Learn more about your baby's established sense of smell and how he may be exhibiting future personality traits while in the womb.
27-30 weeks gestational age
He is gaining his sense of smell. He may react to sounds, such as songs that you sing to him. He will begin to put on baby fat. He will weigh between 1-1/2 pounds and 5 pounds, and will measure 12-18 inches in length.
Brain and Personality Development
Between weeks 27 to 30, your baby's brain will take on the "folded" shape of a mature brain. He is producing the billions of neurons and synapses needed to make complex connections and may begin to form memories. He may also begin to exhibit future personality traits via his behaviour in the womb, i.e. if he is very active or mostly calm. As his hearing and memory develop, you will feel him reacting to sounds like the songs you sing to him. Nourish your baby's development with proper nutrition that includes adequate amounts of DHA, an Omega-3 fat that supports healthy normal brain and eye development.
Your baby's olfactory neurons, or nerve cells that relate to smell, developed early on, however it is at this point that they can now detect odours. Smell is yet another way your baby can recognize and make sense of the world around him. During the third trimester, his sense of smell will greatly improve. Soon, he'll be able to react to strong odors by grimacing or moving his head. And after birth, he'll be comforted by the familiar smell of mom. His sense of taste also becomes more refined at this time. Many of your baby's taste preferences will be influenced by the flavours he is experiencing in your prenatal diet. If you choose to breastfeed, your baby will recognize and be comforted by those flavours in your breast milk.
Your baby is beginning to develop body fat layers that will regulate his body temperature and provide energy stores after birth.