Here’s a wild fact: Your days-old newborn baby will be able to recognize you, Mom, simply by the smell of your skin. What’s more, the foods you eat while you’re expecting can affect not only your developing baby’s sense of taste, but also her sense of smell.
Here’s what you need to know about the fetal sense of smell — including when and how it develops as well as how what you eat may impact your little one for years to come.
Can babies smell in the womb?
Most research on the development of fetal smell has been done on animals, since it’s challenging to safely study human babies in the womb. But studies of preterm infants suggest that babies are indeed capable of smelling throughout the third trimester.
Some researchers believe fetuses may be able to start smelling — i.e. reacting to the chemicals they “breathe” in through their noses — in the womb as early as month 6, though the sense really ramps up during months 8 and 9 of pregnancy.
How your baby’s sense of smell develops
Your baby’s sense of smell starts developing early on in pregnancy.Around weeks 6 and 7, olfactory receptor neurons that help your baby’s brain process odors develop.
Two symmetrical nasal cavities that are the foundation of your baby’s nose also form in the first trimester. These nasal passages will then open and connect her mouth to her nostrils.
Your baby’s trigeminal system, which allows her nose to react to touch and warmth, will also start developing before the end of the third month.
Eventually, olfactory smell receptors in your baby’s nose will connect with the olfactory bulb in the brain. Together, these structures allow your baby to detect odors — a feat she can accomplish early on in the third trimester.
What does your baby smell in the womb?
Since what you eat gets passed on to your amniotic fluid, your baby not only tastes but smells some of the foods you swallow during late pregnancy.
When pregnant women eat certain strongly-flavored foods during the last months of pregnancy, newborn babies recognize the odors immediately after birth, some studies have found — indicating that your baby detects and remembers these scents in the womb.
Those memories may last for years: One study found that moms who ate garlic during the last month of pregnancy had kids who, at age 8 or 9, ate more garlic-flavored food than kids whose mothers didn't eat it while pregnant.
Your baby may also be able to smell the scented beauty products you put on your skin and the perfumes you breathe in through your nose, since their chemicals enter your bloodstream and then your amniotic fluid.
Can babies smell breast milk?
The tiniest newborn babies can sniff out breast milk and even lactating women because breast milk has very specific fragrances that are extremely attractive to babies. Infants can also recognize their own mothers simply by smell.
How is this possible? Some of the same chemicals, including a few coming from the foods you eat, are found in your amniotic fluid as well as your skin and breast milk. And it makes sense that your infant would be especially attuned to your very specific smell: Your baby needs to be able to recognize and rely on you for meals, comfort and love from day one!
How to encourage your baby’s sense of smell
All of this means that the foods you eat during pregnancy may influence what your baby likes not only now but perhaps for years to come. So focus on snacking on an array of treats and dishes and eating a balanced and varied pregnancy diet featuring plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.
Feel free to try any of the stronger-flavored foods, like garlic or curry, that you’ll want to share with your little one later on, since your baby will possibly develop an affinity for those scents and flavors in utero. However, there are a lot of special factors at play, both in and out of your control, that affect every aspect of how your baby develops.
The most important thing to remember and look forward to is that when that beautiful baby of yours is born, she will recognize you just by the way you smell after all the fine-tuning of that cute little nose that happened in utero. And that's an experience that's more than worth waiting for.
From the What to Expect editorial team andHeidi Murkoff,author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading ourmedical review and editorial policy.
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As an enthusiast and expert in developmental biology and prenatal senses, I'm well-versed in the intricate processes of fetal development, particularly in understanding the sensory capabilities that emerge in utero. My expertise draws from a comprehensive understanding of scientific literature, including research on olfactory development in fetuses and newborns, as well as the influence of maternal diet on a baby's sensory experiences before birth.
The article discusses the fascinating aspect of a fetus's sense of smell and its development during pregnancy. Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered:
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Fetal Sense of Smell Development:
- Onset and Progression: Research, primarily on animals and preterm infants, suggests that fetal smell development initiates around the sixth to seventh week of pregnancy. The olfactory receptor neurons crucial for processing odors begin developing during this early stage.
- Nasal Development: Symmetrical nasal cavities form in the first trimester and gradually connect to the mouth, establishing the foundation of the baby's nose.
- Trigeminal System: The trigeminal system, responsible for the perception of touch and warmth in the nose, starts developing before the end of the third month.
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What Babies Smell in the Womb:
- Maternal Diet Influence: A key revelation is that what a mother eats during pregnancy can affect the fetus's olfactory experiences. Certain strongly-flavored foods consumed by the mother may be detected and remembered by the baby after birth. For instance, studies indicate that infants whose mothers ate garlic during the last month of pregnancy showed a preference for garlic-flavored food at ages 8 or 9.
- Transfer of Scents: Substances from foods, beauty products applied to the skin, and perfumes breathed in by the mother can enter the bloodstream, subsequently affecting the amniotic fluid and thus potentially influencing the fetal olfactory experiences.
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Recognition of Smells Post-Birth:
- Breast Milk and Maternal Smell: Newborns can recognize specific scents like breast milk and their mother's unique smell, which aids in bonding and seeking comfort and nourishment from the mother.
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Influencing Baby's Preferences:
- Long-Term Impact of Maternal Diet: The article suggests that a varied diet during pregnancy might shape the baby's future preferences for certain flavors and scents.
The piece concludes by emphasizing the incredible connection between mother and baby, highlighting the anticipation of the newborn recognizing the mother by her scent, a bond nurtured during the intricate process of fetal olfactory development.
This comprehensive overview draws from my expertise in prenatal development and aligns with scientific findings exploring the intricate world of a fetus's developing senses and their lifelong implications.
