of cauliflower, weighing in at about 2 1/3 pounds and measuring roughly 14 1/2 inches.

Read more about what's happening at 27 weeks pregnant.

28 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a large eggplant

Your baby now weighs about 2 2/3 pounds, is almost 15 inches long from head to heel, and can blink their eyes (which now sport lashes).

Read more about what's happening at 28 weeks pregnant.

29 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a butternut squash

Your baby now weighs more than 3 pounds and is about 15 1/2 inches long from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 29 weeks pregnant.

30 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a large cabbage

Your baby tips the scales this week at almost 3 1/2 pounds and is almost 16 inches long from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 30 weeks pregnant.

31 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a coconut

Your baby now weighs almost 4 pounds and measures about 16 1/2 inches from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 31 weeks pregnant.

32 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a jicama

Your baby is taking up more and more space in your uterus, weighing in at about 4 1/3 pounds and measuring nearly 17 inches from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 32 weeks pregnant.

33 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a pineapple

Measuring 17 1/3 inches from head to heel and weighing about 4 3/4 pounds, your baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look, and their skeleton is hardening.

Read more about what's happening at 33 weeks pregnant.

34 weeks: Your baby is about the size of cantaloupe

Your melon-sized munchkin now weighs about 5 1/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 34 weeks pregnant.

35 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a honeydew melon

Your baby, now weighing in at 5 3/4 pounds and measuring more than 18 inches, doesn't have much room to maneuver in your belly.

Read more about what's happening at 35 weeks pregnant.

36 weeks: Your baby is about as long as a head of romaine lettuce

Your not-so-little lettuce now measures more than 18 1/2 inches from head to heel and weighs more than 6 pounds (and is still packing it on at a rate of about an ounce a day).

Read more about what's happening at 36 weeks pregnant.

37 weeks: Your baby is about the length of a bunch of Swiss chard

Your baby measures roughly 19 inches from head to heel and weighs about 6 2/3 pounds.

Read more about what's happening at 37 weeks pregnant.

38 weeks: Your baby is about the length of a leek

Your lanky leek is now about 19 1/2 inches long from head to heel and weighs more than 7 pounds.

Read more about what's happening at 38 weeks pregnant.

39 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a mini-watermelon

Your baby now weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is nearly 20 inches long from head to heel.

Read more about what's happening at 39 weeks pregnant.

40 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a small pumpkin

Your little pumpkin could arrive any day now, if they aren't here already. The average newborn weighs about 8 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

Read more about what's happening at 40 weeks pregnant.

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Kate Marple

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My pregnancy week by week

weeks
pregnant

What do babies learn in the womb?

Leslie Evans Ogden
BBC Earth

8 Linden 2016

Image credit: Thinkstock

communication with parents. Learning certainly begins before birth, says a BBC Earth columnist.

When I was expecting my first child, like most expectant mothers, I received a lot of unsolicited advice. nine0011

"Don't eat spicy foods, especially garlic, especially when you're breastfeeding." But as a terrible fan of spicy food, I didn't really listen. Cuisines differ markedly by culture. Therefore, children who are born in the spice capitals of the world are accustomed to the spicy flavor with their mother's milk.

It was pure speculation on my part, but given my tiny test subject's excellent appetite, it seemed to me that he was not at all against the Thai curry and garlic dishes that he tried through breast milk. nine0011

Image copyright, EdelmannScience Photo Library

Photo caption,

Babies learn about their mother's food tastes even before birth

Boy or girl: what do signs say?
Is it true that cats are shameless egoists?
Giraffes' necks do not elongate when foraging

Recent scientific studies confirm that babies learn about their mother's culinary tastes even before they are born. But in fact, learning in the womb is not limited to the taste of food. And it is also not limited to human babies. Experiments show that all kinds of animals, from small to large, begin to explore the world even before they are born. Babies carefully observe the tastes, smells, sounds and even images available in the womb. nine0011

How can a child learn to recognize the taste of garlic in the mother's stomach? Peter Goepper from the University of Belfast set out to find out. He observed 33 children whose mothers preferred garlic dishes or did not eat garlic during pregnancy.

