Perinatal Psychology: What Do Children Feel Before They Are Born?
From the moment we discover that we are going to be parents, our concerns change. Our focus is to take care of our habits so that the fetus grows strong and healthy, monitoring our diet or our sleep, among other factors.
We go to all the gynecological exams and keep an eye on all the tests and ultrasounds. In short, we try to take care of all the baby’s physical aspects. But… what about the psychological ones?
The first thing that may come to our mind is: fetus psychology? Perinatal psychology is a specialty that studies the emotional bonds between mother and child from before birth, as well as what the fetus can feel or perceive inside the mother’s womb.
In addition, it also seeks to answer the numerous questions that affect parents regarding what our babies are feeling and living before “coming into the world”. For example: will the fetus notice when I am angry? How will he experience childbirth? Why does he kick when I talk?
Perinatal Psychology: Baby Feelings in the Belly
As already mentioned, perinatal psychology is responsible for analyzing what the fetus is capable of feeling before birth. The intrauterine baby has great perceptual skills, and all of this translates into emotions:
the sense of touch
Our children like to be pampered from the moment they are in the belly. Touch is the first sense that develops. That’s why they react when someone caresses or presses on their mother’s belly.
However, according to a study carried out at the University of California, the same is not true for pain. This realization requires the development of specific brain centers that do not appear until the 29th week of pregnancy.
the sense of hearing
Is classical music relaxing for them? By the 22nd week this is likely, as they will already be developing their sense of hearing, although the most relaxing sound for them is their mother’s voice.
At the end of the sixth month, we will begin to notice that the baby in the belly is startled by slamming doors and becomes agitated or calms down according to the tone of voice we speak. Also, he quickly recognizes our voice.
perception of emotions
If we are sad, the baby will notice, even if we are not crying or screaming and we try to get through the day normally. Intense emotions, both positive and negative, cause changes in our hormone levels that the child can perceive.
If they are too intense, they can even influence the growth of the fetus or increase the chances of premature birth.
Do intrauterine experiences influence your life?
Several researches on human embryology have concluded that there is psychic activity in the last stages of uterine life, stating that psychological development begins from the moment of conception. What the unborn boy or girl feels and perceives begins to create and shape their attitudes and expectations regarding themselves and the world that awaits them.
This is why an important part of the individual’s character and abilities takes shape while still in the womb, while the different parts of the body are also being formed.
Our babies are connected with us. Therefore, our feelings will also affect them, thus leaving a small mark on their future personality. This does not mean that we cannot stress or have occasional doubts because we will mark our children for the rest of their lives, but rather that deep and constant feelings, such as depressive feelings, for example, can have an impact on their development.
In turn, the role of the father is also vitally important during pregnancy. A caring and sensitive father who provides constant emotional support for the mother and interacts with the newborn will help him reach his full developmental potential.
