What does it mean if a baby hiccups in the stomach? Preparing for independent breathing and swallowing. When can hiccups occur in a baby's stomach?

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The most long-awaited and memorable moment of the entire pregnancy is the first movement of the baby. But the closer the beginning of the third trimester, the more often a woman encounters new active movements. Every pregnant woman wonders what their baby is doing at the moment when these rhythmic movements are felt in the abdomen. And they are very surprised when they find out that their baby learned to hiccup while in utero. But you can find out why a child hiccups in the stomach by reading our informative article.

Do babies hiccup in the womb?

Most pregnant women begin to feel their baby's movements during the second trimester (13-27 weeks) of pregnancy. But if the placenta is closer to the front of the uterus, then it will take longer to feel the first movements. Try not to worry about these early movements. Fetal hiccups are a great indicator that the baby is growing inside you.

How to understand that a child is hiccupping

Not all pregnant women can feel that their children hiccup. But to the expectant mother there is no need to worry prematurely, since the presence or absence of hiccups in the fetus is considered a normal process. Someone begins to feel activity as early as 13 weeks, and some women, even in the second trimester, are not sure that these sensations are caused by the child. To understand that your baby has started to hiccup, you need to listen to the characteristic rhythmic movements inside the abdomen.

What sensations arise

When hiccups occur, a woman feels small spasms that differ from other normal fetal movements. The sensations a woman feels when her baby hiccups may last a few minutes or continue long time. Depending on the stage of pregnancy at which you feel your baby's first hiccups, your feelings may vary. The tremors become more distinct as the baby grows inside the abdomen.

Pregnant women describe the following sensations when their baby hiccups:

1. Pulsation in the lower abdomen on the left or right
2. Monotonous tapping.
3. Twitching, discomfort in the lower abdomen.
4. Periodic tremors.
5. Vibration of the abdominal skin.

Throughout pregnancy, it is necessary to monitor the baby’s hiccups in order to provide information about fetal movements until the right moment. Some women in the second trimester experience movements that resemble muscle spasms. Starting from the fifth month, the woman feels the powerful blows of the active little tenant. All this information must be recorded in a special table, according to which the doctor will determine the activity of the fetus and identify possible problems.

Possible reasons

You don't need to urgently call your doctor asking why your baby is actively hiccupping in his stomach. Gynecologists recommend not to worry, because this process is considered natural. Just relax and enjoy the feeling of your baby moving inside you. The phenomenon of hiccups in the fetus during pregnancy occurs regularly. Doctors still don’t have a consensus on what causes a baby’s hiccups.

• Assumption No. 1. Compression by the umbilical cord or diagnosis of hypoxia. When the hiccups are intense and repeat daily, the doctor prescribes ultrasound diagnostics. This is necessary to prevent the possible entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetus's neck, which limits the flow of oxygen, interferes with breathing and increases not only the baby's increased movement, but also hiccups. If the doctor's fears are confirmed, then compression by the umbilical cord leads to uneven growth of organs and subsequent restriction of blood flow to the fetus.

• Assumption No. 2: Children, while still inside their mother, learn to use their lungs to swallow incoming oxygen through the umbilical cord. While breathing, your baby may swallow some amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid). Fluid entering the lungs sends a signal from the central nervous system to the brain, which causes the diaphragm to contract rhythmically. Therefore, in order to get rid of amniotic fluid that has entered the lungs, children begin to hiccup.
• Assumption No. 3. Sucking reflex. Another hypothesis under which hiccups may appear in the fetus is the development of the sucking reflex. This skill is necessary for the child for the future breastfeeding and emotional calm. While thumb sucking in the womb, the baby involuntarily also swallows amniotic fluid, which cause hiccups. The presence of this process in the baby indicates good development central nervous system.

What to do if your baby hiccups often

If hiccups are not repeated regularly, then this phenomenon should be treated calmly, as a normal process of fetal development. But why does a child constantly hiccup in his stomach and what to do about it? First you need to visit a doctor for additional examinations. Only timely health care will help eliminate developmental defects and ensure the birth of a healthy baby. An examination by a gynecologist consists of the following diagnostic methods:

1. In-person consultation - a specialist will conduct a visual examination and ask clarifying questions about the frequency and duration of fetal hiccups.
2. Cardiotocography - this test will help measure, feel and hear the child's heartbeat. If the device detects a rapid heartbeat, the doctor diagnoses the possibility of hypoxia.
3. Ultrasound with Doppler - these measurements allow you to assess the state of blood circulation in the vessels of the umbilical cord, the fetal aorta and identify possible violations functions of the placenta. If blood flow is reduced, this can become a symptom and sign of hypoxia in the newborn.