Image copyright, Thinkstock

Image caption,

Babies are sensitive to different flavors of breast milk

A scientist found that children's culinary tastes persisted even years later, because those whose mothers ate garlic during pregnancy ate potatoes with pleasure with garlic even at 8 or 9years old.

But how can human babies taste food in the womb? One theory, Goepper explains, is that the tastes get into the amniotic fluid, and when the fetus swallows it—from around the tenth week of pregnancy—"it tastes it. "

Tastes can also pass directly into the blood of the fetus through the mother's blood. Garlic, for example, lingers in our body systems for several hours after eating. This explains why at close range you can smell it even the next day after eating it. nine0011

Image copyright, Thinkstock

Image caption,

Garlic and chili have a very strong taste

Researchers have shown that not only strong tastes, but also, for example, the taste of carrots can influence the culinary preferences of the fruit.

If such conclusions seem unscientific to you, consider that for mammalian babies, taste and smell are important triggers for suckling.

"When a baby is breastfed, he tastes the same taste in his mother's milk that he was used to during 30 weeks in the womb, and therefore he perceives it well," explains the scientist. "If the taste is different, feeding can become more problematic ". nine0011

So it is not surprising that prenatal taste perception is widespread in mammals such as rabbits, rats, dogs and cats.

This mechanism has evolved to protect newborns from dangerous foods and to help them recognize their mother. "It makes sense, because it's very important to be able to recognize who is naturally programmed to take care of us," Gepper notes.

This is especially important for animals that can be exploited by other species, giving them their offspring to feed. nine0011

While observing the behavior of the bird Malurus cyaneus (of the nettle family), Australian scientists accidentally noticed that females, while hatching eggs, make special sounds that are very similar to the cries of their hungry chicks after they hatch from eggs.

It is possible that in this way the mother teaches her unborn children the special signals they will call her after hatching. Scientists tested this hypothesis and found that chicks that call their parents differently are fed less. Moreover, even very slight differences in signals affect the behavior of adult birds. nine0011

Photo copyright, David Tiplingnaturepl.com

Photo caption,

Malurus cyaneus

Other studies have shown that ducks and chicks are taught to sing.

Scientists Christopher Garsh and Robert Lickliter of Indiana conducted an experiment that resembles the tale of the ugly duckling. Experiments have shown that partridge chicks prefer the call of a Japanese quail, rather than representatives of their own species, if they were played recordings of his singing before birth in an incubator.

What about human embryos? Are they able to learn sounds in the womb? Experiments by psychologist Athena Voouloumanos at New York University have shown that babies give more preference to human speech than to other sounds, and to their parents' language over other languages.

It is interesting that they learn their native language not only when their mother speaks, but also from the lips of other speakers. And the children of bilingual mothers, as Voulumanos' colleague at the University of British Columbia found, responded equally strongly to both of their mothers' native languages. nine0011

Photo copyright, David Wellingnaturepl.com

Photo caption,

Partridge (Colinus virginianus)

Can babies in the womb also learn to recognize musical melodies?

In one experiment by Finnish scientists, a group of late-term pregnant women listened almost daily to the children's lullaby "A little star twinkles". After the babies were born, scientists tested the children's reactions to small changes in the song's melody using an encephalogram. nine0011

The brains of babies who listened to it in the womb reacted much more actively to both variants of the melody (correct and incorrect) than the brains of those who did not play the lullaby. This suggests that the children recognized and remembered the melody.

One important consequence of this discovery is the need to pay special attention to the sound environment of premature babies. If there is a lot of mechanical noise in the neonatal unit, babies may remember these sounds at the expense of speech sounds and subsequently have difficulty learning language. nine0011

Image copyright, Thinkstock

Image caption,

Playing music to the stomach will probably not work

However, scientists are skeptical about artificially modeling the sounds that a fetus can hear. And they consider the popularity of devices that play music directly to babies in the womb and attached to the stomach or even have vaginal speakers as a commercial move.

