Why does the mother's fetus often hiccup? Large fruit
The most thrilling, unforgettable feeling during pregnancy is the first long-awaited movement under the baby’s heart. When can we expect it? What do periods of activity and rest mean? How to conduct a movement test yourself and what studies can confirm that everything is fine with the baby?
Signs of new life: fetal movements
Sensitivity degree
When does a child make itself known? It is believed that during the first pregnancy this occurs in , and during the second pregnancy - two weeks earlier. But the timing is approximate and depends on many reasons.
If you are an experienced mother and are familiar with similar sensations from previous pregnancies, you will recognize them earlier. Thin girls are also highly susceptible. For a woman with weight, subcutaneous adipose tissue prevents her from feeling the first movements, and sometimes she mistakes them for features of intestinal motility.
The placenta plays an important role. If it is located on the front wall of the uterus, the baby’s movements will become obvious to you later.
Note to the doctor
So, the day came when you realized: the baby is moving. Remember the date. The doctor will definitely ask about it and note it on the exchange card. Using this parameter, he will calculate the expected due date. During the first pregnancy, 20 weeks will be added to the date, with a second pregnancy - 22.
By movement you can determine the position of the fetus. The limbs are usually located in the place of its greatest activity. If the kicks are mainly felt closer to the diaphragm, the baby is lying head down. If in the lower abdomen - probably. Before the child has the opportunity to take the correct position.
Methods for diagnosing a baby’s well-being
CTG helps to monitor the baby’s well-being. A sensor is placed on the abdomen, where heart sounds can be heard better. The second is installed on the upper part of the uterus to record uterine tone. In your hand you will hold a special button that you must press every time you move. The signal is recorded on paper.
The interaction of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems is also checked. If the child moves and his heartbeat increases, the reaction is correct. If the heartbeat does not change when moving, this indicates the first signs of hypoxia and the need for close medical monitoring. This type of research is planned. It is carried out twice a month.
The state of blood circulation in the mother-placenta-fetus system can be assessed by ultrasound with Doppler. This ultrasound makes a qualitative and quantitative analysis of blood flow in the uterine arteries, umbilical cord vessels, aorta and cerebral arteries of the fetus.
cramped house
You will feel your baby more active at term. During this period, he grows quickly, develops, and there is still enough space in his “house”. Later, the baby becomes cramped in the uterus and his energy levels decrease. Especially before giving birth. With growth, the nature of movements also changes. When the fetal nervous system is already sufficiently developed, the “activity-rest” cycle begins to form. The baby may move vigorously for an hour, and then calm down.
Many pregnant women complain about the obstinate nature of the baby. During the day he behaves calmly, but as soon as he lies down to rest or fall asleep, the “dancing” begins. And the child just likes the pleasant swaying of his belly when you go to the store or do chores around the house. In addition, when you are in a relaxed state, blood circulation improves, and the baby has more strength to play mischief. And with his energetic energy, he forces you to stand up and change your body position. Don't worry. At longer stages of pregnancy, your rhythms of sleep and wakefulness will most likely coincide.
Do you feel rhythmic twitching in your stomach? It's your baby who's hiccupping. Don't worry. The relationship between fetal hiccups and disturbances in its intrauterine state has not been established.
Monitoring the child's activity
What matters is the change in the child’s physical activity over several days. Unusually strong, erratic, threshing movements will indicate a violation of his condition. A possible reason for this increase in reflex activity is an increase in carbon dioxide in your blood. The doctor will order additional laboratory tests and give recommendations.
A decrease or cessation of the baby’s movements after vigorous physical activity may be a sign of hypoxia, when the child lacks nutrients and oxygen. Placental insufficiency can be triggered by poor health of both you and the baby. We will have to establish the degree of development of hypoxia. In the acute form, emergency medical care is required; in the chronic form, constant monitoring and treatment is required.
Baby moves: count to 10
This is the simplest and most common test of baby D. Pearson's movements. It is recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and is indicated in official documents on the management of pregnancy in our country. It can be used by everyone at home to independently monitor the child’s condition. In a special table, every tenth movement is noted from 9:00 to 21:00. This is how the characteristics of his motor activity are determined. Under normal conditions, the tenth movement is noted before 17:00. If the number of movements within 12 hours is less than 10, it is advisable to inform your doctor. If the baby does not make itself known within 12 hours, it is an emergency, see a doctor immediately!
If the baby does not move for three hours, there is no reason to worry. He might just be sleeping.
Movement language
Sometimes movements become especially intense in a short period of time. This baby is “protesting” because of your uncomfortable position. If you lie on your back for a long time, the large vessels of the uterus are compressed and blood flow to the fetus is reduced. By his actions he is trying to force you to change your position.
