Pregnancy’s Hidden Magic: The nine months of pregnancy are a remarkable journey, not just for the parents but also for the tiny human growing inside the womb, who is far more active and aware than most people realize.
Babies as Explorers: Far from being passive, babies in the womb engage in a variety of surprising activities—tasting, moving, and even dreaming—showcasing the incredible complexity of human development before birth.
For zikzik.in Readers: Whether you’re a soon-to-be parent or simply curious about the wonders of life, this blog uncovers 7 astonishing things babies do in the womb, revealing the extraordinary world they inhabit before taking their first breath.
Tasting and Smelling: A Foodie in the Making
Flavor Exploration Begins Early:
By around 15 weeks of gestation, a baby’s taste buds are developed enough to detect flavors in the amniotic fluid, which acts as a medium for tasting what the mother eats.
Foods like garlic, spicy curries, or sweet desserts leave traces in the amniotic fluid, giving the baby a preview of culinary delights and influencing their future food preferences.
For example, research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center shows that babies exposed to strong flavors like garlic in the womb are more likely to enjoy those flavors as toddlers.
Smelling Before They Breathe:
The olfactory system starts functioning by 28 weeks, allowing babies to smell the same odors present in the amniotic fluid, which are influenced by the mother’s diet and environment.
This early sense of smell helps babies bond with their mother after birth, as they recognize her scent and the familiar smells of foods she ate during pregnancy, creating a comforting connection.
A study published in Developmental Psychobiology found that newborns prefer the smell of amniotic fluid over other scents, showing how deeply these early experiences imprint on them.
Surprising Fact for Expectant Moms: If you’re eating spicy foods and notice extra kicks, it might be your baby reacting to the bold flavors—a little food critic in the making, already giving feedback on your meals!
Practicing Facial Expressions: Smiles and Frowns
Early Facial Movements:
Around 24 weeks, advanced 4D ultrasound technology reveals that babies are practicing a range of facial expressions, including smiles, frowns, and even grimaces, as their facial muscles develop.
These movements aren’t just random; they’re essential for preparing the baby to express emotions after birth, such as smiling at their parents or frowning when they’re hungry or uncomfortable.
Researchers at Durham University have documented these expressions, noting that they become more complex as the pregnancy progresses, indicating neurological development.
Possible Emotional Responses:
Some scientists believe these expressions might reflect early emotional states, such as reacting to discomfort (e.g., a loud noise) or even a sense of calm when hearing the mother’s voice.
A fascinating 2018 study in PLOS One observed twins in the womb displaying synchronized facial movements, suggesting a form of pre-birth social interaction, as if they’re already communicating with each other.
This early practice also helps babies develop the muscle control needed for breastfeeding, as sucking and smiling use similar facial muscles, preparing them for survival outside the womb.
Surprising Fact for Parents-to-Be: Babies can silently “cry” in the womb as early as 28 weeks, showing lip quivering and other signs of distress on ultrasounds, a poignant reminder of their emotional capabilities even before birth.
Responding to Sounds: A Musical Ear Before Birth
Hearing Development Milestones:
By 18 weeks, a baby’s ears are developed enough to hear internal sounds like the mother’s heartbeat, blood flow, and even her stomach growling, creating a rhythmic soundtrack to their early life.
Around 25 weeks, babies can hear external sounds, such as the mother’s voice, music, or sudden noises like a dog barking, often responding with kicks or a faster heartbeat as they process these stimuli.
The womb acts as a natural sound filter, muffling high frequencies but amplifying lower tones, which is why babies often find deep voices or soothing music particularly comforting.
Memory and Recognition:
Babies start forming memories of sounds they hear frequently, such as their mother’s voice or songs played regularly, which they recognize and prefer after birth.
A 2013 study in Infant Behavior and Development found that newborns calmed faster when hearing lullabies their mothers played during pregnancy, showing that these early auditory experiences leave a lasting imprint.
This early exposure also helps babies learn language patterns, preparing them to babble and eventually speak in their native tongue after birth.
Surprising Fact for Music Lovers: Babies can distinguish between languages in the womb, responding more actively to the rhythm of their native language, so your little one might already be tuning into your conversations!
Dreaming in the Womb: A Baby’s Imagination
REM Sleep and Brain Activity:
By 28 to 30 weeks, babies enter REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage associated with dreaming in adults, indicating active brain development as neurons form critical connections.
