Babies do not (and cannot) fart in the womb, and I’ll tell you why.
But before then, there are a lot of questions surrounding pregnancy and what happens throughout the period of pregnancy, right from conception until delivery.
And whether babies fart in the womb happens to be one of those questions, and we’ll clarify that later in this guide.
While this question may seem bizarre, it can’t be ignored, considering all the things that biologically occur in the womb during pregnancy.
So, it is only natural for pregnant women to feel concerned and constantly ask questions about one thing or the other; they are simply trying to be sure if everything is alright with their unborn baby and if they’re doing anything wrong.
Besides, knowing your baby’s quirks and activities will help you feel more connected to them and learn more about your body.
Therefore, for the rest of this guide, we’ll explore whether babies fart in the womb and the biological reasons supporting such a reality.
We’ll also explore other related questions surrounding pregnancy, so I suggest you don’t skip a single sentence in this guide.
Is My Baby Farting in My Womb?
While it is common for infants to exhibit odd behaviors, such as sticking fingers down their throat, humming themselves to sleep, vigorously stroking their faces, or even groaning while they eat, it is not unreasonable to wonder if they are capable of farting while still in the womb.
Pregnant parents frequently ask this question because they are curious.
Everyone, including infants, needs to breathe to pass gas, but babies don’t breathe until a few seconds after delivery when they take their first breath.
So they cannot fart while they are still in the womb.
The umbilical cord carries oxygen to the fetus throughout pregnancy. It provides the baby with oxygen until the first breath after birth.
A fetus’s intestines can never create gas because, unlike adults, they are filled with amniotic fluid rather than air.
Baby’s digestive systems do not fully develop until they are roughly six months old, which is essential to remember.
No gas implies no air. Additionally, when you digest food, you have flatulence. Endogenous gases are produced during food digestion by bacteria in the colon.
Babies cannot (and do not) generate gas since they cannot digest food during pregnancy.
Around the time they start drinking milk, babies start passing gas.
This is because when they eat, they swallow air. Before being farted out, some of this air gets caught in their intestines.
Therefore, even while it’s possible that your baby isn’t doing it on purpose, gas is a natural byproduct of their eating and digestive routine.
If your baby’s flatulence worries you, consult your pediatrician. Otherwise, savor the variety of odors and sounds of raising a baby.
How Babies Fart
When babies eat and digest their food, they fart. A baby’s body creates gas when it breaks down food while it feeds.
The baby farts, which releases this gas. When food is broken down in the digestive system, methane and carbon dioxide are produced.
These gasses flow through the anus after escaping from the intestines. All newborns poop, albeit some poop more than others.
Your baby’s frequent farts are a sign of a healthy digestive system.
Since their stomachs work so hard to digest what they consume, they frequently create large amounts of gas.
Additionally, remember that your infant is still learning to swallow correctly. They might also inhale air as they suck on their bottles or pacifiers.
This air may eventually produce a fart if it becomes caught in their intestines.
Other Related Questions
Do Babies Urinate In The Womb?
Although newborns cannot fart in the womb, they create urine and feces.
Your baby will start urinating between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy when their kidneys are fully developed.
The good news is that the placenta flushes the pee from the womb and your body.
However, some pee is still present in the amniotic fluid. In actuality, most of the amniotic fluid by 20 weeks is pee.
Do Babies Poo In the Womb?
It can occur on occasion. But typically, a baby won’t poo until after delivery. While babies acquire nutrients from their mothers through the placenta and umbilical cord, they do not digest food traditionally.
As a result, they do not process waste in the same manner as they will once they are being given birth to.
Can Babies Hiccup In The Womb?
Yes, in a nutshell: Babies can hiccup while still inside the womb.
According to Kire Stojkovsk, a licensed physician at the Farr Institute, “womb hiccups may start at the end of the first trimester or the beginning of the second trimester.”
Hiccups typically last between one and two minutes. However, in some cases, they can persist longer. And after that, they leave on their own.
What Causes Fetal Hiccups?
Although hiccups can occur in utero for babies, their exact reason is unknown. Some infants hiccup frequently, sometimes many times per day.
Some people never hiccup at all. And although while the logic behind this is unclear, most doctors concur that fetal hiccups are neither harmful nor deadly. Instead, they indicate a healthy pregnancy.
Fetal hiccups are never cause for alarm. On the contrary, they are a sign of adequate oxygenation.
Fetal hiccups are utilized by obstetricians as a biophysical profile test as a sign that a baby is getting enough oxygen from the placenta.
In fact, the development and maturation of the lungs produce hiccups as a side effect.
What Do Hiccups In the Womb Feel Like?
Fetal hiccups are rhythmic, persistent, and feel like a pulse or twitch. Of course, the sensation can change in strength over time, especially as the pregnancy progresses. However, it is noteworthy, no doubt.
Can Babies Burp In the Womb?
Although babies can hiccup when within the womb, they do not burp. Babies do not burp in the uterus because there is no air present.
“They can spit up the amniotic fluid they are swallowing,” he continues. But unless there are fetal birth abnormalities, this is rarely seen.
Conclusion
We can infer that although babies cannot fart while in the womb, they can once they start drinking milk.
You can be sure that your baby will start farting as soon as they start eating, even if it might not be as visible as flatulence after birth due to the smaller volumes of gas produced and the variable ratio of gasses inside the amniotic sac.
Please do not hesitate to discuss any questions or concerns with fetal flatulence with your healthcare provider, as you would with any other pregnancy-related or baby-related health issue.