Do all newborns get the hiccups so much?

js1973

Senior member
Dec 8, 2000
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My son was born on Valentines day this year, and although I've gotten past that ultra-paranoid stage all parents get during the first month with their first child, I'm still wondering if it's normal for a baby to get hiccups as much as my son does. He gets them about 15 minutes after he eats and sometimes when he first wakes up from his 2hour sleep intervals. (sigh) Is this normal?
 

ChrisIsBored

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
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My girlfriend's older sister just had a baby back in November. Her son gets the hiccups every once in a while. She said their dr. said it was because he was cold, so everytime he gets the hiccups they cover him up nice and warm and they're gone.

That might be the reason. Although I don't get hiccups when i'm cold.. ::shrug::
 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
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First, congratulations!

Second, it probably isn't anything to worry about... my oldest was the hiccup queen. Of course, always bring up your concerns with your pediatrician. Speaking of which, be sure to educate yourself as much as possible about kid's health issues etc.... no one is ever going to care more about your son's welfare than you are, so arm yourself with information.

Is your wife breast feeding? Breast milk is much easier to digest (but of course, the mother has to watch what she eats. No jalepenos!). It can be hard as h-e-double hockey sticks those first few weeks, but it is worth it.

 

cxim

Golden Member
Dec 18, 1999
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babies don't have a good control of fluid reflux to the esophagus or of gas exiting from stomach. They also tend to swallow more air when they eat. The vagus nerve runs close to the esophagus & stomach & is sensitive to temp changes, much more than adults.

These things make them more prone to hiccups.

controls are milk to body temp & erect after eating, for a while. this lets gas escape as a burp due to natural mechanical forces ( gas rises).... more burps, less hiccups.

hiccups can come from direct vagus nerve irritation ( temp changes) or from mechanical distention of the stomach. Most often in adults, hiccups occur due to some irritation of the diaphragm. Hiccups are, more or less, a kind of reflex jerk of the diaphragm.
 

gnognugs

Banned
Feb 17, 2001
810
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js1973! Congrats are definitely in order! (what a cool BD too, nice timing;))

Looks like the hiccup thing has been pretty well covered.
 

Azraele

Elite Member
Nov 5, 2000
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Congrats on your new addition. Hiccups don't sound like much to worry about, but ask your pediatrician to make sure :)
 

kami

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
17,627
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You have nothing to worry about. When I was a baby I even hiccupped in the womb! And for the first 10 months I did it a lot....I turned out fine and I don't think I've had a hiccup in a couple years now. (almost 19)