At which month of pregnancy can the baby suck its thumb?

The ability for a baby to suck its thumb typically develops sometime around the end of the first trimester and into the second trimester of pregnancy. However, it is more commonly observed around 15 to 20 weeks of gestational age. Ultrasound images often show babies sucking their thumbs at around this time, indicating they have developed the motor skills necessary for this kind of self-soothing behavior.

Extra: Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for babies, and it's a habit that can start even before they are born. During pregnancy, as the fetus develops, various milestones are achieved, including sucking and swallowing. These reflexes are essential for the baby’s survival after birth because they are related to feeding.

Sucking reflexes are part of the normal development of a fetus. This reflex is not only cute but significant. It helps the baby to practice the skills needed for feeding after birth. Thumb sucking in the womb is also thought to be a sign that the central nervous system is developing well.

The development of a baby through the stages of pregnancy is quite complex. The first trimester is primarily about the development of organ systems, while the second trimester is when the fetus starts to develop more physical features and behaviors, such as sucking and grasping. This is also the time when mothers may begin to feel the baby's movements, known as "quickening." By the third trimester, these movements become more pronounced and frequent as the fetus grows larger and more active.