The baby

Can babies hear in the womb?

Checked against the sources listed on this page. Not reviewed by a clinician. Last updated 5 November 2026. How we check.

True

Yes. In one study, babies first responded to a sound at 19 weeks, and most responded by 27 weeks. Newborns recognise their mother’s voice.

Low-pitched sounds travel through tissue and fluid best, so voices sound muffled but rhythmic. Loud noises can startle the baby.

Newborns show preferences for their mother’s voice and for stories or songs repeatedly heard before birth.

References

  1. Hepper PG, Shahidullah BS. Development of fetal hearing. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1994
  2. DeCasper AJ, Fifer WP. Of human bonding: newborns prefer their mothers’ voices. Science, 1980
  3. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Fetal development

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Surprisingly, there’s some evidence for it. One small study found a link, possibly because the same hormones relax the stomach valve and affect fetal hair growth.

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