In the mother's womb, the sounds that the fetus mainly receives are those of the mother's body, although some strong external sounds may be muffled after twenty weeks. But, sounds from the inside can get to hear them before. For the first time it has been proven that, vaginally, music stimulates the fetus with 16 weeks gestation.
We know that the stimulation of the baby begins in the womb and this could tempt us to perform the "experiment" ourselves, but, we warn: "Do not perform at home." At least, not anyway. The results have been obtained thanks to a controlled study conducted with all hygiene and safety conditions and with the necessary material.
Come on we can't introduce music into the vagina the first way we can think of. But, calm down, that for pregnant women who really want to test at home, the device used in the research is already commercialized, as we tell you below.
Meanwhile, we will settle for putting headphones on the belly (although specialists doubt that this practice is effective) and also to talk to him, that something will reach the baby. But let's see what this research consists of.
How does the study was realized
The abdominal wall has many thick layers that make the outer sound that reaches the uterus distorted and practically like a whisper, so the fetus may not react. The non-musical sound vibrations that are emitted from the vagina (with a vibrator, for example) also do not stimulate the baby (it was found in this same investigation).
This week specialists from the Institut Marquès de Barcelona have published a study in the British magazine "Ultrasound" of the British Medical Ultrasound Society in which they conclude that the only way for music to penetrate the uterus and cause a response from the baby is through the vagina.
The clinical trial tested the difference between three different types of fetal stimulation: abdominal, vaginal, and non-musical sound vibrations emitted from the vagina. It was applying vaginal music (and only 54 decibels) when 87% of the fetuses moved their mouth or tongue and about 50% reacted by opening the jaw a lot and taking out the tongue to the fullest, effects that were not observed in the Two other stimulations.
Can it be done at home?
The study was carried out using a prototype speaker specially designed for this purpose. And how could it be otherwise, it has already begun to be marketed. It's the Babypod and you can buy it for about 120 euros. It consists of a silicone speaker that is inserted into the vagina and from which hangs a cable that connects to a music player. The music reaches the fetus at 54 decibels. Do you see yourself with such a device doing the test?
Many women have already been encouraged to participate in the tests. The clinical trial began with 106 women, but, in a year, the results have been seen, they have already undergone "vaginal music therapy" many more pregnant women. The effect is that the fetus hears like a newborn, with the same intensity and without distortions.
Finally, let's point out that the study confirming that vaginal music stimulates the fetus It will allow diagnostic applications such as discarding fetal deafness, speeding up ultrasound scans and may also reduce the anxiety of those mothers who are disturbed when they don't notice the movements of the fetus. In addition, it is also important that it is demonstrated, for the first time, that fetuses hear from the 16th week of pregnancy.
