María Simón, 27, a TikTok user, went viral on the social network by “hiding” her pregnant belly in a video. The scene, which has already garnered more than 200,000 views, shows the woman inhaling and holding her breath to “wither” the area.
So, many people doubted: Couldn’t the act have risks for the child?
Hide the pregnant belly as in the video. Is it dangerous?
According to obstetrician-gynecologist Karen Rocha de Pauw, “emptying” the abdomen is physiologically possible, although the image generates anguish in those who watch the video.
“In addition to the baby, we have an intestine, and very often it is not full. Soon, when air is sucked in, the lungs fill, a vacuum is created, and the intestine rises. Thus, the abdomen “enters” ”, details the obstetrician.
Even if it were possible, there is also the suspicion that the small child is in danger when the mother makes this movement of “emptying” the abdomen. However, Dr. Karen explains that this is not the case.
“For the baby it doesn’t make any difference because it’s inside the amniotic fluid space. Therefore, for him it is as if his mother was moving, ”says the expert. In this way, what the little one feels is as if the mother figure were just breathing, or thinking about situations with external interactions, as if he were traveling in a car.
But of course, experts do not recommend doing it often or for a long time. After all, this technique involves apnea (without breathing), which can disrupt the oxygen supply to the fetus. In any case, do not try to breed at home.
