Pregnancy isn’t just about growing a baby—it’s about building a human experience from the very beginning.

Most people talk about how big your baby is at each stage—

📏 “Your baby is the size of a peach.”

📏 “Now they’re a watermelon!”

But what about what they actually experience?

💡 Did you know your baby can taste the food you eat?

💡 That they can recognise your voice before they’re born?

💡 That they are constantly being shaped by the sounds, movements, and emotions of the womb?

Today, we’re exploring:

✔ How your baby develops at each stage—beyond just size.

✔ What they experience inside the womb.

✔ How you can bond with them before birth.

Because your connection with your baby starts long before labour begins.

👶 How Your Baby Develops Inside the Womb

From the moment of conception, your baby isn’t just growing physically—they’re developing their senses, emotions, and instincts.

🧠 Weeks 6-8: The Brain Begins to Form

✔ The neural tube (which becomes the brain & spinal cord) is developing.

✔ The first electrical brain activity starts—your baby is beginning to form connections!

👂 Weeks 18-20: Your Baby Starts Hearing

✔ They hear the whooshing of your blood, your heartbeat, and your digestive system.

✔ Your voice becomes their favourite sound.

💡 This is why talking, singing, and playing music can help babies feel safe & connected.

👅 Weeks 21+: Taste & Smell Develop

✔ Your baby swallows amniotic fluid flavoured by what you eat!

✔ Research shows babies exposed to a variety of tastes in the womb are less picky eaters later in life.

💡 Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods now can set up your baby’s future eating habits!

👀 Weeks 25+: Baby Can Open Their Eyes

✔ They react to light shining through your belly.

✔ If you shine a flashlight on your belly, they may turn toward it!

💡 What Babies Actually Experience Inside the Womb

Most people assume babies are just “floating” in the womb, waiting to be born—but they are actually constantly experiencing the world.

✔ They feel movement. When you walk, run, or dance, they experience gentle rocking sensations.

✔ They hear your emotions. Your tone of voice changes when you’re happy, calm, or stressed.

✔ They recognise their parents. Babies can recognize the voices of those closest to you before birth.

✔ They react to stress. If you’re under prolonged stress, your body releases cortisol, which your baby absorbs too.

💡 This is why slowing down, resting, and surrounding yourself with calm, positive energy during pregnancy can benefit both you and your baby.

💞 How to Bond with Your Baby Before Birth

Even before birth, you can build a deep connection with your baby.

🎶 1️⃣ Talk & Sing to Them

✔ They already recognise your voice.

✔ Talking softly can help them feel safe and connected.

🚀 Try: Reading a story aloud every night—after birth, this same story can soothe them!

🤲 2️⃣ Gentle Belly Touch & Massage

✔ Babies respond to touch through the womb.

✔ Research shows that babies can move toward touch at around 20 weeks!

🚀 Try: Lightly stroking your belly and seeing if they respond with movement!

🎵 3️⃣ Play Music & Sounds They’ll Remember After Birth

✔ Babies remember sounds they heard in the womb.

✔ Playing familiar music can help them feel calm after birth.

🚀 Try: Playing a soft playlist now and using the same music to soothe them after birth.

🧘‍♀️ 4️⃣ Visualise & Meditate on Connection

✔ Take a moment each day to picture your baby, talk to them, and send love.

✔ Imagine them growing strong, healthy, and feeling safe in your womb.

💡 You don’t need anything fancy—just taking time to pause and connect makes a difference.

💡 The Science of a Connected Pregnancy

Research shows that babies whose mothers felt connected to them before birth:

✔ Had easier transitions after birth

✔ Showed better emotional regulation

✔ Had lower stress responses

💡 Your energy, your emotions, and your connection with your baby all matter.

🚀 Bonding doesn’t start at birth—it starts NOW.

💡 What This Means for You

✔ Your baby is not just growing—they’re experiencing the world.

✔ Their senses develop earlier than most people realise.

✔ You can start bonding with them NOW, before birth.

✔ Your emotions, voice, and environment shape their early development.

So today, ask yourself:

💡 How can I connect with my baby today?

💡 What small changes can I make to create a calmer, more loving womb environment?

💡 How can I involve my partner or loved ones in this early connection?

🚀 Because birth isn’t the beginning of your relationship with your baby—it started the moment they began to grow inside you.

15. Baby Development in the Womb: How Your Baby Grows & What They Experience

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