AboutBrenda Expertise I have been an R.N. since 1988 and come from a family of nurses. I have clinical experience in labor and delivery, as well as post-partum care and pre-term pregnancy complications. I have also worked in Community Health Clinics dealing with this area of expertise, including WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) clinics performing nursing evaluations and assessments in determining a need for services or intervention for pregnant women, newborns, and young children. I have worked in immunization clinics in and around my community as well. I also have several years experience in OB and Pediatric Home Care Nursing. In addition to that, I am a mother of two, ages 21 and 16, both of which I had hoped would be vaginal deliveries, but ended up being C-Sections... one of which had me in pre-term labor...another which was frank breech (bottom first)... one who rejected the breast... and so on... to list my personal experience would be a bit lengthy! I'd simply like to help anyone who might have a question or concern that I can draw on my expertise to answer!
Experience I have been an R.N. since 1988 and come from a family of nurses. I have clinical experience in labor and delivery, as well as post-partum care and pre-term pregnancy complications. I have also worked in Community Health Clinics dealing with this area of expertise, including WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) clinics performing nursing evaluations and assessments in determining a need for services or intervention for pregnant women, newborns, and young children. I have worked in immunization clinics in and around my community as well. I also have several years experience in OB and Pediatric Home Care Nursing. My experience also includes approximately three years working in Behavioral Services.
Education/Credentials Graduated from the Mary Lanning School of Nursing in May 1988. Have been a licensed Registered Nurse in the state of NE since 1988.
Question Hi, I am wondering why babies hiccup while they are in utero. My baby gets them several times a day, every day and I wonder if it is OK to have them that much. Sometimes they last 20 minutes. Does the baby feel distress from them? I don't remember them with my first pregnancy.
Answer Dear Lauren,
Yes - it is perfectly normal for babies to have hiccups while in utero. There is not an abundance of research in the area, but it is thought that it is a response to fetal drinking or fetal breathing which causes the flow of amniotic fluid in and out of the lungs, stimulating the diaphragm to contract and causing hiccups in the fetus - just like we have them once we're born. Only the more mature fetuses do this because of the development of the central nervous system.
Many women have noted feeling their baby hiccup many times through the day. I would not be concerned about this. This actually shows that things are functioning normally.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
