Similar to the nose, the fetus's mouth develops during the second month of pregnancy. By the fourth month, the taste buds on the fetus's tongue are fully formed. Although amniotic fluid has a slightly salty taste, the fetus can savor it with relish. New Zealand scientists discovered through a simple experiment that, similar to the nose, the fetus's mouth develops during the second month of pregnancy.
By the fourth month of pregnancy, the taste buds on the fetus's tongue are fully developed. Despite the slightly salty taste of amniotic fluid, the fetus can savor it with relish.
New Zealand scientists demonstrated fetal taste perception at four months through a simple experiment: adding saccharin to the mother's amniotic fluid caused the fetus to suckle at twice the normal rate. When an unpleasant-tasting oil was injected into the uterus, the fetus immediately ceased sucking and began thrashing about in the womb, clearly protesting.