The baby calms down during the cold spell, when you are worried, worried, sitting in one position for hours. Try eating something sweet - he should respond to the treat. He benefits from walks in the fresh air for at least three hours a day, good nutrition, long sleep, and a reasonable alternation of work and rest.
The child also really wants you to communicate with him. In the last weeks of pregnancy, his movements can sometimes cause pain and discomfort. Change your body position, stroke your belly, say a few kind words to the mischievous person, and everything will return to normal.
Discussion
You need to be very sensitive about such things. Especially with the first child. You probably take the second birth more calmly. And the first ones are always scary. Especially if you have never had sisters or brothers and you don’t know how to handle a baby.
Comment on the article "Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?"
More about the movements. Fetal development. Pregnancy and childbirth. Girls, tell me! First pregnancy - I'm 21 weeks pregnant, but still no movement! The obstetrician says it will start any day now, but I'm already starting to worry and worry? For whom, at what period did it start, and...
Very strong movements. ...I find it difficult to choose a section. Pregnancy and childbirth. You are moving and should feel it more strongly. And at about 26 weeks, my baby seems to be rolling around, I even get sharp kicks and the first movements of the fetus during pregnancy.
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Can the fetus not move for 24 hours at week 22? I’m afraid of the pregnancy fading, the first one froze at 8-9 weeks, although such a milestone in this pregnancy has long been passed, it’s still very scary. Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?
Yes, on the front wall this time, the movements appeared late and I felt less throughout the pregnancy. All sorts of kicks and stretch marks started literally after 32-33 weeks. Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?
Well, first of all, the age of the fetus is of great importance! If such an analogy can be drawn, it is only closer to childbirth! Sometimes the baby's movements cause pain to the mother. Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?
The first movements. Second and subsequent births. The first movements of the fetus during pregnancy. Sensations of fetal movement - what week of pregnancy? They say that in the second and subsequent pregnancies you begin to feel the baby moving earlier...
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Is it possible to feel movements at 12 weeks? I have a feeling that I started to feel them right then. Fetal development. Pregnancy and childbirth. Oddly enough, I felt the movements of the second child later than the first. the first at 16 weeks, the second...
More about the movements. Fetal development. Pregnancy and childbirth. Some people at 20 only feel the first movements! :-) after I turned 25, it became gradually visible, but the tubercles only appeared that week. Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?
Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count? But the strongest emotions will be caused by the baby’s first movement. The sensations are painless, still weak and indistinct, but so different: as if a fish swam in the stomach...
Movements during the second pregnancy. Sex, fears and prejudices. First pregnancy - I'm 21 weeks pregnant, but still no movement! The obstetrician says it will start any day now, but I'm already starting to worry and worry? Whose fetal weight at 21 weeks of pregnancy is normal.
Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count? But the strongest emotions will be caused by the baby’s first movement. The sensations are painless, still weak and indistinct, but so different: as if a fish swam in the stomach, or fluttered If...
Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count? Section: Fetal development (28th week of pregnancy, placenta moves along the anterior wall). Yes, on the front wall this time, the movements appeared late and I felt less all...
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Is there something wrong with my pregnancy or am I just thick-skinned? Ultrasound and Doppler are normal, first CTG It is known that primiparous women feel movement from 20 weeks of pregnancy, and multiparous women - from Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count?
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Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count? It is believed that during the first pregnancy this occurs at 20 weeks, with studies of the fetal heartbeat during pregnancy: ultrasound, echocardiography, fetal auscultation, CTG.
Fetal movements during pregnancy: what do they mean and how to count? By movement you can determine the position of the fetus. how to stir up the mask? And how long has he not moved? The weather is like this, let the baby sleep! Movement and mood of the child.
When I was pregnant, I listened to my body with trepidation and waited for the baby to give me news, when would I feel the first movements of the fetus? And when this happened, at first I didn’t believe it, and then I was overwhelmed with indescribable emotions! I think that for any expectant mother, the first movements of the fetus are emotions that will be remembered for a lifetime, they are akin to what you experience when you see two lines on a test. Memories of pregnancy are stored in a woman’s memory for a long time as the most pleasant and carefree time, full of hopes and slight anxieties. Fetal movement is not only a joyful moment, but also a very good indicator that can tell the doctor about health, development and how future births will go, let's talk about fetal movement in more detail.
When do they appear?
The fetus in the mother's belly begins to move very early - from 8-10 weeks it swims freely, somersaults and pushes with its legs and arms. Only the mother does not feel it yet, because there is a lot of space inside the uterus, it floats in the amniotic fluid, which softens the tremors. He still has a little strength and his size is very tiny - only 3 cm. Gradually, the baby grows and closer to the middle of the term, when his size becomes more than 10 cm, and his strength becomes greater, the mother feels his first timid tremors, which makes the future parents very happy.