Before visiting your doctor, try other effective ways reducing hiccups in a child. Feeling active movements, tremors in your stomach, try to relax, stop being nervous and rest more. To reduce your baby's hiccups during pregnancy, we recommend following these recommendations:

1. Walking outside every day will help calm your baby's activity.
2. When your baby's hiccups prevent you from sleeping all night, change your sleeping position by turning over on your other side or back.
3. Get on your knees, focusing on your elbows. Hold this position for a few minutes and then repeat.
4. By hiccupping, a baby can show that he is cold. To do this, cover your stomach with a warm blanket.
5. Don't forget to do the constants breathing exercises: Take a slow deep breath and then exhale for 10 seconds.

Video: How a child hiccups in his stomach

When you feel your baby’s first hiccups in your stomach, try to relax and not worry about it. This process happens to every pregnant woman, but it occurs different dates. To understand what a baby’s hiccups inside the abdomen look like, we suggest watching the video. It clearly shows the rhythmic movements and kicks of the baby in the womb of the expectant mother.

The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on individual characteristics specific patient.

Why does my baby hiccup in his stomach?

During the day, the baby often moves in the mother's belly. The mother herself feels no more than a tenth of all these movements. In the third trimester, the expectant mother should feel at least ten movements of her child during the day. These sensations are very different from one another. The child may move one limb, then the other. Then he can start drumming directly on the stomach. But sometimes the movements can be quite strange. They can be associated with uniform twitching and tapping, observed over the course of half an hour. Of course, the mother becomes worried when she feels this, but if she knows the reason for what is happening, it will make her smile. The fact is that this is how a child hiccups in his stomach.

There is no consensus among experts regarding the reasons that cause hiccups in a child's stomach. Everyone agrees that hiccups are completely safe for a child. However, according to a number of opinions, the hiccups of a child in his mother’s stomach indicate that the baby is beginning to suffer from oxygen starvation or hypoxia. In the media, doctors reassure mothers by telling them that hiccups are not the main symptom of this condition. If the child pushes suddenly when hiccupping, you should consult a doctor. An ultrasound can confirm or refute the fact of hypoxia in a child. But there is no need to worry about this. According to statistics, over 95% of all children are born without signs of hypoxia.

Why does your baby often hiccup in his stomach?

There is no clear opinion as to why a child often hiccups in the stomach. There are only a few basic assumptions in this regard:

• frequent hiccups can be caused by amniotic fluid periodically swallowed by the child;
• there is an opinion among doctors that the child hiccups at will, since in this way he can develop swallowing skills and prepare the diaphragm and lungs;
• in some cases, the cause of frequent hiccups in a child is hypoxia, but you should not worry about this in advance, since hiccups alone are not enough to confirm such a diagnosis.

Almost all practicing doctors are of the opinion that there is no need to worry too much if the child often hiccups in the stomach. He does not feel any discomfort; besides, this phenomenon is completely natural.

Since what week does the baby hiccup in the stomach?

It is impossible to say exactly when a child begins to hiccup in his mother’s stomach; all such situations are individual. Everything is determined by the reasons for the initial state. In any case, the child cannot begin to hiccup in the mother's stomach before his respiratory organs have developed to a sufficient state. This occurs no earlier than the 18th week of pregnancy. By the 29th week, the child’s kidneys can already function and around the same time, lambing may occur. Most often, hiccups in a child occur in the middle of pregnancy. However, we should not forget that these indicators are very approximate and each child develops individually.

Each case of hiccups in a child’s stomach is individual and different from the other. But it is possible to identify some patterns by which it can be determined that the child began to hiccup in the mother’s stomach.

How a baby hiccups in his mother's belly

Mothers describe their baby's hiccups in their belly like this:

• the fetus begins to twitch rhythmically in one place in the abdomen;
• over a certain period of time, uniform tremors are observed;
• the mother begins to hear ticking in her stomach;
• there is a monotonous pounding in the stomach;
• pulsation appears in the lower left and right parts of the abdomen;
• spasms and twitching in the abdomen occur evenly;
• vibration appears in the part of the abdomen where twitching is most common.

Baby hiccups in the stomach: sensations

The mother’s feelings when the baby hiccups in her stomach are approximately the following:

• the mother feels her baby twitching rhythmically in one place;
• identical shocks are rhythmically felt in the same place;
• knocking and tremors are felt in the stomach;
• a pulse is felt in the right and left parts of the abdomen;
• spasms and twitching are felt in the abdomen;
• periods of vibration are felt when twitching

The time it takes for a baby to feel hiccups varies. One mother feels it for three minutes, another feels it for an hour. Hiccups may be felt once a day, but can be felt up to five times.

