Is it normal for the fetus to hiccup every day?

In the second half of pregnancy, pregnant mothers sometimes feel regular small muscle spasms in their abdomen, which is fetal hiccups. Fetal hiccups are very common in the late stages of pregnancy. Some babies hiccup several times a day, and fetal hiccups can be observed in many B-ultrasounds. So, is it normal for the fetus to hiccup every day?

Is it normal for the baby to hiccup every day?

It is very normal for the fetus to hiccup. The fetus's lungs have not yet developed well, so it needs to continue to absorb the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman and train the lungs to breathe while swallowing the amniotic fluid, so that it can breathe normally like an adult after birth. In other words, fetal hiccups are actually a way to improve the lungs' breathing capacity. When the fetus hiccups, the pregnant mother can just gently touch him, and the hiccups will stop after more than ten minutes.

In the second half of pregnancy, the fetus will continue to absorb the amniotic fluid in the mother's body to exercise the lungs' breathing, and the bronchi continue to grow in the amniotic fluid. Between the chest and abdomen of the fetus, there is a thick muscle membrane like a sun hat, called the diaphragm, which separates the chest and abdomen. Like other organs of the human body, the diaphragm also has nerve distribution and blood supply. When the stimulus causing hiccups is transmitted to the brain, the brain will send out commands to cause the diaphragm to contract and spasm, thus causing hiccups.

The fetus sometimes hiccups at night and sometimes in the morning. It is manifested by regular movements of the fetus in the belly, once every 2-3 seconds, lasting 2-5 minutes, and sometimes lasting 10-20 minutes. It is manifested as jumping and beating, with a similar heart rate. Pregnant mothers touch the vibrating area with their hands, and it bounces regularly, which is different from the fetal movement! Careful mothers will be able to tell the difference.

What happens when there is abnormal fetal movement?

Sometimes fetal movement will reflect the baby's discomfort. We must learn to identify it, so that we can tell whether the baby's current body is normal or abnormal, and receive treatment as soon as possible. Then let's discuss what the reflections of abnormal fetal movement are.

If the number of fetal movements in 12 hours is less than 20 times, or the number of fetal movements in 1 hour at night is less than 3 times, or the intensity of fetal movement changes significantly and becomes weaker and weaker, it means that the fetus may have abnormalities and you should be alert. If the fetal movement number is less than 10 times in 12 hours, or there is no fetal movement within 1 hour at night, it means that the fetus may be insufficient in oxygen in the uterus, and you should go to the hospital for examination in time, otherwise it may cause the death of the fetus. In the initial stage of oxygen deficiency, the fetus will become more and more irritable and restless, struggling to break free. At this time, the fetal movements you feel will not decrease, but increase.

Therefore, if the baby's fetal movement suddenly becomes abnormal and often exceeds 40 times, you should go to the hospital for examination in time. As the lack of oxygen continues, the irritability and restlessness gradually become suppressed, so the fetal movement decreases, weakens, and finally disappears.