It is usually believed that during the first pregnancy, movements begin to be felt a little later, around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since the mother is not yet experienced and mistakes the movements for intestinal motility or bloating. Those women who are pregnant with their second or third babies. they feel movements earlier - sometimes as early as 16-17 weeks of pregnancy. average time for a baby to start moving. perceived by the mother is 18-20 weeks. Thin women feel movements earlier than plump women, but in any case, by 21-22 weeks, movements in all women become distinct. Now, in response to your remarks, the baby will gently tap you from the inside with his leg or hand.
How does it feel?
Describing movements is not an easy task; it is impossible to define them unambiguously - each mother has her own epithets for this. Some women say that it feels like gurgling in the stomach, others feel tremors or rolling. The first movements can easily be confused with the process of digestion - many mothers at first think that it is seething in their intestines, although this “seething” is clearly observed in the area of the uterus. The movements are still irregular - at one time the woman feels them clearly. And sometimes there are periods of calm. But while the baby still has plenty of space in the belly and there is no need to worry about irregular movements, distinct movements will be especially important after thirty weeks.
From now on, the movement is felt like tremors. Movements of the limbs and turning over inside the abdomen, the child can calm down for several hours - sleep, and then can actively “stretch” in the mother’s stomach. sometimes the mother can even guess by its outline whether it is the baby’s hand or foot. Ten or more movements per day are considered the norm, and the child’s activity does not depend in any way on what the woman eats and drinks. However, many mothers think that babies are more active after consuming sweets or after drinking juice; perhaps these foods are more to the baby’s taste.
What do the movements mean?
Always be attentive to the sensations of your body; you should always note the baby’s activity. Your baby's excessive activity or lack of movement for a long time should be a concern for you. If you notice such phenomena, consult your gynecologist. Doctors usually recommend observing the baby’s movements for several days in a row and noting his activity in a notebook. The cessation of physical activity for 12 or more hours is considered especially alarming, since from about 24-25 weeks the baby moves in the tummy about 10-15 times per hour, although sometimes it is possible to sleep for up to two or three hours, almost without moving.
Try to stimulate your baby to physical activity yourself - do a few simple exercises from gymnastics for pregnant women, breathe as you will need to breathe during childbirth, hold your breath for a few seconds, eat something sweet or tasty. What usually wakes up your belly bug. Usually this is enough.
Remember - the baby’s movements may not always be the same - sometimes they are more intense, even within one day he behaves differently. The fact is that even in the stomach he has hours of rest. And hours of games and entertainment, by the way, often do not coincide with your biorhythms. Sometimes the mother simply does not notice that the baby is moving if, for example, he only bends and straightens his limbs, changes the position of his head, opens his eyes or sucks his finger.
After 4-5 months, if you want to evaluate and feel the baby’s movements, do this - eat something tasty, sweet - tea with jam, cake, bun or chocolate. 15-20 minutes after eating, go to bed to watch TV or read a magazine, lie quietly for a couple of hours, usually dense or sweet food in combination with the lack of movement of the mother quickly forces the baby to express himself - they begin to push the mother, encouraging her to walk and warm up. If you can’t persuade your baby to be active in this way, perhaps he’s just sleeping, and try again later. If during the day, despite all the attempts you have made to stimulate his activity, the baby still behaves quietly and does not detect even slight movements, consult a doctor. The doctor will carefully examine you and listen to you, listen to the baby’s heartbeat and, if necessary, do an ultrasound, then everything will become clearer.
What if he is very cheerful?
Mothers can be frightened not only by the lack of movement, but also by the sudden excessive activity of the baby. Often babies begin to kick vigorously and go on strike if the mother is sitting or lying in an uncomfortable position, experiences hypoxia, is worried, or has pinched a large vein with the uterus. This occurs due to lack of oxygen. Which the baby is trying to eliminate in the only way available to him. This is, for example, sitting cross-legged, lying on your back, then it’s enough to get up to warm up or just change position.
If the fetal activity is increased almost constantly, you need to visit a doctor unscheduled, this often means some trouble for the child, but it is too early to panic - first get examined. Sometimes mom just thinks that the activity has become stronger and the kicks are more sensitive, because the baby has simply grown up. Any normal pregnant woman worries about her belly! Doctors will recommend that you check your baby’s activity from 28 weeks twice a day, morning and evening, using simple tests.
One of the tests was developed by Prison - it is called “counting to ten”. It is very simple to perform and requires absolutely no preparation or expense. Get a special piece of paper, for example, attached to the refrigerator, and every day mark on it the number of fetal movements from 29 weeks of pregnancy - we count down at 9 am and end at nine pm. Not all movements need to be recorded. And only the first and every tenth of them - we indicate its time on the piece of paper. These data can then be shown to your doctor at the next visit; less than 10 movements per day should alert you - this may be a sign of fetal hypoxia - lack of oxygen.