Baby has hiccups in his stomach, what should I do?

Hiccups in themselves should not cause concern to the child and his mother, since they are practically harmless. This can be said about those situations when it is repeated periodically and the mother’s well-being does not suffer from this. Often mothers note that the child hiccups in the stomach quite often, several times during the day, and it may seem that the hiccups are generally continuous.

In the event that a child hiccups in the stomach, and this causes inconvenience to his mother, the following options for solving the situation are recommended:

• if the child does not calm down, it is recommended to go for a walk Fresh air;
• It is recommended to perform simple exercises from a physical therapy complex at home;
• when a child hiccups, you can change your position, sit or lie down;
• you can take a pose with bent knees and elbows, stay in it for a while, and then change it;
• You should not eat sweets before going to bed, since sweetening the amniotic fluid may attract the child;
• It is recommended to buy an oxygen cocktail at a pharmacy and drink it at home;
• a child may hiccup frequently due to simply being cold. In this case, it is recommended to cover your stomach with a warm blanket or cover yourself with a warm robe. When leaving home, you should monitor the ambient temperature; it can also affect the development of hiccups;
• you can try breathing exercises, inhale for six counts, hold for eight and exhale for ten counts.

Every expectant mother experiences close contact with her child during pregnancy. The first movements cause a storm of emotions, the baby grows and develops, his movements in the stomach become more noticeable - these are pushes and turns, protrusion of the heel and butt, which is so touching and evokes joyful feelings.

Sometimes a woman feels rhythmic kicks of the fetus, which can last from 5 to 20 minutes or more. Some people intuitively understand that the baby hiccups, and this makes them smile. For others, this rhythmic shaking is uncomfortable, especially during sleep. Some do not understand what is happening and ask the doctor questions. Baby hiccups during pregnancy are normal.

Background and reasons

The feeling that a child is hiccupping in the stomach occurs in some at 25 weeks, in others at 34 weeks, when the fetus is already quite large. For more early stages not all pregnant women feel these rhythmic kicks. When this sensation first comes, a woman may become worried.

Similar sensations may occur with:

• Active movements of the fetus: movements in the third trimester are normally at least 10 times a day.
• Features of peristalsis of the mother herself. Very rarely, but women say that they thought it was gases fermenting.
• Contractions of the intrinsic deep muscles of the abdominal wall. The rhythmic twitching of your muscles can be confused with the baby's hiccups in the uterus. Especially if this is your first pregnancy.

Worrying about the baby’s health during pregnancy leads to anxiety: is everything okay? It’s good if this is not the woman’s first pregnancy, and then she will unmistakably determine where these rhythmic tremors are coming from.

CNS maturity indicator

Why does a child hiccup, what are the reasons, is it safe? This phenomenon in itself should not cause concern in a woman if the pregnancy proceeds without complications.

Hiccups are an innate natural unconditioned reflex, which is why it begins to work in the mother’s stomach.

As in an adult, hiccups are caused by irritation of the vagus nerve and are manifested by rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm in chest. The diaphragm is the muscular partition between the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

This only means that the baby’s central nervous system is developing normally and reflexes are working. If a woman is 34 weeks pregnant, her pregnancy is proceeding normally, but she is worried that the baby often hiccups in the stomach, it is better to tell the doctor about this: he will reassure you, find out the reasons and explain why this happens.

Hiccups themselves are a normal reflex reaction of the body; they can be felt or not heard during pregnancy at different stages; they can occur once a week or several times a day; this is not a sign of pathological processes.

Causes of intrauterine hiccups

There are internal and external reasons intrauterine fetal hiccups:

1. External causes are physiological processes leading to a reflex contraction of the diaphragm. The fetus hiccups from swallowing amniotic fluid when active movements in the abdomen and under the influence of the mother’s physical activity. It is possible to stimulate the reflex by sucking a finger: this also sucks in amniotic fluid.
2. Internal causes are associated with irritation of the nerve center of the brain. Most often - due to hypoxia, an insufficient amount of oxygen supplied from the mother.

External reasons are physiological and should not disturb the expectant mother. Internal reasons are one of the warning signs oxygen starvation.

Therefore, if the baby hiccups often and for a long time, he has become more active in later, for example, at 34 weeks, it is better to tell your doctor about this.

What should you pay attention to?

Fetal hiccups during pregnancy are not a diagnostic sign of fetal hypoxia, but are part of a complex of phenomena that accompany such a pathology.

What exactly should alert the expectant mother if she is 34 weeks pregnant and the baby begins to hiccup frequently:

• His motor activity increased sharply.
• The hiccups became more frequent and longer in duration.
• From the heart – bradycardia (slow heartbeat).

