fetal hiccups: wtf!

[taffywelsh]

WHY does a fetus have hiccups? They feel so bad, like something must be wrong with the baby. It must be very uncomfortable for her? It is like the most awful, strong, jumping twitch sensation...I hope it is really hiccups and not some horrible other thing!

Will somebody let me know that this is normal and not a big deal? Describe what it feels like! How frequent or infrequent are they meant to be? Also, if you happen to know why on earth they get them, I would love to know!

[~Demeter~]

They are actually a very good sign of a healthy baby (most of the time).

There has not been an overwhelming amount of research on fetal hiccupping in the womb, although there is some speculation as to why it happens. First of all, only more mature fetuses hiccup in the womb because their central nervous system is adequately developed in order to allow this to happen. It is believed that the fetus breathes in amniotic fluid or drinks it. When this happens and the amniotic fluid enters and exists the fetus lungs then the diaphragm contracts and hiccups results. Fetal hiccups appear to be extremely normal and almost all moms will feel the babies hiccups at least once if not on a regular basis.

http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articl...h-in-the-womb/

not the most scientific site... but there's lots out there if you google.

[~Demeter~]

Oh... and my baby gets them almost every time I eat.

[annie2186]

hmmmmm - when my baby had hiccups it only bugged me if I was trying to sleep or something............it wasn't a "awful, strong, jumping twitch sensation" in my head though.

It was more of a rythmic (sp?) jump. I actually thought it was cute, because it was the ONE time I could actually have the other kids/spouse feel the baby move!!

I think if it is truly just hiccups its not uncomfortable for the baby at all........just practice for the real world!

[Aliy]

both my boys had them regualrly... kida weird but normal

[CherryBomb]

I don't think there's really any standard for frequency of hiccups. IDK if they're uncomfortable for the baby or not. Since the nervous system is pretty well formed by that point, I would guess it's possible.

[RedOakMomma]

I think they're fine...all four of our babies have had very frequent hiccups while in utero (really...up to 10 or 20 times a day some days), and they've been born as mellow, wonderful kids that didn't have further issues with hiccups.

In fact, in our ddc we were wondering if hiccups help strengthen the throat and swallowing mechanisms....all of my hicuppers have been children who almost never spit-up. Really...like NEVER, unless I did something silly like put them on their tummies right after a feeding. Otherwise it all stays down...from newborn on.

[Beverly]

I read somewhere that babies who suck their thumbs in utero often have frequent bouts of hiccups ... that would hold true for my youngest, who had hiccups all the time when I was pregnant, and came out sucking her thumb!

[lillymonster]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

I think they're fine...all four of our babies have had very frequent hiccups while in utero (really...up to 10 or 20 times a day some days), and they've been born as mellow, wonderful kids that didn't have further issues with hiccups.

In fact, in our ddc we were wondering if hiccups help strengthen the throat and swallowing mechanisms....all of my hicuppers have been children who almost never spit-up. Really...like NEVER, unless I did something silly like put them on their tummies right after a feeding. Otherwise it all stays down...from newborn on.

DD had hiccups all the time, and unfortunately, she had terrible reflux and projectile spit up all the time

Originally Posted by Beverly

I read somewhere that babies who suck their thumbs in utero often have frequent bouts of hiccups ... that would hold true for my youngest, who had hiccups all the time when I was pregnant, and came out sucking her thumb!

DD never sucked her thumb either, ever.

Not arguing with anyone, just saying that hiccups can probably mean...well...anything. I honestly wouldn't worry about it. DD had a lot of food allergies and it still is her first symptom when she is exposed to her allergens, but plenty of kids hiccup a before birth and have no problem. It's annoying but normal.

[MaerynPearl]

I know what hiccups mean!!!!

They mean baby has hiccups. LOL

anyway, yeah... DD was a thumb sucker, DS was not (not even a paci) and they both had the same amount of hiccups.

[mamaki]

Hiccups are completely normal and nothing at all to worry about. I have noticed that babies that have a lot of hiccups in utero seem to have them frequently as newborns also. Again, not a problem, just an observation.

[mamamille]

my dd had them soooo often in utero. And then on the outside, at least 4-6x a day. I would give her a drop of gripe water and 9x out of 10 would help her. Now at 4yrs she gets them in spells when she is growing alot. Babies in utero swallow fluid to help mature and develop their systems- so it's completely normal.

[homemademom]

Only one of my kids had hiccups and he had them a lot! Don't know why. He's a completely normal toddler

[MamaPhD]

As far as I understand, it's not known why people hiccup. In grad school I actually had a talk with a neuroscientist who studies breathing regulation and such. Also not known how one stops hiccuping. All those tricks like holding ones breaths and stuff don't actually work, hiccups just stop on their own!

So anyways, DD hiccuped a lot in utero. Not often, maybe 1-2x per day, but really long episodes like 45 min long just when I wanted to go to sleep and shook my whole upper body! She hiccuped a lot as a newborn, too.