Does Having Hiccups While Pregnant Mean Baby Will Have a Lot of Hair
Some healthcare superstitions may be rooted in truth. But most of these mitt-me-down stories are myths that persist, despite being repeatedly proven invalid, causing undue stress for expecting parents.
One such myth is that a baby with hiccups in the womb may indicate potential danger in utero.
Concerns over fetal hiccups may be based on former beast studies. According to one researcher'due south 2012 commodity in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, it's suggested that hiccups in utero might be caused by compression of the umbilical cord. His possible caption is that hiccupping might brand a fetus motility away from the cord, which would salve the compression and return blood menstruation to normal.
However, I couldn't find the study, which involved fetal sheep, that he quoted.
Much like the "vaccines crusade autism" lie, which has been perpetuated since a now-discredited written report in the late 1990s, people grabbed onto the thought that fetal hiccups could cause problems like preterm nascency or stillbirth – none of which has e'er been scientifically studied in human fetuses.
I can understand why patients might exist worried about hiccups. It looks strange on ultrasound to meet your babe jerking around in the womb. It'south merely natural to Google the phenomenon, but to notice commodity after article suggesting that your pregnancy may be at adventure.
Fetal hiccups are normal. Having hiccups does not hateful something is wrong with your baby, and you don't need to try to become rid of the condition. Let's await at the information to evidence it and hash out what's actually going on in your belly with every hic, hic, hiccup.
What happens during fetal hiccups?
In the fetus, the diaphragm acts similarly to how information technology will when the babe is born. The diaphragm controls breathing, which is a rhythmic, intermittent motility. The fetus isn't breathing air, but amniotic fluid – the liquid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy.
With each inhalation, the diaphragm – a muscle beneath the lungs – moves downwards. This causes a downward and outward displacement of the belly. Instead of the chest rising and falling with breaths similar an developed'south would, fetuses and babies tend to involve their bellies more. This gentle motion is undetectable by the pregnant patient.
Hiccups follow that aforementioned, rhythmic motion as animate, only more forcefully. The unabridged fetal body moves in a jerking motion with each hiccup, which many meaning patients tin can feel. Simply like in babies and adults, fetal hiccups occur for a short, consistent period of time, then become away on their own.
A closer look at fetal hiccups
Ultrasounds show normal fetal animate and fetal hiccups, which are not a danger to the fetus or the pregnancy.
What does the science say?
There are several problems with the study that suggests hiccups are associated with potentially dangerous umbilical string pinch. The researcher speculates that hiccups are a hyper-reactive response to reduce claret flow from a knotted or compressed umbilical string.
Umbilical cord issues are always high on our radar. Patients worry nigh this, and nosotros are ever on height of the latest research and data on the topic. That said, I've never encountered any information that suggest fetal hiccups are associated with poor pregnancy outcomes – either in published research or anecdotally in the clinics at UT Southwestern.
When nosotros meet string pinch, it'south unremarkably in the presence of other events, such as:
- When the patient'due south water breaks early. Less fluid effectually the umbilical cord means there's a adventure the baby could roll onto it, reducing blood flow. Nosotros typically put patients in the hospital after their water breaks to monitor the fetal centre charge per unit as an indicator of potential issues.
- Labor and commitment. This happens fairly often. When the uterus contracts, it tin shrink the umbilical cord. When the uterus relaxes, the compression commonly goes abroad. This appears as variable decelerations on the fetal heart monitor and is no cause for alarm.
If we are to believe that hiccups are a upshot of cord compression, it would stand to reason that fetuses would develop hiccups in these instances. Just I've never seen this reported from any institution, and I've never seen it happen in my many years as a clinician.
Fetal heart charge per unit is a known marker of well-being, as is existence able to feel the baby move. In a 2017 study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 150 women who had stillbirths in the third trimester responded to a poll regarding their memories around fetal movement, including fetal hiccups. The researchers compared these women's responses with those of 500 women who had live births or were still pregnant in the same timeframe.
Approximately 80 percent of women in both groups remembered experiencing fetal hiccups – in that location was no significant difference between the responses of either grouping of women, suggesting that fetal hiccups are not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aforementioned was true when the data were adapted by maternal age, body mass alphabetize, smoking, or whether the patient felt daily or prolonged hiccups.
Slightly more women who had a stillbirth recalled daily fetal hiccups than those in the control group – 58% vs. 44% – but when this many study daily hiccups, information technology tin can't exist used as a marker for a fetal problem.
How can I tell hiccups from fetal kicks?
Hiccups typically accept a regular rhythm and occur in the aforementioned part of the belly over and over for a few minutes. Hiccups volition feel like a jerking or pulsing bound, which may motion your belly a fleck.
Kicks typically are non rhythmic and will occur all around the belly. "Kicks" may be the infant'south caput, arms, bottom, or anxiety bumping confronting your insides, and they sometimes experience and look similar a rolling movement rather than a quick jab.
What if I'1000 worried about the infant's movements?
Anytime you are concerned, reach out to your Ob/Gyn or certified nurse-midwife. We would rather you call us than sit down and worry nearly something that may non be crusade for alarm. It'due south important to call your prenatal care provider if you notice negative changes in fetal activeness, such equally drastically reduced motion during typically high-activity times.
However, nosotros encourage you to take episodes of fetal hiccups for what they are – normal, non-harmful, and pretty beautiful! – bursts of fetal movement.
To visit with an Ob/Gyn or certified nurse-midwife, phone call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online .
Source: https://utswmed.org/medblog/fetal-hiccups-pregnancy/
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