Reasons to talk to your baby before birth

Your voice does great things for your baby. Studies show that the sound of it is calming, both in the womb and when you finally get to meet them as a newborn. Scientists have recorded that unborn babies clearly respond to different vibrations and sounds with changes in their heart rate or movement patterns, and are particularly responsive to the sound of their mother’s voice^1,2. This has led them to conclude that your unborn baby learns to recognise and remember your voice during your pregnancy. This means the conversations that you have with your bump in the third trimester are laying the foundations for their social and emotional development, as well as their language skills and memory. Your voice is already shaping their understanding of the world.

Although talking to them in the earlier part of your pregnancy may help you feel closer to your baby, their ears won’t be fully developed until around the 20th week, and their auditory system doesn’t connect to their brain until at least a month or so later³. Research has shown that while some babies react to sound at as early as 24 weeks, most start to respond to external noise between 26 and 30 weeks².

The sound of your voice has the most calming effect on your unborn child. One study found that foetuses respond to their mothers’ voices by slowing their movements, while another revealed that foetal and newborn heart rates decreased when their mothers spoke – a possible sign of relaxation^3,4.

Talking and singing to your bump can be a lovely way to start building a relationship with your unborn baby and can benefit you as well as them. Incredibly, bonding with your bump can help your baby learn. But if you don’t feel comfortable with the idea, don't worry. While in your womb, your baby will hear and feel the vibrations of your voice every time you speak to anyone. They will have learnt to recognise and be comforted by your voice by the time they’re born, even if you don't speak to them directly⁴. This recognition will help them to bond with you and the sound will make them feel emotionally secure for many years to come.

Dad has to make a bit more effort to be heard, but if he talks to the bump it may help your baby to recognise his voice too. A fascinating study of preterm babies (who are likely to have the same hearing development as a foetus in the later stages of pregnancy) showed that they were more attentive to lower pitched sounds than higher pitched ones⁵. We also know that unborn babies can remember and recognise different noises, so it’s likely fathers can start building their relationship with their children before they’re born. Encouraging dad to talk to the bump about their day, hobbies or interests, can help them to feel more involved in your pregnancy too. And although your baby won’t yet understand what’s being said, it’s great to know that in the third trimester, at least, they’re listening and already getting to know a bit about their family.