They spend about 80% of their sleep time in REM, far more than adults, which helps their brain process the sensory inputs they’re experiencing, like the mother’s voice or movements.
This high level of REM sleep is crucial for developing the brain’s visual and emotional centers, setting the stage for learning and memory after birth.
What Might They Dream About?
While we can’t know for sure, experts believe babies process sensory experiences—like the taste of amniotic fluid, the sound of a lullaby, or the feeling of floating in the womb.
These “dreams” might help them rehearse for life outside, such as practicing breathing movements or responding to stimuli, which are essential for survival and adaptation.
A study in Neuroscience Letters suggests that REM sleep in fetuses may also play a role in emotional regulation, helping them cope with the transition to the outside world.
Surprising Fact for Curious Minds: Babies dream more in the womb than at any other stage of life, spending nearly all their sleep time in this imaginative state, as their brains prepare for the big world awaiting them.
Hiccuping and Yawning: Everyday Habits Start Early
Hiccups as a Developmental Tool:
As early as 8 weeks, babies begin hiccuping, a reflex that appears as rhythmic twitches on ultrasounds and is often felt by mothers as small, repetitive jumps in the second trimester.
Hiccups serve a vital purpose: they help regulate the baby’s breathing muscles and manage fluid levels in the lungs, preparing them for their first breath after birth.
Unlike adult hiccups, fetal hiccups aren’t caused by eating too fast but are a natural part of neurological development, often occurring several times a day.
Yawning with a Purpose:
By 11 weeks, babies start yawning, a behavior clearly visible on ultrasound scans, which is thought to regulate brain temperature and oxygen levels during development.
Yawning might also indicate tiredness or boredom, even in the womb, as babies respond to their environment, such as after a period of activity or hearing a repetitive sound.
A 2012 study in The Lancet found that yawning frequency peaks in the second trimester, suggesting it plays a role in cooling the brain as it rapidly develops.
Surprising Fact for Expectant Parents: Babies can hiccup up to 60 times a day in the third trimester, often catching first-time moms off guard with these tiny, rhythmic movements—a charming preview of their active personality!
Thumb Sucking: A Soothing Habit
Self-Soothing in the Womb:
Around 12 weeks, babies begin sucking their thumbs, a behavior often captured on ultrasound scans as they bring their tiny hands to their mouths in a comforting gesture.
This reflex not only soothes the baby but also prepares them for breastfeeding by strengthening the sucking muscles needed to feed effectively after birth.
Thumb sucking also provides a sense of security, helping babies cope with the sensory changes in the womb, such as sudden noises or shifts in the mother’s position.
Early Signs of Hand Preference:
Some babies show a preference for sucking a particular thumb (e.g., right or left), which can be an early indicator of handedness that persists after birth.
A 2017 study in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that babies who sucked their right thumb in the womb were more likely to be right-handed as toddlers, offering a glimpse into their future traits.
This behavior also stimulates the release of endorphins, creating a calming effect that helps babies feel safe in their fluid-filled environment.
Surprising Fact for Future Parents: Thumb sucking in the womb can be a baby’s way of calming themselves during stressful moments, like when they hear a loud noise, showing how resourceful they already are at self-soothing!
Kicking and Playing: Active Movements
A Burst of Activity:
As early as 9 weeks, babies start moving their tiny limbs, though mothers typically feel these kicks between 18 and 20 weeks, often described as flutters or gentle taps at first.
These movements include kicks, flips, stretches, and even playful interactions like grabbing the umbilical cord, which acts like a toy they can tug and explore in their watery world.
By the third trimester, kicks become stronger and more frequent, with some babies delivering jabs that can take a mother’s breath away, especially when they’re active at night.
Learning Through Motion:
Kicking helps babies develop muscle strength and coordination, essential for crawling, walking, and other motor skills they’ll need after birth.
These movements also allow babies to respond to external stimuli—like kicking more after the mother eats sugary foods or when they hear loud music—showing their growing awareness of the world around them.
A 2015 study in Developmental Science found that these active movements help babies map their bodies in space, a critical step in developing spatial awareness and motor planning.
Heartwarming Fact for Expectant Families: Those playful kicks and tumbles are your baby’s first way of saying “I’m here!”—a joyful reminder of the vibrant life growing inside, creating a magical bond between parents and their little one long before they meet face-to-face.
