Is it normal for a fetus to hiccup frequently?
Disease description:
My friend and I are both pregnant. She recently told me that she’s been feeling her baby hiccup frequently, but I haven’t noticed such obvious sensations. Is it normal for a fetus to hiccup frequently?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xiang Jinhong
Hello, frequent fetal hiccups are a normal phenomenon. Since the fetal lungs are not yet fully developed, the fetus practices respiratory function by swallowing amniotic fluid; hiccupping is also one way of exercising this respiratory capacity. In late pregnancy, some fetuses may hiccup frequently, while others never hiccup at all. Additionally, some babies continue to hiccup even after birth—these are all considered normal, and expectant mothers need not worry excessively.
