"When I Was in Mom's Belly"... A Conversation Between Mother and Daughter During the Fetal Period

A Viral YouTube Video
Experts Say "Fetuses Can See and Hear Too"

Photo for better understanding of the article, unrelated to the article content

A conversation between a mother and her child during the fetal period has become a hot topic.

Recently, a video of a mother talking with her 33-month-old child has gone viral on YouTube. When the mother asked, "What did you do when you were in mommy's belly?" the child responded, recalling the umbilical cord, "I sucked on it. Something like a worm." Then the child added, "I also ate grapes." The video included a subtitle with additional explanation: "Actually, I had severe morning sickness and only ate frozen grapes."

Netizens expressed admiration and amazement at the child's memory of the fetal period. Women who have experienced childbirth shared that they had similar experiences with their children. One netizen commented, "My child also remembered the fetal period, saying, 'I was sleeping in mommy's belly when something fell and startled me. But mommy apologized and gently patted me.'" Another said, "My child remembers that during birth, when someone pressed on mommy's belly from outside, they held on here and there because they didn't want to come out."

On the other hand, some netizens dismissed these claims, saying, "The child is just repeating what the mother said as if it were their own memory," or "They are imagining and speaking as if it were real."

Is it possible for a young child to remember their fetal period? Experts explain that fetuses can indeed have memories. Professor Hong Soon-cheol of Korea University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology told Kukmin Ilbo in an interview, "(The fetus's) memory may not be precise, but it is definitely possible." He added, "The fetus's hearing develops from 24 weeks, and vision from 28 weeks. Although subtle, they can hear external sounds and see things like the umbilical cord."