The assessment is then carried out in this way - we mark the counting time and record all the baby’s movements. coups, pushes, kicks, if they all fit within 10-20 minutes, motor activity is normal. If it took longer, the baby may have been sleeping or resting. If he didn't move for the whole hour. Have a snack. Lie down without moving and start counting again. If after this he does not begin to be active, you should consult a doctor. However, there is no need to make predictions about the strength or nature of movements - all children are different and the baby does not always have to move a lot.
If there are twins in the tummy, it may feel like the entire tummy is constantly moving, and children do this very actively. An ultrasound will confirm that your baby or both are active. The baby's activity will gradually increase until about 32 weeks, and then, due to the tightness of the uterus, it will gradually decrease. By the time of birth, babies may even calm down - preparing for a crucial moment. By the end of the third trimester, the strength and intensity of movements are greater, but their number may decrease. The mother can already clearly guess where the baby moved his leg and where his arm, the baby can stretch out and rest in his stomach, if the baby’s head is down - the mother will feel quite strong blows from the legs on the ribs and in the right side, if he is head up - the movements will be more often at the bottom belly.
In the evening and at night, babies are often active - and this is normal, there is no need to worry.
What will alert you?
A very common misconception is that a baby's activity is a sign of a lack of oxygen. Most often, the situation is even the opposite; in the absence of movements or very low activity of the fetus, hypoxia is suspected. Although sometimes it happens, the baby just fell asleep. If after thirty weeks the baby moves little, weakly and very rarely, immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will examine you and possibly prescribe therapy to improve blood circulation in the placenta.
To clarify the situation, CTG is often prescribed, which can be performed from 34 weeks. This method allows you to assess the baby’s condition by analyzing his movements and heartbeats. In 30-60 minutes, the doctor will use sensors to record the fetal heartbeat and its reaction to movements. After this, the child's condition is assessed. If the CTG is unimportant, the mother may even be admitted to the hospital.
What could a baby’s unusual “behavior” mean?
As we said earlier, the main cause for concern for expectant mothers is a decrease in fetal activity, or its sharp increase. If you noted this, maybe your baby is hinting to you that it’s enough to lie on the couch or hang around the monitor and it’s time to take a walk or eat? If movements constantly alarm you, see a doctor. Most likely, everything is in order - but it is better to make sure of this once again. If there are signs of hypoxia, timely treatment must be started. Hypoxia can occur for various reasons - complicated pregnancy, your illness, anemia, problems with the placenta. However, if you notice them in time and treat them, everything will go well.
About truth and fiction?
Many expectant mothers think that the baby in the belly, like the mother, should know when it is day outside and when it is night, so that it can play during the day and sleep at night. Alas, this is not so, and the baby does not distinguish the time of day, which means he sleeps when it is convenient for him. Sometimes this happens during the day, and at night, when mom wants to rest, he wakes up in a playful mood, and he cheerfully kicks his half-asleep mother in the ribs!
Sometimes the baby in the mother’s belly may hiccup or cough, this is not dangerous and does not indicate illness - this is training for life outside the tummy. Hiccups occur due to excessive swallowing of amniotic fluid.
Many even try to determine the child’s temperament based on the baby’s movements—some babies are calm. Which do not push much and do not cause trouble for mom. And there are fidgets who kick their belly so hard that mom begins to groan! Now is the time to call dad. The voices of men often soothe children even while they are in the stomach. Remember - babies do not like sharp sounds, loud voices and stress - they react to them by freezing.
Many women in the 3rd trimester, before giving birth, feel not only the motor activity of the child, but also hiccups, perceived as rhythmic constant tremors.
They may appear at different times. Some hear them at 6-7 months, others only at 9. Some pregnant women do not notice any signs that the fetus is hiccupping inside the abdomen.
Hiccups can appear at any time of the day and last for various time intervals (up to 60 minutes).
Hiccups in utero
At the moment, there is no reliable information about the provoking factors of this phenomenon while it is inside the womb.
Doctors cannot come to a definite opinion and can only put forward the most probable theories as to why the fetus hiccups inside the abdomen.
Hiccups are rhythmic contractions of the breathing muscle that help separate the chest and abdomen.
This process can occur as a result of irritation of the nerve center in the brain, which is responsible for the activity of the diaphragm.
Hiccups are an innate reflex, therefore, they are also relevant in the intrauterine fetus.
How do fetal hiccups manifest?
The fetus hiccups due to contractions of the diaphragm. This process can occur even in an unborn child.
