Pregnancy can easily cause you to second-guess the safety of everything, and it can be a bit of a balancing act to ensure you and your baby are safe while still enjoying many activities. For one listener, the question came up about whether loud music and noise exposure are safe during pregnancy. In this episode, you’ll learn how babies hear in the womb, review the research on noise exposure, and hear what health organizations recommend. We’ll also look at the factors that influence risk and practical strategies to reduce or mitigate them.

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Hi Vanessa,

I’m heading into my third trimester and have tickets to a concert coming up in a few weeks. Now I’m second-guessing whether it is a good idea to go. I’ve heard that loud noise can affect a baby’s hearing, and I definitely do not want to do anything that could be harmful. It is outdoors, and our seats are not right next to the speakers.

Is it okay to attend a loud event like this while pregnant? Are there any specific risks I should be aware of, or are there ways to make it safer?

Thanks for everything.

– Elise

Elise, I assume you bought these concert tickets months ago, and I imagine it is frustrating to wonder whether it is safe for you to attend. Let’s examine the evidence on sound exposure during pregnancy so you can understand the potential risks, learn ways to mitigate them, and make an informed decision with confidence.

How Babies Hear in the Womb

Your baby’s ears begin developing very early in pregnancy. By around week 18, they can hear. This sense continues to improve throughout gestation. What your baby hears at 40 weeks is much sharper than what they perceive at 20 weeks. It is thought that loud noises can startle a baby in the womb. Repetitive noises, like your dog barking or your voice, can even become familiar before birth.

To better understand what a baby hears in utero, researchers conducted an animal study using sheep. They implanted tiny recording devices in the uteri and inner ears of sheep in utero to capture sound. Researchers played recorded sentences, which were captured by the recording devices. When sound was recorded in the uterus, listeners understood about 70 percent of the sentences recorded in the uterus. From the fetal inner ear, it dropped to about 40 percent. This shows how much sound is filtered and muffled before reaching your baby. A helpful way to imagine this is to think about how sounds change when you are underwater. Sound travels through a fluid in a way that makes it less sharp and less clear than it is in air.

The Research on Loud Noise in Pregnancy

The majority of studies on loud noise exposure during pregnancy are occupational studies of expectant mothers who work in loud environments, such as factories or airports. The potential risks include low birth weight, preterm birth, and possible effects on the infant’s hearing are seen in chronic, high-level exposures, not occasional events.

A more recent study investigated whether occupational noise exposure during pregnancy (80–85 dB for 8 hours per day) impacted newborn hearing screening results. An 80–85 dB level is approximately equivalent to that of a loud, busy street or heavy traffic. 98.5% of noise-exposed infants had normal hearing, compared to 99.3% of the control group. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant, and no harmful effects were found.

Official Recommendations

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have published recommendations about loud noise exposure during pregnancy. These guidelines are primarily intended for individuals who work in consistently noisy environments, such as those involving machinery, airplanes, sirens, concerts, or large crowds. The key takeaways are:

• The AAP states pregnant women who are consistently exposed to occupational noise levels of 85–95 dB may have children with high-frequency hearing loss. Some studies suggest that prolonged exposure to noise levels around 80 dB at work may increase the risk of preterm birth and low-birth-weight babies.
• The CDC cautions to avoid areas louder than 115 dB during pregnancy, even with hearing protection. For reference, 115 dB is about the same as using a chainsaw.
• Avoid low-frequency sounds (noises that you feel as a rumble or vibration). These travel more easily through your body than high-frequency sounds and can cause changes that could affect your developing baby.
• Do not lean up against a source of noise or vibration. Sounds are stronger for a fetus when your belly is closer to the source of the noise. Move as far away from the source of noise as possible.

The AAP states that loud noise can increase stress in mothers, causing physiological changes such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Stress hormones, such as cortisol, can cross the placenta, potentially affecting the baby’s development. They also mention that expectant mothers should be mindful of loud leisure activities, such as rock concerts or loud music played in cars.

Factors that Influence Risk

Most of the recommendations from the AAP and CDC are based on studies of pregnant women who worked in environments with continuous loud noise throughout the day. That is very different from occasional exposure, like attending a concert. Given the recommendations, let’s examine the factors that influence risk and how they may apply to situations outside of the workplace.

Volume is the most critical factor. Even if you wear ear protection, that does not protect your baby. The CDC recommends explicitly avoiding sounds at or above 115 dB, which is about the level of a chainsaw or standing directly next to a concert speaker. Duration also matters. Exposure to loud noise for 40 hours a week over the entire course of your pregnancy is not the same as a few hours at a concert, even if you attend concerts regularly. Proximity plays a role as well. If you can choose your spot at a concert, sitting farther from the speakers will reduce your exposure to the sound. Setting influences risk, too. Indoor concerts often concentrate and reflect sound, which increases overall exposure. In an outdoor venue, sound dissipates more, reducing your exposure.

The AAP cautions that loud noise can increase stress in mothers, raising their heart rate and blood pressure. The concerns about stress on fetal development are mainly tied to chronic stress, not occasional or acute events. While loud music might temporarily raise your heart rate or blood pressure, concerts are generally enjoyable experiences rather than stressful ones.

Strategies to Reduce Risk

The good news is that knowing the potential risks empowers you to eliminate or mitigate them. Elise, you mentioned that the concert you have tickets to is outdoors, and you are not near the speakers. Already, you are safer than if you had front row seats at an indoor show. While it is easy to get wrapped up in specifics, I encourage you to trust your gut and pay attention to how you feel. If you are in an uncomfortably loud environment, it could be an indication that the noise level is also too loud for your baby.

Talking to Your Doctor or Midwife

The most significant concern with noise exposure during pregnancy comes from repeated, high-intensity occupational exposures. If your job involves exposure to loud machinery, concerts, aircraft, or other noisy environments, it is essential to discuss this with your doctor or midwife. They can help you assess whether the level of noise in your workplace poses a real risk and guide you on safe limits. Depending on your situation, you may want to explore whether your workplace can provide accommodations. This could include rotating tasks, changing work areas, or adjusting your schedule to reduce exposure. As always, if you have any questions, your doctor or midwife is an excellent resource to help you navigate them.

Making a Confident Decision

Concerts are a fantastic opportunity to enjoy live music, dance, and have a great time. There is no clear evidence that going to a concert is harmful to your baby. If there were, you would expect to see stronger warnings, restrictions, or waivers required for pregnant women.

On a personal note, I went into labor with my son at a concert. Maybe it was the loud noise, maybe it was the dancing. Perhaps it was a pure coincidence. Either way, it was an amazing show, and I am glad I didn’t skip it and stay home out of fear that it would have any adverse effects on my baby.

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The Pregnancy Survival Kit from 8 Sheep Organics includes a set of four handcrafted products that help with common pregnancy pains like pregnancy insomnia, restless legs, lower back and hip pains, leg cramps, swollen and achy legs and feet, and stretch marks. All 8 Sheep products come with a 100-day Happiness Guarantee. You can try it completely risk-free for 100 days! Click here to save 10%.