Sarab Rey, anthropologist: “Even conversations heard from the womb affect the baby’s development”
The specialist explains how the environment during pregnancy influences how a baby’s brain prepares to enter the world.

A baby’s development begins long before birth. As anthropologist Sarab Rey explains, the environment surrounding the fetus during pregnancy directly influences how the baby’s body develops. Many factors can leave a mark even before birth, from the mother’s emotional state to what happens around her.
Even the conversations a baby hears in the womb can play a role. “Even the conversations that can be heard from the womb affect the baby’s development,” the expert notes. She emphasizes that the mother’s neuroendocrine state during pregnancy plays a key role in fetal development.
Rey points to diet during pregnancy as a clear example. When a mother eats very little while pregnant, whether by choice or because food is scarce in her environment, the baby’s body may begin adapting to that situation before birth.
@podcastcontrol ¿Sabías que el entorno *intrauterino* moldea el futuro metabólico de tu bebé? 🤯 Una experta revela cómo la nutrición materna temprana programa la regulación de insulina y la tendencia a engordar. ¡Es pura lógica de supervivencia cerebral! La sabiduría de Sarab Rey sobre el impacto de la madre es absolutamente reveladora. ¡Mamás, alimentarse bien es programar salud desde el vientre! #Embarazo #Neurociencia #DesarrolloInfantil #SaludMaterna #Bebés
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Diet during pregnancy is key
The anthropologist explains that the baby’s brain tries to interpret the type of environment it will face after birth. If it perceives that this environment will involve limited resources, the baby’s metabolism may adjust in preparation for that reality.
This can lead to changes in insulin regulation or even a greater tendency to store fat. In other words, the child’s body begins adapting to survive in an environment where food may be scarce.
For this reason, Sarab Rey shares a clear message for expectant mothers: maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is essential. “It makes perfect sense,” she concludes, encouraging mothers to eat thoughtfully, without fear, in order to support their baby’s healthy development.
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