| Studies show that fetuses can hear and react to | | | | discovered pregnant women who lived near Osaka |
| sound from as early as 20 weeks and begin active | | | | airport had a greater incidence of premature births |
| listening by the 24th week. Researcher Michele | | | | and delivered smaller babies. Chronic noise has also |
| Clements found that playing a lullaby, or calming music | | | | been linked to birth defects. |
| by Vivaldi and Mozart soothed 4 to 5 month-old | | | | Babies remember music they hear in the womb more |
| fetuses but loud and discordant music disturbed and | | | | than a year later. Some mothers have found that |
| upset them. | | | | playing the same calming music they listened to |
| The sense of hearing is the most developed of all | | | | before the baby was born calms the baby after birth. |
| senses before birth. French pioneer Dr. Alfred | | | | When playing music for your unborn child it is |
| Tomatis states the ear is “the Rome of the | | | | important that the music is not too loud. It |
| body” because almost every cranial nerve leads | | | | doesn’t have to be a lullaby or classical music. |
| to it. He believes the ear is far more than just an | | | | Elton John or smooth jazz is just as good. Whatever |
| instrument for hearing, or an organ for maintaining | | | | you enjoy, as long as it isn’t loud or discordant is |
| balance. The ear acts as a generator of energy for | | | | fine. |
| the brain that gives a cortical charge which is | | | | Studies show that constant exposure to aggressive, |
| distributed throughout the body. This charge tones | | | | discordant music negatively alters the brains |
| up the whole system imparting greater dynamism to | | | | structure. Even plants suffer when exposed to this |
| the human being. Therefore the proper pre-natal | | | | sort of music. |
| sound stimulation leads to better verbal, listening and | | | | So if you are pregnant the 3 types of music that |
| thinking skills. He discovered that songbirds hatched | | | | you must avoid are Rap, Grunge and Hard Rock. If |
| by silent foster mothers can’t sing. | | | | you are a fan of these styles of music and you really |
| Renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin believes his musical | | | | don’t want to give up listening then put on |
| ability is partly due to constant exposure to music | | | | headphones and listen to your heart’s content. |
| before he was born. | | | | But, when you turn on the stereo or the car radio, |
| The heartbeat of four-month-old fetuses accelerates | | | | stick to sweet melodies and beautiful harmonies. Your |
| if exposed to loud sounds. A Japanese study | | | | baby will thank you. |