Have you ever heard that a child has not yet been born into the world already hiccups in his mother’s stomach? This is not a myth at all. The hiccups of the fetus are a wonderful reminder that the baby is growing inside her mother’s tummy.
This is a completely normal phenomenon that many pregnant women feel and can be observed by a doctor during an ultrasound scan. Future mothers can notice hiccups already at the end of the first, beginning of the second trimester, although the phenomenon was also present at earlier stages, but was not noticed due to the weak expression and small size of the fetus.
What causes hiccups in an infant in the womb?
Currently, the exact cause of hiccups during fetal growth has not been thoroughly studied. But, many obstetricians agree that the phenomenon is associated with the development of the lungs, growth of the central nervous system, ingestion of amniotic fluid and oxygen hypoxia of the fetus. The cause of hiccups can also be:
1. The formation of pleural cavities of the embryo. The nervous system sends signals to the brain so that the diaphragm of the fetus allows the baby to start breathing. In this case, hiccups can actually prepare the baby’s lungs for birth, and in the third trimester, they can help regulate the heart rhythm.
2. The development of reflexes. Hiccups in a child can develop against the background of the appearance of a sucking reflex. This practice will be urgently needed after birth during breastfeeding with breast milk.
At the moment, there are no known relationships between the hiccups of the fetus and the child’s behavioral development. Therefore, doctors do not see anything bad in hiccuping the fetus. The future mother does not need to call the doctor or obstetrician and worry when strange rhythmic movements resembling the hiccups of the fetus appear, you need to relax and enjoy the sensations of the child growing inside the mother's body.
How do pregnant women feel their baby's hiccups in their stomachs?
Like most fetal movements, sensations of hiccups can be perceived differently by different women and change in the process of fetal growth. Some pregnant women may feel very strange, not very similar to weak cramps coming from the depths of the abdomen, others may visually notice changes in the abdomen. In most cases, the phenomenon has a rhythmic pattern and differs from other fetal movements.
Hiccups can last from a few seconds to several hours, and can happen once or several times a day. The strength of the sensations mainly depends on the activity of the unborn baby, so many pregnant women may not notice these sensations at all.
Can a hiccup of a fetus be dangerous?
Unfortunately it can. Very rarely, when a woman notices a sudden increase in the frequency, strength and duration of hiccups, this can be a sign of pathological compression of the spinal cord in the baby. In this case, the doctor may prescribe a diagnostic ultrasound. The procedure is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of entwining the umbilical cord around the child’s head. The entanglement of the umbilical cord limits the flow of oxygen, increases the intensity of the baby’s movements and causes hiccups. This condition requires help and removing the baby from a critical and uncomfortable position.
Another problem with dangerous hiccups is fetal cramps. Cramps in a woman feel like vibration. They can be very tough and unpredictable, felt by a woman much stronger than the usual hiccups of the fetus. If these symptoms are found, it is important to immediately consult a doctor, and find out for sure if the health problems of the unborn baby or fears were in vain.
How can mom deal with her hiccups?
Unfortunately, the old technique for eliminating hiccups with bated breath or unexpected fright will not be able to help the unborn baby cope with hiccups. Mom has only one thing - to enjoy new sensations and monitor when and how often hiccups occur.
Documenting hiccup episodes may allow your doctor to identify any possible abnormalities. With hiccups, it is useful for mothers to perform calming and pleasant exercises for the child, to have a conversation, to sing, to listen to light classical music.