Any pronounced changes in the behavior of the fetus should be a reason for a visit to the antenatal clinic.

It is always better to be vigilant, visit the doctor again and make sure that the child is healthy and everything is fine. In addition, often the examination does not reveal any pathologies. And hearing from the doctor that everything is fine is very calming.

Research

If the expectant mother is worried about why the baby’s hiccups started or intensified, she has read a lot of materials on the Internet and wants to make sure that her child is growing and developing without oxygen starvation, the doctor will prescribe the following tests:

• CTG (cardiotocography) – determines the fetal heartbeat, the absence of deviations in motor activity, and uterine contractions. Used from 30 weeks of pregnancy.
• Ultrasound with Doppler - examines the functionality of the placenta, blood flow between mother and child, and the functioning of the fetal heart.
• Listening with an obstetric stethoscope at the appointment, the child’s heart rate (heart rate) is normal from 120 to 160.

Measuring the volume of the abdomen and the length of the uterus. Slow or no growth indicates developmental delay.
If studies show that the baby is fine, there are no signs of hypoxia, treat the baby’s hiccups in the stomach calmly, with a warm maternal smile. The doctor will answer numerous “Why?” and will calm you down, recommend walks in the fresh air, permissible physical activity And proper nutrition. Anxiety for an expectant mother is inevitable, but we must try to look at everything positively and worry less.

If fetal hypoxia is confirmed, detected due to fetal hiccups that have arisen or intensified at 34 weeks, appropriate therapy will be prescribed. Closer attention from doctors will help you carry and give birth to a healthy baby.

• Causes
• When does a baby start to hiccup?
• How can we help?

Towards the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy, most expectant mothers begin to experience new sensations in abdominal cavity. A woman who is carrying a baby for the first time may not immediately understand that these sensations are a consequence of intrauterine hiccups.

Why does a child hiccup in the womb and is this a cause for concern - find out this and other useful information you can from our article.

How to distinguish hiccups from movements?

Pregnant women often ask the question “How can you tell if the baby is hiccupping in the stomach?”, especially if the pregnancy is not yet very advanced and the fetus is not moving very intensively. In fact, once you feel intrauterine hiccups, it cannot be confused with anything else. Hiccups differ from the movements of the fetus in their rhythm: the tremors, felt from the inside, are repeated at regular intervals.

This is what some expectant mothers associate their impressions with:

1. "Ticking clock" in the stomach.
2. Pulsation at different points in the abdominal cavity.
3. Uniform light tapping.

Pulsation is a consequence of the shaking of the fetal body, which occurs due to hiccups. Its localization depends on the position. The center of sensation is where the baby's chest cavity is located, since hiccups are the result of contraction of the diaphragmatic septum.

Advice. It is very simple to determine that a child is hiccupping in the stomach - just place your palm on the place of the pulsation and note the time between the shocks. If the intervals are approximately the same, and the vibration is felt in the same place, this is a hiccup.

How often can a baby hiccup in the womb? There are no specific norms: for some women, the frequency can reach several times a day, while others carry the entire pregnancy without ever experiencing this sensation.

Causes

Why do babies hiccup in the womb? The exact answer to this question is of interest not only to pregnant women, but also to doctors, but to date all research in this area has not progressed beyond assumptions. There are several main versions of why a baby hiccups in the stomach. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

• Ingestion of amniotic fluid

The entry of amniotic fluid into the body is the most likely and scientifically proven reason that a child often hiccups in the stomach. It is known that already in the first trimester he is able to open his mouth, suck a finger, and change his facial expression.

The surrounding amniotic waters enter the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, but sometimes partially enter the respiratory organs. After this, the air contained inside the fetal body pushes the fluid out, causing a spasm of the diaphragm and its subsequent contractions.

If your baby swallows too much a large number of water, after some time he may unsuccessfully burp them, after which he begins to hiccup. This process is absolutely physiological - the child’s body will react in exactly the same way to overeating after childbirth.

We described what amniotic fluid is and how water breaks in pregnant women in a previous article.

• Breathing and sucking training

According to the second version, frequent fetal hiccups during pregnancy may occur as a result of his attempts to breathe on his own. Indeed, starting from about the 35th week, the baby’s respiratory organs are prepared to work outside the mother’s womb. He occasionally makes breathing movements, as a result of which amniotic fluid enters the respiratory tract.

Also, in later stages, the fetus from time to time makes reflexive sucking movements - they can be provoked by touching the mouth of an arm, leg, or umbilical cord. As a result, ingestion of amniotic fluid occurs, followed by hiccups in the pregnant woman’s abdomen.

