Fetal hiccups are normal and occur when the diaphragm contracts due to breathing in amniotic fluid. They may help regulate heart rate and practice the suck and swallow reflex. However, doctors may be concerned if hiccups suddenly increase, as it could indicate a problem with the umbilical cord.
Fetal hiccups occur when an unborn baby’s diaphragm contracts, usually due to breathing in amniotic fluid. They are considered normal and often feel rhythmic, like a heartbeat in the womb that can often be heard from the outside as well. Some unborn babies tend to hiccup more than others, even several times a day, and the same pattern can continue once they are born. Baby hiccups usually start in the second or third trimester, although sometimes they can start in the first trimester as well. While they may seem to bother a baby once it’s born, fetal hiccups don’t tend to cause distress in the unborn baby and may even lull it into sleep while it’s in the womb.
There is usually a reason for the hiccups of the unborn baby, just like when children and adults have them. Fetuses practice breathing while in the uterus, and because they are surrounded by amniotic fluid, they often breathe it in and out. As it enters the lungs and then exits, the diaphragm contracts, causing fetal hiccups. Because a developed nervous system is required for hiccups, hiccups in the unborn baby are usually not noticed until the second or third trimester, at which point it is an indication of adequate growth.
Another reason for fetal hiccups is practicing the suck and swallow reflex, which allows most babies to latch onto their mother’s breast to eat soon after birth. Fetuses who don’t practice this habit may not be able to effectively prevent milk from entering their lungs and choking them when they eat. Additionally, there is reason to believe that these hiccups may help regulate heart rate in the third trimester. Therefore, fetal hiccups are not only normal, but usually a good thing.
While hiccups in a fetus should be considered a good sign of growth, doctors are sometimes concerned about this type of fetal movement. This is probably because it can sometimes mean that the unborn baby is not getting enough air due to compression of the umbilical cord. This is when the cord wraps around your baby’s neck so they can’t breathe, causing their heart rate to speed up. The main symptom of this problem is the sudden increase in hiccups, followed by a lot of fetal movements in general once the air supply is restricted. An ultrasound should be sought immediately if these symptoms occur, even if the cord tends to wrap around the neck over time rather than suddenly.
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