From adorable giggles to sleepy sighs, newborns do many curious things. One such mystery? Hiccups in babies . But what if we told you that your baby's hiccups might be more than just a reflex—they could be a sign of healthy development that began before birth? Let’s explore the surprising origin of baby hiccups from a scientific and prenatal perspective, backed by medical insights and developmental theories. 🤰 Inside the Womb: Hiccups as Practice for Breathing Before babies even take their first breath, they’re already hiccuping. According to Dr. Laura Riley , OB-GYN and spokesperson for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, babies can begin hiccuping as early as the second trimester . These hiccups are believed to be linked to the development of the diaphragm and respiratory system. When a fetus hiccups, it’s not reacting to feeding or swallowing air (like postnatal hiccups) but instead practicing the movement of breathing . This rhythmic contraction h...