• Uncomfortable body position

Sometimes it happens that the expectant mother takes a position in which the child experiences increased physical pressure, despite the layer of amniotic fluid and amniotic sac. Because of this, his digestive and respiratory organs are deformed, making it difficult for air to escape from them.

This reason is especially relevant for the later stages, when the fetus is already very large and feels cramped in the mother’s belly. Children in the womb hiccup more often if their mothers like to sit leaning forward, wear tight bandages, constrictive clothing and underwear, accidentally press their weight on their stomach in their sleep.

• Lack of oxygen

The most serious reason for the fact that a child often hiccups in the womb is hypoxia, or lack of oxygen. It is assumed that due to oxygen starvation, the fetus more often makes convulsive respiratory movements, which becomes the cause of regular intrauterine hiccups. There is still debate on this issue and there is no clear answer to the question “Can a child hiccup in the womb due to oxygen starvation?” No.

At the same time, obstetricians-gynecologists advise women to listen more to their feelings and consult a doctor if the following warning symptoms occur:

1. Hiccups appear every day and last for several hours in a row.
2. Frequent and prolonged attacks of hiccups are accompanied by increased physical activity fetus, or, conversely, its decrease.
3. A pregnant woman notes a change in the shape of the abdomen and a decrease in its volume.
4. A pregnant woman stops gaining weight or begins to lose it (with the exception of the last two weeks of pregnancy - during this period, slight weight loss is the physiological norm).

Fetal hypoxia is a serious diagnosis that requires immediate medical intervention. But with timely assistance, his condition can be quickly normalized, and the lack of oxygen will not have any effect. negative influence for development.

• Immaturity of the nervous system

The human central nervous system is a very complex apparatus that continues to develop for several years after childbirth. A loud sound, sudden movement, maternal stress, and other factors can trigger hiccups in the fetus. The reason is a failure of impulses that the central nervous system sends to all organs, and to which a spasmodic reaction occurs.

For reference. Spasms can also be triggered by pinching the vagus nerve as it approaches the diaphragm. This condition does not threaten the health of the fetus and goes away on its own.

When does a baby start to hiccup?

There are no standards determining at how many weeks the fetus begins to hiccup. For some women this happens at 25 weeks, others begin to feel the characteristic vibration for the first time shortly before giving birth, and still others do not experience this phenomenon at all.

The last category of pregnant women is often interested in whether a child can hiccup in the womb asymptomatically. This is possible only in relatively early stages (beginning of the second trimester), when its size and weight are still small and therefore very light tremors may not be felt.

How can we help?

The physiological hiccups of a child in the womb do not cause him inconvenience, much less pain, and do not threaten developmental disorders. If anyone suffers from frequent jerking movements in the abdomen, it is the pregnant woman herself, who may experience anxiety and discomfort, especially if hiccups appear quite often.

You can try to get rid of disturbing sensations by resorting to one of the following methods:

1. Try to change your position: for example, if the expectant mother has been sitting too long at her workplace, she needs to get up and walk a little.
2. Go out into the fresh air: it is important for a woman to remember that her body breathes for two during pregnancy, so it must be provided with a sufficient amount of oxygen.
3. Do some light relaxing exercises that suit your due date and how you feel (provided, of course, that the pregnancy is proceeding without problems and is not in danger of failure).
4. If your child is hiccupping as a result of nervous shock, you can try to calm him down by placing your hand on his stomach and talking to him in a calm, friendly voice.
5. Eat fewer treats: The sweet taste of amniotic fluid is thought to encourage your baby to swallow more of it than usual.

When a baby begins to hiccup in the womb, you can also try alternating deep inhalations with deep exhalations for 2-3 minutes. Such simple breathing exercises improve blood circulation and enrich the blood with oxygen, which in turn has a beneficial effect on the baby’s well-being.

Do not worry. A child's hiccups during pregnancy are not a criterion that would signal its proper development. Therefore, the absence of hiccups is not a cause for concern.

What to do if a child hiccups in the stomach too often and for a long time, and this condition is aggravated by additional negative symptoms?

In this case, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible, who will listen to the fetal heartbeat and, if necessary, prescribe additional hardware examinations: cardiotocography and ultrasound with Dopplerometry. These techniques will allow you to monitor the condition of blood vessels and determine the presence or absence of hypoxia.

In conclusion, I would like to once again remind expectant mothers that contractions of the diaphragm in the fetus are normal (neither bad nor good) if it is not accompanied by additional negative symptoms.

