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Lillian M. Beard, M.D, a Fellow of the American
Academy of Pediatrics, is an associate clinical
professor at the George Washington University School
of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.
She is a frequent guest expert and spokesperson on national
television programs, discussing issues related to children's health.
Dr. Beard practices pediatrics in Washington, D.C.
Q: Our 1-week-old has the hiccups at least three times a day. Is this normal?
A: Newborns have frequent and sometimes prolonged periods of hiccups. These episodes are more disturbing to the adults observing the phenomenon than for the infant. This harmless contraction of the diaphragm (a muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdomen) occurs because something ( swallowed air, a full tummy, positioning, or crying) has stimulated the nerve which supplies impulses to that muscle. If your baby can rest comfortably and does not seem bothered by hiccups, don't panic. Hiccups are normal during infancy. They usually subside and become less frequent over time.
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