From the Research
No, you cannot make a phone call to a 15-week fetus. A fetus at 15 weeks of development does not have the cognitive ability to understand or respond to a phone call, nor does it have access to a phone or any communication device. While a 15-week fetus has developing ears and can detect some sounds from inside the womb, it cannot engage in two-way communication. The auditory system is still developing at this stage, and though the fetus may react to loud noises or recognize familiar voices, these are reflexive responses rather than conscious communication 1.
Key Points to Consider
- The fetus's auditory system is not fully developed until later in pregnancy, with consistent responses to acoustic stimuli observed from 28 weeks onwards 2.
- The fetus can detect low-frequency sounds, but high-frequency sounds are attenuated by up to 20 to 30 dB as they pass through the tissues and fluids surrounding the fetal head 3.
- Studies have shown that the fetus responds to external sounds, including the mother's heartbeat, but this is not the same as engaging in two-way communication 4.
- The development of fetal hearing is a gradual process, with the range of frequencies responded to expanding over time 1.
Recommendations for Bonding with Your Unborn Baby
- Speaking directly to your belly, playing music, or reading aloud are more appropriate ways to stimulate auditory development and create a sense of bonding.
- These activities can be beneficial for both parent and baby bonding, even though the fetus cannot comprehend language or respond in a conversational manner.
- It is essential to consider the potential risks of overexposure to high-frequency noise in the NICU and its impact on the developing auditory system of preterm infants 5.