When carrying a baby in late stages, women sometimes feel strange movements in the womb that are completely different from the baby’s kicking with a leg or arm or the way the baby turns over. These rhythmic, barely noticeable tremors occur with a certain frequency and cause associations, as if a child is hiccupping often in the stomach. Perhaps every woman experiences such sensations when she is 7–8 months pregnant, but not everyone attaches importance to this, since the frequency of hiccup episodes can be single, frequent, or constant.

What is hiccups?

Hiccups are a physiological process that is accompanied by contraction of the diaphragm and a sharp expulsion of air from the lungs and larynx. The cause of hiccups can be overeating, hypothermia, nervous excitement, in general, anything that can affect the nerve endings of the diaphragm, causing it to contract.

Does the baby hiccup in the stomach? And why not, this is the same reflex as swallowing and yawning in the fetus. Especially on latest dates pregnancy, when the nervous system is well developed, he can open and close his eyes, suck his thumb, yawn when he wants to sleep. So why, when a baby hiccups in the stomach, is it so alarming to expectant mothers?

How to understand that a child is hiccupping in the stomach

During the period when the baby’s nervous system is already quite developed to respond to external stimuli, and this happens by the 24th week of pregnancy, a woman may feel the baby hiccupping in her stomach. Signs of such a physiological process as hiccups will be:

• Not strong shocks with the same intensity and at regular intervals.
• Feeling of vibration in the abdomen.
• Visible abdominal movements.
• No discomfort when the baby hiccups.
• Pulsation in the lower abdomen, with no discomfort.

At the same time, the duration of hiccups can be completely different from 3 minutes to half an hour, and the frequency with which hiccups occur is also different. For some, it may occur constantly several times a day, while for others, episodes of hiccups in the baby in the stomach occur once or twice during the entire period of gestation.

Reasons why a child hiccups in the stomach

Also read:

There is no official statement why a child hiccups in the stomach, there are only guesses based on physiological characteristics the development of the child before birth, taking into account the reasons why hiccups may occur after birth.

Obstetrics experts say that there are no pain or discomfort the child does not feel during the period of hiccups, unless it is caused by a lack of oxygen due to developmental pathology. And if, in the absence of these, the child often hiccups in the stomach, this is normal and indicates the timely development of the central nervous system.

Let's look at some reasons that supposedly cause hiccups in a baby:

1. The central nervous system has matured enough In order for the child to try to carry out breathing movements, the amniotic fluid entering the lungs is pushed out by compressing and arching the diaphragm, which leads to hiccups.
2. Thumb sucking. The sucking reflex develops in a child in the womb and is maintained by the fact that the baby periodically sucks his finger. At the same time, the same amniotic fluid can enter the stomach and lungs, which causes hiccups.
3. Often, a woman may notice that a period of hiccups occurs after she eats something for dessert. Perhaps the child is attracted to the slightly sweet taste of amniotic fluid.
4. Fetal hypoxia. This reason most worries women whose child often hiccups in the stomach. Hypoxia of the fetus due to insufficient oxygen supply due to the entanglement of the umbilical cord or due to developmental pathologies or maternal smoking leads to the fact that the baby is forced to move frequently, obtaining oxygen in this way.

Sometimes frequent or constant movements can be confused with hiccups. In order for a woman not to worry about this, it is necessary to consult with her doctor, who will find out how often the child hiccups in the stomach. If this happens constantly, it is necessary to undergo additional examinations, which will dispel doubts about hypoxia.

What to do if your baby hiccups?

There is nothing wrong with a child hiccupping in the stomach, unless of course it causes the mother a feeling of discomfort. That's why you need to treat hiccups calmly, taking them for granted, as another way for a child to express himself and declare his existence. At the same time, you don’t have to worry that your baby feels bad during hiccups; hiccups don’t torment him. On the contrary, if the mother worries a lot during pregnancy, her mood and adrenaline hormones will be transmitted through the blood through the umbilical cord to the baby, and then he will also experience anxiety.

In order to dispel your speculations and make sure that everything is fine with the child and no hypoxia threatens him, but on the contrary, hiccups indicate the normal and timely development of the nervous system and the presence of all unconditioned reflexes, you can undergo additional examinations:

• Doppler ultrasound will show how well blood flows through the umbilical cord to the fetus. If blood circulation is insufficient for normal oxygen supply, we can talk about hypoxia.
• Cardiotocography will help you hear the baby's heartbeat. If it is frequent, we can also talk about a lack of oxygen.

If such deviations are detected, further treatment is prescribed by the doctor. If everything is normal, and in 90% of cases this is the case, the doctor may recommend that the expectant mother worry less and walk more in the fresh air.

