Final answer:
Fetal hearing develops around 18 to 20 weeks, and by the 24th week, the baby can hear more distinctly. It is a suitable time to start playing music from this point onwards to possibly stimulate the unborn baby's development.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a nurse providing prenatal care, it's common to receive questions about fetal development and the best practices for nurturing growth. When Anna asks about playing music for her unborn baby, you can inform her that fetal hearing development occurs around 18 to 20 weeks of gestation. By the 24th week, the baby's hearing is more developed, allowing them to react to different sounds. Sharing this information can help Anna understand the approximate timeline when it may be beneficial to begin playing music for her baby.
Unborn baby's hearing develops in stages, and the ability to hear matures as the pregnancy progresses. The development of the auditory system is complex, and the introduction of sound, like music, can potentially have positive effects on the unborn baby, including soothing and stimulating the development of neural pathways related to hearing and cognition. However, it's important to note that any stimulation should be moderate as excessive noise can be harmful.