To earn money for Osami's diapers, I've dived back into the workforce, leaving my wife solely responsible for Osami's care at the postnatal care center. My only joy these days is the photos and videos she occasionally sends of Osami 😊. Today, starting the day strongly with a photo of Osami on his 7th day of life.
In the afternoon, she sent me a video of Osami with a focus book. It's a tad early for him age-wise, but she started showing it to him whenever he's awake out of her desire to give him something beneficial.
I hadn't prepared a focus book when posting about baby development, but thanks to quick delivery 🚀, we got one! Today's main topic isn't about visual development, but to summarize:
Baby's Visual Development:
👉 Stimulate the baby's vision with high-contrast colors like black and white
👉 Show from a distance of about 20-30cm starting from 3 weeks after birth
In the video, you can see Osami hiccuping. He even hiccupped while in the womb. Today, let's briefly delve into why Osami hiccups.
Hiccups
Hiccups occur when the diaphragm nerve gets stimulated, causing sudden contraction. At the same time, the air rushing into the body makes a sound as the vocal cords close quickly. Hic-!
Reasons for Newborn Hiccups
Why do newborns hiccup? There are several reasons, but the most common one identified is a change in body temperature.
Causes of Newborn Temperature Change:
- After a bath when the body temperature suddenly drops
- After sweating and then cooling down
- When left with a wet diaper, etc...
In Osami's case, it seems he hiccupped due to a drop in body temperature while changing his diaper. That's why, as seen in the video, she put a hat on him and made sure he was warm! Hiccups can also occur if the baby swallows air during feeding. It’s typically due to diaphragmatic spasms. If the baby takes in a lot of air, perhaps from an incorrect feeding posture or frothy formula, hiccups can occur, especially if fed hastily. It's generally advised to feed before the baby becomes very hungry.
How to Stop Hiccups
Like when the baby hiccups in the womb, which stops over time, hiccups will generally stop on their own. Osami often hiccupped in the womb, and I felt it a lot when placing my hand on my wife's belly before bedtime 😅. Considering the aforementioned causes, if hiccups occur due to temperature changes, simply ensure the baby stays warm. For example, put on a hat or mittens. Change a wet diaper promptly. While these methods might feel like you're just letting the hiccups be, they're commonly used. Another method is to feed the baby. However, if hiccups occur due to feeding issues, it can be problematic. In such cases, a pacifier might help. I once saw a YouTube video claiming that making the baby cry was the most effective method, but that can stress the baby, so it's better not to try it.
Today, we briefly looked into the causes and solutions for Osami's frequent hiccups.
"Hiccups aren't an illness."
Of course, if hiccups continue for several hours, there might be other issues to check. In such cases, a visit to the pediatrician might be necessary. But in general situations, there doesn't seem to be a need to worry too much about Osami's hiccups.
Recorded on April 11, 2023.