The Sound of Learning: Education through Music

Babies learn from their environment with surprisingly effective results. Even from inside their mothers’ wombs, infants can recognize certain sensations to a degree, and can subconsciously learn from such experiences. Music is a favorite method for mothers to encourage their babies to learn a thing or two about sound, and hopefully enhance their brain development.

Some educators believe that music appreciation and education can begin as early as the early stages of pregnancy. Babies generally respond favorably to the sound of music being played against their mothers’ wombs. Studies have determined that with daily exposure, prenatal babies subjected to music calmed down faster and helped them recognize musical cues to a degree once born. Different kinds of music can be played to bring about such effects, and classical music is by far the most popular choice of them all.

It is hoped that through prenatal sound education, babies can become more musically inclined as they grow. Indeed, entire educational systems revolving around music encourage parents to play classical music to their prenatal child to begin their early training. Studies suggest that babies can already hear while inside the mother’s womb, and react positively to sound, so playing tune from time to time can aid in the development of the child.

This Side Up: Turning Breech Babies with Music

The process of childbirth is fraught with risks, encouraging expecting mothers to be wary of both their condition and their babies’. One of the most dangerous things that can happen is if the child assumes a breech position. In a breech position, the baby’s buttocks and/or feet are facing the pelvis of the mother, and giving birth to a breech infant can pose significant risks to the child.

What Happens during the Different Stages of Prenatal Development?

Prenatal or fetal development is the process taking place within a mother's womb. This is basically the time when the baby is being developed, happening after conception and before birth. Doctors often use the prenatal period to do check-ups on both the development of the child and the mother's well-being to ensure the safety of both during this time until pregnancy. Medical experts even divided the the prenatal process into different stages to ensure that proper care is being given to both mother and child during its proper time.

The Germinal Stage: From The Child's Conception

When the father's sperm cell and mother's egg cell unite, the resulting cell, the zygote, travels down to the fallopian tube where germination takes place. Germination of the zygote essentially is when the cell divides itself, forming more cells and differentiating themselves from one another, resulting in the eventual formation of the placenta and the embryo, the premature baby. The embryo travels into the uterus where it attaches to one of its walls and receives nutrients from its mother until its birth. The whole germinal stage happens twenty-four hours after conception and lasts for one to three weeks.

The Embryonic Stage: From Cell to Child

The embryonic period usually is the time when the baby's features are formed. The cell division that took place in the germinal stage of the fallopian tube continues in the uterus, where the different cells form the different systems of a human baby. From its outer features like the head, hands and feet, to its inner organs like the heart and brain, the baby's development becomes distinct. The embryo is already developing into a human. This stage takes place after the third week and may last until the eighth week after conception.

The Fetal Stage: From Development to Growth

This phase takes place from the eight week until birth. The embryo develops further into a fetus with its growth becoming quite visible, as seen with the mother's womb becoming larger. The fetal stage is the longest stage of prenatal development since aside from the changes happening to the baby, the development of its organs has already reached its climax. The brain of the child is already responding and the heart, beating. Reproductive organs are also developed during this stage, determining the gender of the baby. The growth of the child continues until its ninth month, which is typically when pregnancy ends and the child is born.

Auditory Stimulation for Babies in the Womb

Lullabies, music, your mother’s voice—these are all sounds that bring your childhood back to mind. What if these sounds aren’t just a memory from when you were a child? What if you first heard these sounds while you were still inside your mother’s womb and retained them after birth?

Womb Learning: Increasing your Baby’s Brain Power

Many experts all over the world agree that an unborn baby can receive and respond to sensory information inside the uterus. In as early as 23 weeks, a baby can hear sounds and react to your voice—proven signs of auditory engagement. A large number of studies show that playing music, reading stories, or simply talking to your baby are already learning experiences.

How Maternal Heartbeat Sounds Aid in Baby's Prenatal Development Stage

There's a memorable scene in the hit movie “Baby Mama” where Tina Fey's character tells Amy Poehler's character how important prenatal care is. Fey stresses that whatever the pregnant mom eats, the baby eats; whatever the pregnant mom listens to, the baby listens to. Poehler then quips that she prefers that the baby listens to DMX's rap music like she does.

While that scene was played out for laughs, Fey was actually on to something. Scientific research attests that the fetus's hearing ability is already well developed by the end of the second trimester, and music can stimulate brain activity. However, what you make your baby-to-be listen to is incredibly important; you may love heavy metal music, but this type of music may not be a good idea during the prenatal development stage.

Classical Music

Many parenting resources suggest that the most ideal type of music to make babies-to-be listen to is classical music, preferably Mozart's or Bach's. However, there is actually no concrete evidence that listening to classical music during pregnancy will help produce highly intelligent babies. Evidence is strong, though, that there is much significant effect of exposing babies to classical music—that is, when they are out of their mom's wombs.

In addition, listening to classical music may aid in the production of breast milk in nursing moms. This statement is at least according to research by psychologist and book author Sergio della Sala. Sala wrote that a farmer in Italy told him that playing Mozart at least three times a day helped his buffalos produce better milk.

Maternal Heartbeat Sounds

While classical music has yet to be proven in early brain development, a report in Time magazine says that maternal voice and heartbeat sounds provide comfort to premature babies. In the same way, pre-born babies can be stimulated by electronic devices that replicate maternal heartbeat sounds.

Putting a pair of headphones against the belly of a pregnant mom makes for a comical scene in some TV shows and movies. However, there is truth to how babies can respond to the sounds they hear even when they are in their mom's womb.

Build a Good foundation for your Child: Prenatal Education

There are many things that take place during the different stages of child development. Parents invest a lot in classes and programs that will help hone their child’s skills. Many parents remain curious, though. Is it possible to facilitate the advanced development of the child even when the baby is still inside the womb?

Education During Fetal Development

A lot of parents would consider it ideal to be involved with their kids every step of the way. Now, it’s possible to be involved even during fetal development, which happens right after the moment of conception.