It turns out, however, that babies of different animals in the womb are able to perceive more than just tastes, smells and sounds. nine0011

An unexpected discovery was made by researchers observing cuttlefish, animals that zoologists believe have one of the richest behavioral repertoires in the world. Researcher Ludovic Dickel of the University of Cannes in Lower Normandy in France found that once the cuttlefish's visual system starts to function, about three weeks before hatching from the egg, the animal begins to learn through sight.

In one experiment, Dickel and his colleagues showed cuttlefish embryos images of crabs, which usually could not affect the embryos' sense of taste or smell because they did not release chemicals. After hatching, cuttlefish exposed to crabs had a markedly greater preference for prey from the crustacean family than their peers who received no visual cues before birth. nine0011

Photo copyright, David Fleethamnaturepl.com

Photo caption,

Pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) eggs

As Ludovic Dickel's team found, cuttlefish began to learn even earlier, four weeks before hatching. They sensed touches and chemical cues, such as the scent of predatory European sea bass.

The ability to quickly learn to recognize the smell of danger is also inherent in salamanders and frogs.

Knowledge of the dangers of the environment in which an animal will be born is an important way for amphibians to survive. Many of them develop in an environment filled with predators, and 90-99% of the young may die before they transform from a tadpole to an adult.

Sometimes water bodies become safe, which allows active movement and search for food, however, in other periods, the number of predators increases markedly, and in order to survive, animals are forced to be very careful. They learn this from the many chemicals that surround them in the water and contain a lot of information about the environment.

Alicia Mathis of Missouri is trying to use these early chemistry lessons to save the endangered salamander, the Allegamian salamander. nine0011

Photo credit, Visuals Unlimitednaturepl.com

Photo caption,

Ringed salamander (Ambystoma annulatum)

To increase the population of this species, salamanders are bred in captivity. And the scientist is trying to "educate" the young about the real world dangers they may face when they are released into the wild.

This kind of captive breeding is called "start". Research has shown that what we learn before we are born can give us far greater benefits than previously thought. nine0011

Life before birth - Dixion Medical Center in Orel

The author of the article is
Olga Mikhailovna Khoreva,
psychologist of the clinic "Dixion"

In modern society, we no longer treat pregnant women with such trepidation, but at the same time we still know little about the life of a person in the womb of a mother. We have little idea what it feels like to happen. Perinatal psychology reveals these mysteries.

This kind of psychology appeared not so long ago, about forty years ago. This science studies the mental life of a baby in the womb or a newborn, his connection with his mother, the influence of her psychological state on him. nine0011

Many scientists claim that the fetus has a long-term memory and mental life.

The perinatal period has a great influence on the future of a person. It turns out that what happened to him in the womb, as well as during and after childbirth, is stored in his subconscious. In the future, these events affect how a person will become, how he will behave in certain situations.

Perinatal events can be divided into three stages: pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. nine0011

Stage 1: Pregnancy

At this time, a person's life potential is formed, the ability to adapt to various conditions. Dear mothers, learn to love your baby in the tummy, even if his appearance was not a very pleasant surprise for you!

According to scientists, the basic physical and mental potential of the desired child is much higher. Otherwise, children do not sleep well, are easily upset, and cannot calm down for a long time. Often they are physically weaker than desired children. nine0011

The baby in the mother's belly is very sensitive to her mood. He hears, sees, tastes and touches. The child "sees the world" through the eyes of the mother, perceives it through her emotions. Therefore, pregnant women are asked to avoid stress, not to worry.

The child succeeds in all this with the help of hormones that come to the child through the placenta, and with the help of the mother's electromagnetic field. Scientists believe that mother and child communicate by means of millimeter-wave electromagnetic waves. nine0011

It is possible that some of the information is transmitted to the child through the mother's aquatic environment. But the baby still in the womb can show independence. From about the tenth week, the fetus feels touch, that is, it has a sense of touch. From the eighteenth week - begins to distinguish the taste and drink amniotic fluid. At this time, you need to carefully monitor your menu - you can teach your child to eat "not right."

Hearing develops around the 22nd week, but children do not hear external noise well. They are disturbed by the sound of the work of the internal organs of the mother. But they hear their mother perfectly. So we recommend expectant mothers to sing songs, read aloud and just talk to your baby. nine0011

This is best done when the baby is awake. This time is easy to determine. Usually during this period the child is actively moving. It will be great if every day during this period you communicate with him like this: touch your tummy and say something, for example: “Hello, baby.” Over time, the conversations will become longer, and the child will respond to touches by pushing. It is advisable to involve older children and dad in this game. Just keep in mind that each family member should have a “own” part of the tummy for touching and their own “sound code”. In this way, the baby's sense of touch and hearing are developed, and it also has a positive effect on the emotional development of the child. nine0011

By the twenty-fourth week, the child's pupils are able to react to light. Some scientists believe that complete darkness reigns in the womb, others that the red part of the spectrum enters the uterus. The baby will learn to distinguish smells only when he is born - being in the womb, he will trust the mother's sense of smell.

Stage 2: Birth

Who will be the child in the "big" life - will he be a "winner" or "victim", how will he fight for a place under the sun - this is determined during this perinatal period. nine0011

Scientists believe that natural childbirth has the best effect on the future of the baby. Stimulation of childbirth has a negative impact on the mother and child - it breaks their interaction, speeds up the process against their will, so it is worth resorting to it only for medical reasons. Despite the fact that with a planned caesarean section, everything happens painlessly for the baby, many scientists believe that in this case your child will not become a fighter, and they do not recommend resorting to cesarean section unnecessarily. nine0011

If you want your child to be a fighter, behave properly when pushing, and then the mouse will become more assertive in the performance of the tasks assigned to him, act accordingly and perceive various situations objectively.

Breathing will help to behave properly during contractions and efforts, and it will also help reduce pain. You can learn how to breathe correctly during childbirth on your own or in courses for pregnant women. During childbirth, listen carefully to what the midwife says and try to follow her advice. nine0011

Husband, mother or other close person can provide great support and assistance during childbirth. The so-called joint births have a number of advantages: during contractions, the mother will not be alone with pain, there will be a loved one nearby who can distract her, support and help in this difficult situation; besides this close person is easier to perceive than a stranger, so the words of the midwife, repeated by the husband, will reach your consciousness faster.

Stage 3: Postpartum

According to scientists, at this perinatal stage, a person's attitude to freedom, their capabilities and strengths is formed. Therefore, during natural childbirth, the child is immediately placed on the mother's stomach. He sees his mother, feels her warmth, that is, he feels protected. Immediately after birth, the baby looks at his mother's face - he seems to get to know her again. This process of "gazing" is called bonding.

Psychologists say that during this process a stable emotional bond is formed between mother and child. If the father, whom the baby had only heard before, is next to the newborn and the mother, it will be just great - he will also be involved in the bonding process. It will be great if dad takes the baby in his arms, hugs him, talks to him. The presence of the father is especially important in the case of a caesarean section. While the doctors are "conjuring" over the mother, the baby will be in the hands of the father. nine0011

If it happens that a child cannot be with his mother for a long time after giving birth, then in life independence may become a burden for him. But with good care, breastfeeding for up to a year, tenderness and love, this state of affairs can be corrected.

Breastfeeding is a very important moment that affects both the emotional and physical development of the child.

The composition of breast milk is individual and ideal for just one baby. This composition changes during the day and days of a newborn's life. nine0011

Emotions are the thread that connects mother and child - they still form a single whole, but in the psycho-emotional, and not in the physical plane. The newborn is very sensitive to the mood of the mother. If the mother is upset, then the baby also behaves restlessly.

An important factor influencing the emotional development of a child is the attentive, sensitive attitude of his parents both to him and to each other. You need to spend as much time as possible together, smile, hold the child in your arms more often.

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