Why does my baby hiccup in the womb?

Somewhere in the second half of pregnancy, many parents notice a new sensation: a gentle, rhythmic tap-tap-tap that's different from a kick. Those are very often your baby's hiccups — and they're usually a completely normal part of development.

What fetal hiccups are

Fetal hiccups happen when your baby's diaphragm — the muscle that powers breathing — contracts in little bursts. They tend to feel rhythmic and regular, unlike the more random pattern of kicks and rolls, and they often last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

They're widely considered a normal sign that your baby's nervous system and breathing muscles are developing and "practising" — part of getting ready for life outside the womb.

What they have to do with your baby's senses

Hiccups are one of the more noticeable signs of a busy, developing baby — and in these same weeks, your baby's senses are coming online too. From around the middle of pregnancy they begin to hear sound from outside the womb, your voice most clearly of all. (More on that in when can your baby hear you in the womb.)

It's a nice reminder that, even now, your baby is doing a lot of growing and getting to know the world — including the sound of you.

When to mention hiccups to your midwife

Fetal hiccups are usually nothing to worry about. As always, you know your pregnancy best, and anything that feels unusual or that worries you is worth raising with your midwife or doctor — that's exactly what they're there for. Some guidance suggests mentioning it if, late in pregnancy, hiccup-like movements change noticeably in pattern. When in doubt, ask; never feel it's a bother.

This article is general information, not medical advice — your midwife or GP is the right person for anything specific to you and your baby.

Making the most of these weeks

If feeling your baby hiccup makes you want to say hello, you're not alone. Many parents start talking, singing, or reading aloud to their bump around now — a gentle way to bond and to start the bedtime ritual early. Dreamtime can help with soft, read-aloud stories made for your bump.