If the child often hiccups in the stomach, causing discomfort to the woman, we can recommend the following:

1. Don't overeat in the evening.
2. Avoid drinking carbonated drinks and sweets.
3. Go for walks more often, breathe fresh air.
4. Protect yourself from the presence of smokers who take oxygen away from your child.
5. Find a more comfortable position during episodes of hiccups in your baby.
6. Don't worry and just enjoy the wonderful moments of pregnancy.

Expectant mothers always have a lot of questions. And the longer the pregnancy, the more concerns arise about the health and development of the baby. Mothers especially like to “cheat” themselves even if all the tests and readings are normal. A child’s hiccups in the stomach belong to this group of unfounded fears.

Does the baby hiccup in the womb? Doctors say that This state of the baby is quite natural, he is actively preparing for birth, but let's study hiccups in more detail to forever dispel the myths we have heard.

How can you tell if your baby is hiccupping in his stomach?

The toddler begins to hiccup in the middle of pregnancy - for some at 24 weeks, for others at 32 - there is no single time. This indicates that the baby’s nervous and respiratory systems are already quite developed. The main signs of hiccups are always the same, so it is easy to identify.

How does a baby hiccup during pregnancy? Here's how expectant mothers describe their babies' hiccups:

1. rhythmic twitching of the fetus in one place of the abdomen;
2. identical tremors for some time;
3. ticking in the stomach;
4. monotonous knocking;
5. pulsation in the lower left or right side belly;
6. the same cramping or twitching of the abdomen;
7. vibration in the place where the twitching is most audible.

The duration of hiccups varies. Some babies calm down within three minutes, while others can hiccup for up to an hour. The same picture occurs with frequency – from once a day to five to seven.

Let's move on to the answer to the question of why a child hiccups in the womb.

Main causes of hiccups

There is no single correct statement, even among specialists, because the hiccups of a child in the womb have not been fully studied. Research results show that a child does not experience discomfort during hiccups, pain syndromes are absent, i.e. this condition is considered normal. So, why does a baby often hiccup in the stomach?

Assumption #1

The baby’s central nervous system has developed sufficiently and can now control the process of intrauterine “breathing” and swallowing. The diaphragm and lungs gradually develop, which is a sign of normal development.

The baby makes attempts to breathe and swallow, so that after birth he can do this on his own. And as a result of such actions, the baby will be able to actively and skillfully suckle at the breast, because in addition to learning to swallow, during hiccups an excellent “breath-holding” training took place.

Assumption No. 2

The child may swallow a small amount of amniotic fluid, which instantly enters the lungs. Liquid is excreted in the urine, but sometimes the ingested portion exceeds the norm. In this case, the body’s protective reaction involves contracting the diaphragm, which is what we know as hiccups.

By the way, if mommy likes to eat sweets, then the child’s attacks of hiccups may become more frequent. The amniotic fluid will taste sweet, so the baby will swallow it with pleasure.

Assumption No. 3

The child hiccups in the womb due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus. But this sign alone does not provide a reliable picture of the baby’s health and development. In case of hypoxia, active motor activity of the child and excessive mobility are necessarily present. This is how he “gets” oxygen for himself.

We look at why a child hiccups and how to help him (already born) in our large and detailed article on hiccups. In most cases, hiccups are completely normal. But perhaps this is a sign of pathology for which you need to see a doctor.

Does your child often have a bloated stomach and you don't know why? Read our article about the causes of bloating in children's tummies!

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

In itself, a baby's hiccups in the stomach are harmless. This applies to those cases when it is periodic and does not cause trouble in terms of well-being. Some mothers note that the child constantly hiccups in the stomach: for days and even, it seems, continuously. Then it is better to consult a doctor who is monitoring the pregnancy.

After a detailed consultation, the gynecologist may suggest the following examinations:

• Cardiotocography (CTG) – will allow you to record and describe the baby’s heartbeat. If the heartbeat is rapid, then hypoxia is indeed possible;
• Ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound will allow you to assess the state of blood flow in the vessels of the placenta. Reduced blood flow also indicates hypoxia.

Both methods are safe for both mother and baby.

What to do if the baby hiccups and it bothers the mother?

Women who have given birth have already completed all nine months of pregnancy and are happy to share advice:

1. if the baby cannot calm down, go for a walk in the fresh air;
2. at home try to make minimal physical exercise;
3. change your position if sitting or lying;
4. take a knee-elbow position, stay in this position for several minutes, and then repeat again;
5. eat less sweets (before bed, especially). Amniotic fluid will not attract the baby with its sweetish taste;
6. buy an oxygen cocktail at the pharmacy and drink it at home;
7. perhaps the child is cold. Cover your stomach with a blanket or put on a warm robe. And immediately a recommendation for the future - always monitor the temperature indoors and outdoors, because hiccups in a newborn most often occur as a result of hypothermia;
8. try to do breathing exercises: count to 6 - inhale, then continue counting to 10 - exhale.

