Singing to the Sprout

9/4/09 

I just learned that this week, my 26th week of pregnancy, is a sensory landmark for my lil’ sprout. The development of the hearing system has reached its completion, which means my sprout can now hear a lot of things that I probably don’t even want it to hear. 

Studies have shown that fetuses get excited when hearing the sound of their mother’s voice, as well as find comfort in certain kinds of music. These acts have also been shown to create prenatal learning and memory. Once out of the womb, children have reacted with positive acknowledgment to both the songs and voices that they heard in utero. So in your spare time, don’t feel silly about singing a tune or reading a poem to your baby—you’ve got positive evidence behind it.