Hiccups in the fetus inside the womb can be felt by the expectant mother from about 8 months.
But in some situations, a woman understands how hiccups feel in a child much earlier, since he begins to hiccup during the 2nd trimester.
Therefore, a susceptible woman in the position observes sensations associated with this process already at 4-5 months.
Hiccups in the fetus during pregnancy are expressed by short-term, uniform tremors, during which the woman does not feel discomfort.
However, in certain situations, the baby's hiccups in the mother's belly continue for a long period of time, which provokes anxiety in her. During pregnancy, the fetus can hiccup for 3-5 minutes or an hour.
Some people do not hiccup at all during intrauterine development. It must be remembered that hiccups do not cause discomfort to the child and do not pose any danger to his subsequent development.
How hiccups are determined in a child during pregnancy are known to women who are carrying more than their first child. Inexperienced women may be worried for some time due to unusual tremors.
It is imperative to tell a specialist about the symptoms who can explain the provoking factors of this phenomenon.
Signs
Hiccups occur when the vagus nerve is compressed. Since the child hiccups in the stomach, and it is impossible to hear the sound, such contractions are felt as a pulsation at a certain point.
This can happen at 6 months, in most pregnant women - at 28-32 weeks. The duration of hiccups ranges from 2 to 60 minutes, appearing from 1 to 7 times a day. In certain situations the pulsation is intense, in others it is barely noticeable.
In some cases, it resembles twitching, spasms, or rhythmic tremors. Each mother has different sensations, but everyone observes the uniformity and differences from the usual movement of the child.
Reasons
Hiccups inside the womb have not been fully studied, therefore there is no exact data on the factors that provoke its occurrence. There are several hypotheses about why the fetus hiccups:
- In this way, the child signals that his lungs and diaphragm are forming properly, and the nervous system is able to control the processes of breathing and swallowing. Hiccups in such a situation will be a training process that prepares the body for independent respiratory processes after childbirth. Developing the diaphragm allows the baby to breathe properly during lactation, which has a beneficial effect on faster saturation.
- The likely root cause of hiccups may be the baby swallowing amniotic fluid. Once inside the body, water must be excreted in the urine, but when there is more than normal, a protective reaction will be activated, the diaphragm will begin to contract and push out excess fluid. Swallowing will become more frequent; when the expectant mother consumes sweets excessively, this liquid will become sweetish and the child will begin to swallow it intensively.
- Another factor in hiccups inside the womb is hypoxia. However, in this case, increased motor activity of the fetus should be observed, through which it can obtain oxygen from the amniotic fluid.
When the activity is normal, it means that there is enough oxygen for it, and the root cause of the phenomenon is not related to this factor.
Diagnostics
When a pregnant woman complains that hiccups are often observed in the fetus for a certain period of time and the above symptoms of oxygen starvation are present, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist in a timely manner.
In order to determine the reason why the fetus hiccups, the doctor may prescribe a cardiotocogram. During this diagnosis, it is determined whether uterine contractions and fetal heartbeats are considered normal.
This examination makes it possible to determine whether there are deviations from normal indicators in the child’s activity. Such manipulation is carried out at 7-8 months of pregnancy.
It is not dangerous or painful.
An informative diagnosis in such a situation would be an ultrasound with Doppler, through which it is possible to establish the characteristics of blood circulation between the organisms of the pregnant woman, the child and the placenta.
The specialist determines whether the baby’s heart is functioning properly and whether there are any malfunctions in the placenta. This type of examination is considered a completely harmless and painless session.
Carrying out such a diagnosis makes it possible to exclude the presence of dangerous consequences for the child or promptly prescribe effective therapy in order to prevent subsequent difficulties.
But hiccups in the fetus always resolve individually, and the expectant mother must remember that there is no need to worry about its short-term manifestations.
According to statistics, in the vast majority of situations, oxygen starvation is not confirmed by experts.
To avoid difficulties, a pregnant woman should balance her diet, devote more time to rest, adjust her sleep schedule and take walks in the fresh air every day.
Consequences
Hiccups in a child inside the womb are a natural process that does not cause any harm and does not indicate any kind of malfunction during its formation.
It is considered normal when the fetus inside the womb does not hiccup too often (from 1 to 3 attacks per day) and for a short period of time.
In addition, the pregnant woman has no other pain or discomfort during this period, and the motor activity of the fetus should remain the same as before.
We must not lose sight of the possibility of oxygen starvation. The risk of such a consequence is insignificant, but it definitely should not be discounted.
During hypoxia, the fetus not only hiccups for a long period of time, but also moves extremely actively and violently (in certain situations, the child, on the contrary, behaves extremely quietly).
