Music has always been thought to be beneficial to babies even when they are not yet born. Some mothers would even put headphones on their pregnant belly, but experts suggest that the mother's voice may be all the baby needs. The fetus inside is listening to every sound inside the mother's body, especially its mother's voice.
According to a 2013 study, babies learn in the womb as they easily develop familiarity with something, like the song repeatedly played while they are still inside their mothers. But experts caution that there is no need to buy learning CDs and belly buds to teach the fetus because brain development happens mostly outside the womb.
But does this mean pregnant mothers should not bother playing Mozart or other classical pieces before their baby is born?
Good and bad music selections for the baby
In an article posted in Babymed, some experts said that amniotic fluid amplifies the music and others say that it only amplifies the low tones like the bass line of the song. They recommend keeping the music at or below 70 decibels when putting headphones on the pregnant belly as possible.
An example of a volume at 70 decibels is the music being played in the mall. Mothers should consider the distance between their belly and fetus, which is not much when propping headphones right up against their baby's ears so choosing the best suitable music is important.
According to Dr. Amos Grunebaum, MD, FACOG, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the best type of music to play is classical music because of its range of notes that tends to repeat which sounds like a lullaby for the fetus. But he noted that any music is suitable as long as it is not harsh, like rap or heavy metal music.
Dr. Grunebaum added that it is best to choose music with a soothing harmony when choosing music for the baby. Rap, rock or heavy metal music tends to be alarming, loud, and discordant which could startle the baby. Some animal studies suggest that brain development is adversely affected by these types of music being played to the fetus.
Keep the Volume Low
A womb is a noisy place with the stomach grumbling, heart beating, lungs filling with air, and the mother's voice is amplified by the vibration of the bones as the sound travels the body, Healthline reported. That means keeping the volume of the outside environment low is important.
Experts suggest keeping the outside noise at around 50 to 60decibels or just about the same volume as talking. Therefore, putting headphones on top of the pregnant belly is not necessary.
Healthline further said that headphones would tend to be too loud for the fetus when the sound reaches them which should be avoided. It is okay to attend a concert or sit in a loud movie theater on an occasional basis but doing it regularly or the frequent exposure to loud noises is not advisable, specifically right after 18 weeks.
Nonetheless, that does not mean that pregnant women should not enjoy music. So go on sing, dance, and enjoy your favorite music.
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