Various technologies can provide a description of what experiences a fetus might have inside the womb, including sounds dominated by the mother’s body, smells and tastes of the mother’s food, and limited visual perception. Attempts to change the womb environment should be approached with caution.
It’s hard to describe what it’s like inside the womb from the perspective of the fetus because, while the fetus may have senses, it may not interpret those senses in the same way an adult would. Various technologies, however, can provide a description of what experiences a fetus might have inside the womb if that fetus were capable of normative adult senses. For example, the sounds might include the mother’s voice and heartbeat, and the environment of the uterus is known to be fluid-filled, so those sounds might be present as well. Knowing what it’s like in the womb isn’t the same as knowing how those sensations are interpreted or what effect they have on the fetus, but many parents feel that knowing the conditions inside the womb provides a greater connection to the fetus.
The sound inside the uterus is often of great curiosity to parents and scientists. Recordings were taken from inside the uterus, so accuracy is essentially guaranteed. The sounds of the mother’s body dominate, although external sounds can also be heard. Subjectively, it is unclear which sounds affect the baby the most, as much of the constant sounds must be like white noise to the fetus. Having never experienced other sounds, it is possible for a fetus not to truly hear the mother’s heartbeat until she is absent.
There are also smells and tastes inside the uterus. At some point, the foods that a mother eats can somehow be sensed by the fetus through the amniotic fluid. Some people believe that a fetus associates with the smell and taste of mother’s breast milk while in the uterus.
Visually, it’s hard to tell what it’s like inside the womb for a fetus, because while it may look a certain way to adult eyes, a fetus has a very limited range of focus. For long periods of time, the fetus has fused eyelids. For an adult, the inside of the uterus may appear red or lumpy. A fetus that can only perceive light might only see darkness, with changes when light sources are placed near the stomach.
There are many pictures and recordings of what it is like inside the uterus, but that kind of evidence doesn’t represent what it is like for a fetus. Therefore, attempts to change the womb environment that would be accommodated by an adult are not always appropriate for a child. Stimulation is usually unnecessary, as the mother’s body is naturally able to provide the fetus with as much stimulation as she needs. Changing what it is like inside the uterus should always be approached with extreme caution.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN