Women who are pregnant and touch and talk to their baby bump will be delighted to know that their child may be responding to them in the womb.
In a recent study, researchers used high resolution ultrasound footage to monitor the response of unborn babies to interaction from their mothers.
The study, which recruited 12 pregnant women for ultrasound scans, has now been published in the Journal of Infant Behaviour and Development (June 2015).
The study found that unborn babies touched their own face and body greater than 60% of the time while their mother spoke.
The babies whose mothers had interacted with them through conversation for two minutes opened their mouths increasingly more. This is deemed an attempt from the unborn baby to communicate.
Researchers said that the unborn baby could be displaying this behaviour in an attempt to concentrate on the feeling of touch from their mother. Babies also appeared to smile more in the womb whilst the pregnancy bump was being stroked in comparison with mothers who were silent and still.
Dr Emese Nagy, the head author of the study from the University of Dundee said: “These results establish what mothers already know – that their babies are communicating with them before they are born. Although this is a small study, it certainly indicates that interacting with an unborn baby is not just wishful thinking on the part of the mother.”
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson comments “Life before birth truly is a miracle. Never before have we had so much insight into life inside the womb.
“This shows us the humanity of unborn children, who deserve love and protection.”
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