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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Can hiccups be bad?

39 replies

MissTwister · 27/05/2015 19:32

I'm 31 weeks and over the last week or so my baby has taken to hiccuping a good few times a day for about 5-15 minutes at a time.

I've read a few places online that this can be a sign of cord compression which is is obviously bad and can lead to stillbirth. When I mentioned it to my MW she just laughed.

However, again tonight I have read that after 30 weeks the baby should only hiccup infrequently, not every day, and certainly not 3 or more times a day. It said if this happens to immediately go to labour ward for checking! I'm especially anxious as I've had a perception of less movement too although had this checked and they said it was fine.

I don't know whether to be worried about this frequent hiccuping (added to my movement perception) or whether its normal. Does anyone have any experience?

OP posts:

Report

Minithemoocher · 27/05/2015 19:33

My dd hiccuped all the time, and still does! I didn't know about the cord compression thing so didn't really pay it any attention. If you're worried call your midwife back

comeagainforbigfudge · 27/05/2015 19:41

I have never heard of this. Do you have a link?

mmollytoots · 27/05/2015 19:53

My baby hiccuped millions during pregnancy we actually nicknamed her put wee hiccup monster and when she came out she continued to hiccup loads. It's normal because of their young diaphragms

MissTwister · 27/05/2015 20:02

Here are a couple....

Work at the Pregnancy Institute has indicated that hyperactivity, hypoactivity, and hiccups may be clinical indicators of fetal distress. Women presenting with these symptoms should be evaluated for sources of cord compression.
stillbirthmatters.wordpress.com/tag/hiccups/

Fetal jerking movements and fetal hiccups may also be related to fetal blood flow disturbances especially cord compression
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428685/

OP posts:

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 27/05/2015 20:20

I've never heard of this either. My DD hiccuped all the time in the womb, at least 2-3 times a day every day right until the end. No problems, but she still hiccups a lot now at 18 months and is quite windy in general!

MissTwister · 27/05/2015 20:30

Also this one from a midwife site
Other warning signs a mother should look for are: more than 10–15 hiccups per minute occurring more than four times in 24 hours
www.midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0910.asp

OP posts:

Skiptonlass · 27/05/2015 20:35

I'd never heard of that, I have to say. Definitely worth getting a slightly more in depth check though. Hope you're both ok.

MissTwister · 27/05/2015 21:09

MW laughed me out of town though!

OP posts:

comeagainforbigfudge · 27/05/2015 21:09

I'm not really sure about this. I've tried to read the articles but the 2nd one's format on my phone made it difficult to read. However, my overall impression was that there were a lot of "may" happen. It also, from what I could gather, focused on stillbirth only.

In relation to that, how many people report fetal hiccups and baby is born with no cord issues? It's clear that stillbirth is an area that needs a lot of research as one stillborn child is one too many if it could have been prevented.

At the end of the day, if you are that worried phone your mw unit. Google will only fuel your fears.

TinyMonkey · 27/05/2015 21:13

Stop googling!

DD hiccuped shitloads in utero, now aged six months and she still does. She's fine.

GuybrushThreepwoodMP · 27/05/2015 21:42

Don't know. My dd, not nearly 3 had hiccups several times a day right til the end of pregnancy.
I would have thought it would be something we would all be advised to monitor if it's such a big risk.

Number3cometome · 28/05/2015 11:13

Hi Miss Twister, I recognise your name from a few posts and our July group!

Is everything ok? you seem to be posting some anxious posts lately, are you finding that you are worrying a lot during this pregnancy?

x

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 28/05/2015 11:47

You do sound quite anxious Miss Twister, I've read a lot of your recent posts too. How are you feeling?

Skeppers · 28/05/2015 11:48

Oh my Christ, my baby jerks around frequently. How am I supposed to tell the difference between a 'jerk' (bad apparently) and a 'kick' (perfectly normal)...!? BLOODY GOOGLE I HATE YOU.

JasonsBum · 28/05/2015 11:49

I went in for observation a few times towards the end of my pregnancy and the midwives told me that hiccups are a sign of a strong, healthy baby. I don't know if they told me this to counteract what you've been reading about op, or if it's true!

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 28/05/2015 12:24

Skeppers I'm pretty sure mine only jerks rather than kicks!

Inpup · 28/05/2015 12:30

I think you should stay away from google!
My baby hiccups all the time as did the last one, never heard of or been given any reason to worry about it. Its quite normal and something everyone always asks " have you felt it hiccupping yet?"

Chchchchangeabout · 28/05/2015 12:42

Hiccups sound fine but if you sense less movement I would get that checked out.

MissTwister · 28/05/2015 19:57

So I asked a doctor in the maternity ward today if frequent hiccuping was okay as that's what my baby had - and I got the weirdest answer. She looked very confused, asked what I had said a few times then looked more incredulous, then she actually laughed out loud and said 'there's no way you can feel hiccups at 31 weeks.' I said I was pretty sure they were as they're regular bumps every second or so for 10 minutes and she said ' they're not. You can't feel them yet.' Well that disagrees with mumsnet, babycentre, NCT emails and what I'm experiencing!

OP posts:

willnotbetamed · 28/05/2015 21:11

I can definitely feel hiccups (30 weeks, so right behind you). And generally 2-3 times a day, and lasting for minutes at a time. But as far as I remember, both my other kids were exactly the same. I had a CTG today and DC3 hiccupped and kicked his way through, and neither the doctor nor the midwife was remotely worried. They just said that the baby seemed lively! I would definitely urge you not to worry, and not to check google any more! There are all kinds of things to worry about if you choose to - sometimes you have to make a conscious decision to trust your instincts rather than some random internet sites.

Number3cometome · 29/05/2015 10:02

It's defo hiccups, ignore that doctor!

P0llyP0cketR0cket · 29/05/2015 10:06

Mine hiccups every night for ages. It's really annoying! I'm 30 weeks. So if they're not hiccups, what could it be?! I just put it down to drinking too much diet coke

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Number3cometome · 29/05/2015 10:37

It is hiccups!

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 29/05/2015 10:47

It's hiccups

AugustRose · 29/05/2015 11:15

This may fuel your fear but I'm going to post anyway. I have had 5 pregnancies, in my last 3 I felt hiccups regularly from early on (at least 3 times every day) - I agree with others, you can feel them and the doctor is wrong.

Baby 4 sadly died at 36+4 weeks because of placental failure and cord issues.

Babies 3 and 5 are both perfectly healthy however they did both suffer with reflux until they were six months old.

If you have ANY worries, please go to a maternity unit to be monitored and assessed, it is most likely just a hiccupy baby and everything is fine but it doesn't hurt to be checked out.

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