In such cases, a pregnant woman must immediately contact a specialist and talk about her own concerns.
The doctor will listen to the baby's heartbeat through a stethoscope and perform a cardiotocogram and ultrasound of the child if necessary.
Such a simple diagnosis makes it possible to make sure that the baby does not suffer from oxygen starvation and feels properly.
During normal hiccups, a pregnant woman should not take any special measures, since the well-being of the fetus has not deteriorated.
But such rhythmic tremors can cause unpleasant painful sensations for a pregnant woman, in particular when the child begins to experience intense hiccups at night.
Pregnancy is a time when women often experience difficulty sleeping, and if the fetus hiccups heavily during a given period, they will not be able to get enough sleep.
The expectant mother should remember several ways that help calm down hiccups somewhat:
- Frequent walks outside (only during the day).
- Changing position (lie on your side, take a knee-elbow position).
- Avoiding sweets at night to avoid the formation of hiccups in your baby.
- Stroking the belly.
Of course, not in all situations the above recommendations can give the expected result. Then a woman in position needs to accept such a phenomenon as a given.
To date, there is no general consensus as to why hiccups occur in a baby inside the womb during pregnancy.
As a result of the fact that this phenomenon is not considered a pathological process or a symptom of any malfunction, special actions are not needed to eliminate it.
Every mother during this period of time should not be nervous and be patient. You should try to calm the child down as soon as possible.
For these purposes, gentle stroking near the abdominal cavity helps.
When fetal hiccups cause unpleasant discomfort at night and interfere with sleep, you need to turn around to the other side or simply change position.
This way, the baby will swallow less amniotic fluid and, therefore, hiccup less often.
If any concern arises, you should find out the recommendations of a specialist who will help reassure the pregnant woman and give useful advice on how to behave in such a situation.
Useful video
The most anticipated, and therefore unforgettable, feeling is the feeling of a new life stirring under the heart. Future mothers and fathers are waiting for him with trepidation. And also gynecologists. You will definitely be asked to write down the date of the first movement, and from this they will be guided to the date of birth. If you are expecting your first baby, he will be born 20 weeks after the first movement (usually birth occurs at the 40th week of pregnancy), and if you are expecting your second or third, then 2-3 weeks later. At least there are such statistics, but not all women fall under it. As a rule, the first fetal movements occur between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Although in fact the fetus is already moving at the 8th week, but since it is still too small, you do not feel it. But later, when the baby grows up, his “gymnastics” will make itself felt with all its force.
How do you know that this is a movement?
It happens that understanding this is both difficult and easy at the same time. Doctors describe this phenomenon very differently, and the mothers themselves cannot find the right words. You need to feel the movement yourself. And it’s not a fact that, having felt it, you will correctly explain the experienced state to your friend “by position.”
A gynecologist (male) told me about the movement poetically: “Imagine that a butterfly landed in your hands. You hold her, and she beats her wings in your hands.”
Mom’s explanations were more prosaic: something would gurgle.
I waited impatiently for butterflies in my stomach, but I still got a “gurgle.” But he was the most pleasant and most unforgettable of all the “bulks”.
Every woman perceives it differently. For some it is the splashing of a fish, the fluttering of a butterfly, and for others it is intestinal peristalsis. But in both cases, we are talking about confirmation of new life. Many pregnant women perceive themselves as a mother after the first movement.
It happens that while waiting impatiently for the first movement, mommy is just as impatiently waiting for it to stop. Babies in the tummy can be so active that their movements cause unbearable pain to a pregnant woman.
What determines the mobility of a child in the womb?
Many people believe that a baby’s character is formed in the tummy. Here's your answer: a toddler who is too active will make itself known right away. Although this is not always the case. Often, a baby’s movements are evidence not of his temperament, but of his well-being, development and health. Therefore, the task for a pregnant woman is very important: to analyze every step of her little one, learn to understand and feel it. Any deviations from your normal life together should be recorded.
Normal movements during pregnancy
There are no clear “normal” indicators. Although it is generally accepted that, starting from the 25th week of pregnancy, the baby should move at least 10 times per hour.
What do fetal movements indicate?
Movement is life. And even in the uterine period. You've already monitored your little one with an ultrasound, haven't you? This is a little man with arms, legs, a heart... In a bad and good mood, in a comfortable, or not so comfortable, position. So how can he tell you about all this? Naturally - with pushes.
A very common occurrence. Experts say that it does not pose any danger to the baby and does not cause him any discomfort. But mommy will feel it in the form of rhythmic tremors inside herself. Such episodes can occur up to several times a day.
