Yes, it is completely normal for your baby to have hiccups in the womb at 35 weeks. Hiccups are a reflex action in everyone and at any age, even in a baby in your stomach. Reflex action like coughing, sneezing, and a change in breathing pattern is one of the causes of your baby’s hiccups.
They are caused by the contraction of the diaphragm, which results in the chest and abdomen of the fetus being displaced. Also, hiccups occur when a baby inhales amniotic fluid. A change in breathing pattern is one of the causes of your baby’s hiccups, and the mother can notice it when she is sitting still.
This is a good sign because it shows that the baby is developing its nervous system so that parents do not have to worry. The baby’s hiccups in the uterus tend to increase as the pregnancy progresses. Hiccups are a reflex contraction of the stomach muscles to create a forceful, yet uncomfortable, brief, inhalation.
Sometimes the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck, which can also be the reason for hiccups. However, such a condition is rare and requires medical supervision.
Every baby is different as well as pregnant ladies, so hiccups can be at any time of the day. They can be more frequent or less frequent. Hiccups do not have to occur in babies which is absolutely normal as well.
You can help your baby’s hiccups while in the womb by placing your hand on your tummy and back, hip, or bum for about five minutes.
Then place one hand on the belly button and the other hand at the sternum (breastbone) and do alternating strokes from one side to another between these points for about 10 minutes. This can be effective in preventing hiccups.
Why do babies get hiccups in the womb 35 weeks?
Baby hiccups in the womb 35 weeks are totally normal. It is caused by the little movements a baby’s diaphragm makes as it begins to breathe.
When the infant inhales, amniotic fluid goes into their lungs, which contracts their developing diaphragm. This is the reason why your baby is having hiccups.
However, there is another scientific guess. The baby starts to get fetal hiccups when their gag reflex starts becoming functional, which usually happens around 35 weeks.
Scientists think the gag reflex helps protect your baby from objects that could inadvertently enter her or his mouth before birth.
Hiccups happen in the womb when the baby tries to swallow too often without much success. Air gets in and babies automatically cough them up because they can’t burp yet, but it feels like a hiccup because a series of contractions across part of the body compresses all areas at once.
When should I be concerned about fetal hiccups?
If your baby has hiccups more than four times a day, after your 28 weeks have passed, a pregnant lady should contact her doctor or even your future baby pediatrician. Frequently hiccuping is not necessarily a sign of a health issue, but if you have fetal hiccups regularly, it can be a sign of the umbilical cord being prolapsed or compressed around your baby.
You should be concerned about fetal hiccups if they persist. Hiccups are caused by contracts of their developing diaphragm and can last up to an hour at a time.
The presence of fetal hiccups reflects the continued intrauterine growth of the baby. However, this periodization may need to be controlled in case it becomes prolonged or too violent for your unborn bundle of joy to function normally.
Do hiccups indicate baby position?
When your baby is having hiccups, you can try to detect where it comes from. You can tell if your baby is head-down or at the cephalic position, by how much his/her whole body moves.
If you feel fetal hiccups below your belly button, it means that the baby’s chest is probably lower than its legs. You can check this by hearing the baby’s heartbeat but for this, you will need your at-home doppler or fetoscope.
The heartbeats should come from the lower part of your abdomen, which means that the infant’s chest is likely lower than its legs.
However, it’s possible that hiccups show baby position, but it’s not always the case. It is believed that hiccups are often an indicator of fetal movement, though this is purely anecdotal and there has been no research confirming the hypothesis.
It would be safe to assume that hiccups don’t always indicate baby position because experts recommend staying calm during pregnancy since many women experience so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions.
Do hiccups mean fetal distress?
Having hiccups while pregnant is a good sign. Fetal hiccups are totally normal, along with other kicking and twitching, because it shows that your baby is developing. Nevertheless, if it happens on a regular basis, especially towards the end of your pregnancy, it may indicate you are in distress.
Only a handful of people have been able to determine a legitimate link between hiccups and fetal distress. Some doctors say that the definitive evidence is anecdotal, but there are not enough studies to confidently make a claim one way or another.
It’s possible that if they would study more in-depth about potential causes for hiccups or prenatal care in general it could be found out whether they are linked. For now, it’s best to see your doctor with any worries you may have regarding your baby’s health!
Summary
Baby hiccups in the womb 35 weeks seem pretty normal. This doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with your baby. It simply means that when your child is breathing amniotic fluid enters into its lungs, causing the diaphragm to contract. So, simply put, your baby is breathing, and trying can cause some minor hiccups.
However, if these hiccups appear to be more frequent than usual, like every day, you should see your doctor for a checkup. This can indicate the umbilical cord being wrapped around your baby’s neck, thus causing constant hiccups. On the other hand, it doesn’t have to be anything serious, so to be sure just go visit your healthcare provider.
