SAEDNEWS: Listening to certain music can affect a fetus’s health and intelligence. Before birth, the baby reacts to sounds—such as the mother’s heartbeat and music—which support better growth and development.
Studies have shown that about 20 weeks after conception, the human fetus can hear external sounds from outside the mother’s womb, including music. Research also indicates that infants can remember sounds they heard in the womb for up to 12 months after birth and may react to them.
Some researchers believe that mothers who listen to calm music during pregnancy tend to have calmer babies.
The womb is a very quiet environment, so the fetus hears surrounding sounds quite clearly.
Hearing sounds also means that the fetus reacts to them, implying that sound influences the unborn baby.
According to studies, listening to music during pregnancy can improve learning ability in adulthood. However, the fetal hearing ability depends on gestational age and the nature of the sound.
Fetal hearing begins around 26–28 weeks (sixth month of pregnancy).
The sounds of the placenta and the mother’s voice play an important role in stimulating fetal hearing. The fetus can remember these sounds, especially the mother’s voice.
Most studies show that the human fetal brain can recognize music.
Researchers have found that certain music increases fetal heart rate, causing the baby to move more.
When heart rate naturally rises, fetal activity increases.
Calm and simple music has positive effects, while sudden or loud sounds may harm the fetus.
During experiments, scientists observed that fetal facial movements begin during music exposure, continue for about 5 minutes after the music stops, and then gradually stop.
Soothing music is ideal during pregnancy, while rhythmic pieces like Beethoven can raise the fetal heart rate and encourage movement.
However, whether a fetus enjoys and relaxes to a certain type of music depends on the mother’s own emotional response. For example, opera can increase the baby’s heart rate because in the quiet and dark womb, music can make the fetus active and energetic.
When pregnant women listen to classical music, especially Mozart, fetal intelligence can significantly increase.
Researchers discovered that because Mozart’s rhythm is 60 beats per minute, and the fetal heart rate is similar, this music has a powerful effect on the brain.
While in the womb, the fetus hears the mother’s voice and her favorite music and reacts to it.
After birth, the baby can remember the music heard during pregnancy.
Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women create a playlist of Mozart pieces and play them for the child even after birth.
Dr. Lamont believes that if a specific (preferably classical) piece of music is used during the last three months of pregnancy, the child will recognize and respond to it at age one.
Catherine Singleton states that the effects of repeated prenatal music exposure can last more than 12 months.
She says:
“When I was five months pregnant, I was performing a piece of music, and my baby heard it the whole time. When my child was 5 years old, I performed the same piece again, and he listened for 3 hours without moving or getting tired.”
Music continues to influence the child after birth—especially before age seven—by enhancing intelligence and memory.
In 1993, two physicists focused on memory development, Gordon Shaw and Frances Rauscher, played the first ten minutes of a Mozart sonata for a group of university students. The result was a temporary increase in memory performance.
American parents strongly believe that classical music improves intelligence and memory in children.
The reason Mozart is often recommended is because his 60 bpm rhythm matches the fetal heartbeat, creating harmony and synchronization—leading to strong positive effects on both fetus and child.
Therefore, calm and classical music has a more positive impact on the fetus and child’s mood than loud or aggressive music.
Listening to classical music, especially Mozart, greatly boosts fetal intelligence. Since Mozart’s rhythm aligns with the fetal heartbeat, the effect is profound. The fetus hears and reacts to the mother’s voice and her preferred music, remembers it after birth, and benefits from continued exposure.
Classical music by composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart has a complex structure. Researchers suggest this complexity stimulates the brain to analyze and solve spatial problems.
Fetuses exposed to classical music often become calmer adults.
By about three months of age, babies can prefer the structure of classical music.
Listening to classical music during pregnancy has lasting positive effects on the brain.
Children who are exposed to music in the womb tend to have better long-term memory.
Scientists believe that prenatal music exposure influences brain development and hearing ability. These infants can remember many details, and as adults, they have better learning ability and memory.
Music also reduces maternal stress, which positively impacts the fetus—and these children often have lower stress levels in adulthood.
Just as soothing music gives energy and calmness to anyone, it also comforts pregnant women and fetuses.
Although there is no complete scientific proof that music directly increases intelligence, there is no doubt that a mother’s improved emotional well-being benefits the fetus.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes can cause anxiety and depression. Soft music reduces stress, tension, irritability, depression, and high blood pressure.
It is an inexpensive and effective way to help pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies requiring bed rest.
Studies show that music can affect blood pressure. Harsh, unpleasant music can raise blood pressure in pregnant women, while this effect does not occur in non-pregnant women.
Music helps mothers connect emotionally, reduce labor pain, and cope better during natural childbirth.
Listening to music during labor reduces stress and anxiety, making labor less painful and more manageable.
Experts agree: Calm music is best.
If the mother enjoys the music, the baby enjoys it too.
Loud music is not recommended.
Soft volume (50–60 dB) is ideal.
The mother’s singing voice (lullabies) has an amazing effect on the fetus’s intelligence and relaxation.
Babies exposed to calming music in the womb show better sensory, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development compared to others.
Prefer speakers, not headphones on the belly.
Direct headphone placement may be too loud and harmful.
Amniotic fluid amplifies sound, so loud music becomes even louder for the fetus.
Long-term exposure to loud noise may cause preterm birth, low birth weight, or hearing loss in the baby.
Music turns the womb into an even more peaceful and secure environment.
Even though the womb is naturally calming due to the mother’s heartbeat and amniotic fluid, music adds relaxation and serenity.
Babies who hear lullabies or soothing music in the womb can recognize and feel calm listening to it after birth.
Talking to the fetus also helps the newborn recognize the parents’ voices.
