Does personality start in the womb?

If you’ve ever needed more reasons to relax, take it easy and have fun during pregnancy, here’s a good one: there’s a chance your baby’s personality may be shaped by your activities and emotions.

That’s because personality, many researchers believe, starts to form in utero. While genetics play a huge role in how new babies respond to stimulation, react to unexpected circumstances and deal with emotions, researchers in the growing field of prenatal psychology have found that environmental factors and some of the things parents do — such as talking, singing or eating a diverse diet — also may have an impact on how their babies come out of the womb.

Defined as a combination of temperament, habits, responses and ways of thinking, personality is a complex and evolving thing. Whether a kid is introverted, extroverted or a mix of both could already be predetermined by the combination of genes passed down from both mother and father. But whether a baby is calm, happy-go-lucky, or even a good eater could be influenced by things the mother does throughout her pregnancy, as babies start developing their senses before ever entering the outside world.¹

While playing classical music might not make a baby genius, it could be a calming factor for both mother and child that stimulates prenatal learning and cognitive development.² Some researchers have found that singing songs and talking to your baby could have similar effects and familiarize babies with certain songs that could be comforting after birth.^3,4,5 However, other researchers disagree.

Babies also can be born with accents. One study found that depending on what they’ve been hearing in the womb, a French’s baby’s cry could sound differently than an American baby’s cry.⁶

In terms of taste, a mother could help develop a little gourmand by eating a diverse diet of healthy foods that expand a baby’s palate even before they’re born.⁷ By eating lots of bitter greens and spices, for instance, a baby might develop a taste for complex foods and foods that are harder to like, as these flavors find their way through amniotic fluids. This could make the baby more open to trying new foods and be a little less picky later in life.

According to research performed by early development specialist Marcy Axness, Ph.D., several connections have been made between experiences in utero and certain compulsions, repetitive behaviors, fears and fascinations later in life. The air a woman breaths and even the emotions she feels combine to shape what a fetus is learning in utero. The more a woman stays in healthy environments and a positive mindset, the better outcomes her baby may have.⁸

To learn more about your baby's health during pregnancy, or to plan for pregnancy, visit Natera's Women's Health page to learn how our cell-free DNA tests can help. For more information about Natera billing, please contact the Natera billing phone number at 1-844-384-2996 (8 am-7 pm CT M-F) or visit the Natera billing page.