Remember. This will also help you understand why your baby is moving. Often it requires your attention as early as 21 weeks. Recognizing your voice, dad's voice, distinguishing loud sounds and gentle melody, reacting to light, he will naturally let you know about his feelings and preferences. Undoubtedly, many already accomplished mothers return with nostalgia to their “pregnant” days. We remember very well how the little one calmed down in the womb if the mother was upset or angry... And how carefully he reminded himself when the storm of emotions subsided... And who doesn’t remember the “dancing” nights! Barely dragging her feet to the bed, the expectant mother plunges into long-awaited relaxation, and... no such luck! The period of wakefulness begins in the stomach! The baby still lives according to his own schedule and is not going to take your adjustments into account.
A baby can perform up to 500 different movements per day. Naturally, you won't hear everything. After all, the perceptibility of movements depends on many factors: the amount of intrauterine fluid, the thickness of the abdominal wall, the position of the baby and placenta, the baby’s mobility, the sensitivity of the mother.
Starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy, the position of the fetus in the uterine cavity can be determined by the baby’s movements. If he is in a breech position, you will feel the tremors in the lower abdomen. And if the toddler “stomps” above the navel, it means the presentation is cephalic. Towards the end of pregnancy, the baby is also preparing to be born. His movements are already more rare, but by no means absent.
The absence of any movement for more than 12 hours is a serious reason to consult a doctor.
In addition, you will need to consult a gynecologist if the child’s movements are too rare, sluggish or, conversely, violent and painful. In any case, this indicates the suffering of the fetus. Most often, this condition is caused by oxygen starvation. But experts disagree on how to distinguish this pathology. Some believe that with hypoxia the fetus becomes too violent, while others believe that it is the opposite. However, regardless of how your baby lets you know that he doesn't have enough oxygen, take his signals into account. After all, hypoxia often causes fetal death. The causes of hypoxia are very different: diabetes, anemia, cardiovascular diseases, fetal disease and much more. Only a doctor can confirm or refute such a diagnosis. To do this, an ultrasound examination is usually performed, heart sounds are listened to, and a CTG is also performed.
Cardiotocography is a very informative method for assessing the condition of the fetus. During this examination, the baby's heartbeat is recorded for 1 hour. The norm is not a monotonous, but a variable heart rate, which ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute. With severe fetal hypoxia, the heart rate is up to 90 beats per minute. In this case, an immediate caesarean section is performed if the pregnancy is more than 30 weeks.
Many doctors recommend that pregnant women perform fetal movement tests themselves. A widely used test is D. Pearson: “Count to ten.” It should be carried out from the 28th week of pregnancy. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., movements are counted. The time of the 10th movement is recorded daily on a special card. If your baby is inactive, consult your doctor.
Typically, violent or weak movements can be “coaxed” and “trained.” It is believed that the baby reacts sharply to the mother’s uncomfortable position. Especially recumbent. And as soon as she turns over, the child calms down.
If, on the contrary, you need to motivate your little one, they recommend eating something sweet. After all, carbohydrates enter the bloodstream first and very quickly. The baby gets a portion of dessert and this makes him cheer up.
Still, your main task remains to maintain a good mood. Under no circumstances should you make panicky calculations of every rollover and thrust. Enjoy communication with your little angel. Pay him as much attention as possible, take care of your health, watch your diet and daily routine. Have family get-togethers. The baby will be happy to listen to a fairy tale from dad, a lullaby from mom. Let the movement of your future baby bring only joy. After all, this state is fleeting and nothing can return it to you. Don't miss the most touching moment of your life!
Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy
A large fetus is sometimes a contraindication for natural childbirth. In each individual case, doctors make a decision individually, based on a number of indicators.
Which fetus is considered large during pregnancy?
Doctors say a baby is large if its weight before birth ranges from 4 to 5 kg. Children weighing over 5 kg are considered gigantic. Weighty babies have a correspondingly larger body length and circumference size.
Why can the fetus be larger than the term?
The baby in the womb grows according to certain patterns. The placenta is largely responsible for its development. If its functions are disrupted, the growth of the fetus slows down or accelerates, for example, this often happens in women with diabetes.
Thus, the reasons for excessive growth and largeness of the fetus can be:
- Poor diet and lack of physical activity. High calorie food in tandem with a decrease in physical labor is the first reason for the increase in child growth. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of foods containing a lot of simple carbohydrates (pasta, confectionery and bakery products), and spicy aromatic substances that stimulate the appetite. The obesity of a woman also affects the baby;
- Features of the placenta. If it is large in size and volume, then the child will be larger than usual;
- Increased volume and intensity of circulating blood. As a result, more nutrients are supplied;
- Second and subsequent pregnancies. The uterus has greater extensibility, the vessels in its wall are already quite developed, the abdominal press provides less resistance;
- Long-term and uncontrolled use of substances that improve uteroplacental circulation;
- Heredity;
- Endocrine metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, obesity);
- Post-maturity;
- Menstrual irregularities, history of inflammatory diseases.
