concern of dry drownding

ericalea511

Please no snarking.....I already feel like a moron for worrying but....I heard that there is a possibility that a child can dry drownd if they swallow too much water while swimming. Is this true? I looked it up but I wondered if anyone had heard of it. I took my son swimming and he swallowed some and got the hiccups. So there is lies my concern...

Mrs.C042807

Drownd? 

kit443

It can happen, but is very rare. Just keep an eye on him - you would know if he starts to have trouble breathing.

julia0402

It would have to get into his lungs, not be swallowed into his stomach.  I am pretty sure you would know it if there was a concern.

LukyNLuv

::whispers:: it is drown

ericalea511

He went to sleep because it wears him out... just worried

jacksjerseygirl

It is very rare but I understand your concern. Grant fell backwards in the tub (not hitting his head) while I was in the bath with him - he took in some water - I was so paranoid the whole night checking on him. 

 

JOEBunny

I think this is more for children who inhale water, like fall in a pool and are underwater for a bit, then get out, than just a child who gets water in their mouth.  It is very, very uncommon.  It is called dry drowning because there is not water in the lungs, not because they are not submerged.

You can google it, but it happens to less than 500 children, so about as common as unknown person kidnapping and choking to death combined. 

JAWMIN

don't google it. it will worry you more.

keep an eye on him. make sure he doesn't act out of the ordinary or weeze.

ericalea511

I have a movement monitor... i may put it on tonight..

DEBBIE33CASEY

instead of make fun of your spelling as others have....    I will address your concern since I know it can be scary when you are worried your child's welfare is in jeopardy.  And since you asked not to be snarked- i will not snark you!

As far as your concern.... i really don't think it's possible to drown if the water has been swallowed. It has already made it to the stomach which means it has gone past the lungs.  If the water had gotten in his lungs (which is necessary to cause drowning) he would be coughing, not getting the hiccups.  Babies often get hiccups because they have immature diaphragms (here's my opportunity for a spelling error!) and while it could have something to do with water he has swallowed, i strongly believe that your child, or any other, would drown from this.  You can relax.

Being overly cautious is just a sign you are a good mother, not a moron.  And we all embarass ourselves occasionally (some more than others!) with bad spelling

ericalea511

Thank you all for your tips and thoughts. Especially my inability to spell even with a spell check.... long day ( I am such a dork)

I truely enjoy coming on here and being able to ask for advice. Have a good night!

MattysGirl81

I saw something on 20/20 or Primetime about it happening.  I had never heard of it before that.

tmp-359758500007274

I understand your concern, but this technically wouldn't be dry drowning.  Dry drowning occurs when the larynx spasms closed and won't open again or there is cardiac arrest upon hitting the water.  No water is found in the lungs.  I blame this on Oprah.  There is some info on snopes. com about this confusion if you do a google search for dry drowning, on wikipedia, too. 

If your LO keeps coughing through the night, though, you might just want to have him checked.  If he did breathe in some water it could potentially turn into pneumonia.