Advice for all alarming cases of pregnancy: gently stroke your belly as often as possible, talk affectionately to your baby. Kids understand everything and are sensitive to their mother’s mood.

Brief conclusions

• the child hiccups in the stomach during pregnancy if monotonous tapping or twitching is felt in the stomach;
• The duration of hiccups is different for all children; you should worry and go for a consultation with the doctor leading the pregnancy after long-term (2-3 days) hiccups in combination with increased activity of the baby;
• During the consultation, the gynecologist may offer examinations such as cardiotocography (CTG) and ultrasound with Doppler;
• the main reasons why child hiccups in the stomach, the child’s attempts to learn to breathe and swallow, swallowing an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, possible lack of oxygen (only in combination with high motor activity) are considered;
• To help the child calm down during hiccups (or, more precisely, to calm herself down), mommy needs to go for a walk, do minimal exercise at home, change her position, and eat less sweets.
• always remember that frequent hiccups in a child during pregnancy are a natural process, you should not go crazy with worry, look for medicine in the pharmacy, or make conspiracies.

The hiccups of a child in the mother’s belly are considered normal in the scientific world, research results indicate that the baby does not experience any discomfort, pressure on his lungs and other internal organs noticeably decreases, and the little one plunges into a world of calm. So, does a baby hiccup during pregnancy? Yes, and that's okay!

Video of baby hiccups

An expectant mother filmed her baby hiccupping in his stomach. See how it happens:

Bloating in newborns is completely normal phenomenon in the first months of life. Read about how to recognize the causes of bloating and ways to help your baby in our material.

A child’s stomach may also hurt due to an exacerbation of appendicitis: Be sure to read about the signs of this dangerous disease.

The child may also have kidney pain. Here we describe the symptoms of childhood nephroptosis and give appropriate recommendations to parents.

Pregnant women, especially those who are preparing to become mothers for the first time, always have a lot of questions and concerns about the health of their unborn baby. Therefore, they constantly listen to their feelings, catching every movement of the baby. So he stretched, or began to “play football.” But sometimes the sensations become completely unusual - rhythmic, similar to spasms. Experienced friends reassure, saying that it is the baby who is hiccupping.

And with this statement, they bring complete confusion into the consciousness of the pregnant woman, as she begins to worry about why the child hiccups in the womb and whether it is dangerous for him.

How to understand that the baby has started to hiccup and when does this happen? As a rule, pregnant women notice the first cases of hiccups in the last trimester of pregnancy, and sometimes a little earlier - at 24-25 weeks. But this period is not mandatory. Some expectant mothers notice the baby's characteristic movements later, while others do not notice them at all. And all this is a variant of the norm, so there is no need to worry.

How can you tell if your child is hiccupping? Here are the sensations that pregnant women describe:

• slight rhythmic tremors appear in one place of the abdomen;

• a feeling of pulsation or, as some women say, “ticking” in the stomach is created.

Read also: Why does a child often get sick? colds? Causes and prevention measures

At the same time, not only the expectant mother can notice the baby’s hiccups, since the stomach twitches quite clearly rhythmically.

How often does this feeling occur?

How long and how often does a baby hiccup in the womb? Everything is individual here. Some babies hiccup for a very short time - 2-3 minutes and not every day. Other children may hiccup for hours, and this happens several times a day.

Both are normal options, so there is no need to worry.

Why does a child hiccup?

Experts have not yet come to a consensus on why the baby hiccups. The results of the studies show that at this time the child does not experience any discomfort.

Scientists have put forward several versions to explain the causes of hiccups in unborn babies.

• First version. The child “rehearses” the breathing process. The nervous and respiratory system of the fetus has already formed by this time, so he begins to train, and these trainings will help him in the future, help him breathe and suckle.

• Second version. Getting rid of amniotic fluid, which the child periodically swallows. Some of the liquid is excreted through the fetal excretory system, but if it has swallowed more liquid than normal, it gets rid of it by hiccups. By the way, there is an opinion that if the expectant mother has a sweet tooth, then the baby will hiccup more often. After all, the amniotic fluid will have a sweet taste, and the fetus will swallow it with pleasure.

• Third in version. Some researchers suggest that the child hiccups due to hypoxia, that is, he lacks oxygen. But this assumption is quite controversial. It is worth thinking about hypoxia in cases where the baby’s hiccups are accompanied by increased motor activity. By moving and kicking, the baby obtains oxygen for itself.

Is it dangerous?

Pregnant women are certainly interested in what to do if the baby hiccups in the womb?