Contrary to popular belief, babies do not really breathe inside the womb. They do practice breathing-like movements, but the actual oxygen comes from you as you breathe, and this is passed on to your baby through the umbilical cord.

Remember that your baby swims in an environment full of amniotic fluid, and he or she swallows this liquid all the time. The lungs are still quite underdeveloped during pregnancy, and hence need the oxygen from you.

Babies start practicing breathing-like movements at 9 weeks, and it may be seen in routine ultrasound at 10 weeks. This fascinating milestone prepares the lungs for the first breath of life at the time when the baby is born!