Large fetus: nuances and features of the course of labor
Often, labor begins at the appointed time, but if you are postterm, it will be late, and if you have diabetes, it may begin prematurely.
Let's look at possible complications (their frequency increases as the child's weight increases).
Untimely discharge of amniotic fluid. It can be premature (before the onset of labor) or early (before the opening of the cervix). Both cases are associated with the lack of differentiation of the waters into posterior and anterior, high position of the head, features of the amniotic sac and polyhydramnios. The outflow may be accompanied by prolapse of the umbilical cord loop, which poses a threat to the baby’s life.
Abnormalities of labor (discoordination, weakness). Contractions are painful, irregular and of varying duration, or weak and infrequent, which causes a delay in the dilatation of the cervix. Weak labor forces are caused by overstretching of the uterus, a large placenta, and the need to make significant efforts to move a large baby through the birth canal.
Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) can occur due to a long delay in childbirth, a woman’s fatigue, or infection due to an anhydrous interval.
Large fetus and clinically narrow pelvis. A complication occurs when the size of the baby’s head and the mother’s pelvis do not match (even if the latter is of normal size). In this case, in the absence of disturbances and good labor activity, childbirth occurs naturally.
Shoulder dystocia with a narrow pelvis. The head gradually moves forward, expanding the birth canal, but the shoulders may get stuck. The obstetrician must perform a series of techniques to free the shoulder girdle. Very often, such actions can lead to a broken collarbone, shoulder, or neck injury. Dystocia is often observed in large babies whose mothers have diabetes.
An increase in the number of surgical interventions due to frequent complications during childbirth. Much more often they resort to a cesarean section with a narrow pelvis, weak contractions and efforts that cannot be corrected. Cesarean section is routinely used in cases of breech presentation of a large fetus, a scar on the uterus, post-term pregnancy by an older woman, the presence of diseases, complications during previous pregnancies and childbirth.
Amniotomy (artificial opening of the amniotic sac) and induction of labor detail. Basically, stimulation is planned from 38 weeks, when pregnancy is combined with extragenital pathology, and in case of post-term pregnancy.
What is the risk of complications?
Often during natural childbirth, the contractility of the uterus is disrupted, which is why bleeding occurs. Accordingly, the number of manual examinations of its cavity increases. During the examination, the unseparated parts of the placenta are removed and a massage is performed to promote muscle contraction and stop bleeding.
Dissections are widely used, since the risk of rupture of the vagina and perineum is high.
In women who give birth to heavy children, the involution of the uterus often slows down (reverse development), anemia occurs (hemoglobin levels decrease), and hypogalactia (insufficient milk). In those suffering from obesity: blood clots form (mainly in the legs), purulent-septic lesions are noted, endometritis (inflammation of the uterine mucosa), symphysitis, and mastitis occur.
Why should heavy children be supervised?
As for babies, they most often suffer from hypoxia and are born in a state of asphyxia. Also, in newborns, the adaptation period is longer than in children with normal body weight.
Often newborns have neurological disorders (tremor, anxiety). Such phenomena are provoked by a violation of cerebral circulation. Sometimes quite severe birth injuries occur. However, they can also occur during pregnancy complications.
Large babies may suffer from purulent-septic complications (eg inflammation of the umbilical wound), which are caused by primary immunodeficiency (decreased levels of immunoglobulins).
After birth, heavy children are under the supervision of a neonatologist, and subsequently - a pediatrician. They need to visit an endocrinologist and neurologist more often than others, because they are predisposed to obesity, diabetes, abnormalities in their neuropsychic status, and allergic reactions.
What to do if you are diagnosed with a large fetus
When the doctor said that the baby will be large, you should not panic, this can only do harm. A heavy baby means more careful monitoring is required during pregnancy and childbirth. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor will try to find out the cause.
If excessive growth is caused by any pathology, treatment with medications in a hospital may be necessary until the birth itself.
When the reasons lie in heredity or obesity, a diet is prescribed so that the food does not contribute to excess weight gain, but supplies the body with the necessary nutrients. It is recommended to carefully monitor your diet in the first trimester to prevent significant weight gain, as well as do special exercises for pregnant women.
The decision to give birth is made purely individually. It is worth discussing this issue with your doctor, taking into account the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy. Sometimes a wait-and-see approach is chosen, in other situations a caesarean section is immediately prescribed.
Indications for surgical intervention already during childbirth are size discrepancies (large head, narrow pelvis), observed for more than 4 hours. Even if a natural birth is prescribed, they may resort to surgical procedures, but only if the life of the child or mother is threatened.