A baby can start to hear sounds in the womb at around 18 weeks of pregnancy, with their ears beginning to send signals to the brain about sounds. By about 23 to 24 weeks , the baby can hear muffled sounds from the outside world, including the mother's voice, and may begin responding to these sounds by the 26th week. Sounds heard are mostly muffled due to the amniotic fluid and body layers but include the mother's heartbeat, voice vibrations, and external noises at reduced volume. The baby's sensitivity and recognition of their mother's voice improve as the pregnancy progresses, especially in the third trimester.
Development Timeline
- 16 to 18 weeks: Hearing begins as ear bones start forming and initial sound detection begins.
- 23 to 24 weeks: Able to hear and respond to muffled external sounds and mother's voice.
- 26 weeks onward: Advanced enough hearing to notice noise from outside the womb and recognize the mother's voice.
What Babies Hear in the Womb
- Internal sounds such as the mother's heartbeat, breathing, and digestive noises.
- Mother's voice, which is the clearest and most familiar sound.
- Muted external noises from the environment.
Importance
The sounds heard in the womb help shape auditory development and early bonding, as babies recognize and are soothed by their mother's voice after birth.
Thus, babies begin hearing in the womb starting approximately at 18 weeks and develop more refined hearing as pregnancy progresses toward birth.
