Why do babies hiccup so often? Is it something you should be worried about? Learn more about newborn hiccup here.
What can you read in this article?
- What causes hiccups in babies
- How to stop baby hiccups after feeding
- How to burp a baby with hiccups
Have you heard of the old wives' tale that a newborn hiccup means that baby is growing?
Although there is no medical evidence to back up the connection between hiccuping and growth, hiccups can affect adults, children, as well as babies. It might be cute to hear your tiny newborn's "hics", but is it normal for your baby to hiccup, and is there anything you can do about it to help her?
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Newborn hiccup: What causes it?
Hiccups are actually involuntary spasms of the diaphragm (the muscle at the base of your lungs that helps with breathing) and the audible "hic" sound is due to a fast contraction of the vocal cords with each spasm. While they may seem bothersome to you, newborn hiccups don't usually cause your baby any distress. In fact, they've been doing it even before they were born, while they were in the womb. Babies are used to hiccups that they can even sleep through it without being disturbed. Also, hiccups rarely interfere with or have any effect on a baby’s breathing. According to Dr. Jennifer Tiglao, a pediatrician from the Makati Medical Center, newborn hiccup is normal and it may have something to do with something triggering spasms in the baby's diaphragm. “Hiccups are just normal. It happens and has something to do with the nerves in our diaphragm. When it is triggered, the nerves in our diaphragm vibrates and produces that involuntary spasm," she explains in Filipino. But what causes hiccups in newborns exactly? There are several possible reasons that your newborn baby has the hiccups, such as:-
Swallowing air
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Happy belly
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Spicy food
How to stop hiccups in babies
DO'S:
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Breastfeed baby
“I advise mothers to breastfeed. If your newborn is having hiccups, try feeding her until she forgets about them entirely,” she suggests.
Just remember to feed your little one when she is relaxed and don't wait too long between feeds so she won't get too upset.
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Try giving a pacifier
Let your baby suck on a pacifier which could also relax the diaphragm and soothe your little one as well.
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Hold your newborn
Try holding your baby in an upright position and give her a gentle back rub to soothe her and stop newborn hiccup.
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Burp your baby to help get the air out of her stomach
How to stop baby hiccups after feeding? If breastfeeding or sucking on a pacifier doesn't work, you can take a break and burp your baby in between feedings. This will help release the air bubbles that may be causing the spasms in her diaphragm.
How do you burp a baby with hiccups? According to Dr. Gellina Suderio-Maala, a pediatrician and TAP mom, there is no hard and fast rule on burping a baby, but what usually works is when she is put on an upright position, with adequate support from you.
"One position that you can do is when you are carrying your baby, her head is resting on your shoulder or chest, then lightly tap on the left side where her stomach is. So that the air bubbles that are in your baby's tummy can move and be released," she said. The doctor also recommends waiting for a loud burp before putting the baby back on her crib.
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Distract your little one
Try tickling your baby's toes, or making funny faces to distract your baby from the bouts of hiccups that she's having. If all else fails, at least you're also distracted from worrying about it, as it will usually just go away on its own.
DON'TS:
- Do not pinch your baby's nose to make her hold her breath for a few seconds because this can hurt her and cause suffocation
- Avoid giving your newborn some water to drink, as this can be harmful for babies under 6 months old
- Do not cover your baby's nose and mouth by making her breathe into a paper bag as she could suffocate
- Refrain from giving your baby some peppermint, lemon, vinegar, peanut butter or pickle juice as this can give her digestive problems
- Do not attempt to "scare the hiccups away" by startling or shocking your baby because this will probably upset her further
You will just need to be patient and soothe newborn hiccup as you both wait out this uncomfortable (but relatively harmless) episode of the hiccups.
How to prevent hiccups in babies
As mentioned, hiccups are involuntary spasms in our diaphragm that we usually have no control over. And while all babies will eventually go through this phase, there are things you can take note of to lessen these hiccup episodes.
First, make sure your baby is calm when you feed them. This means being attuned to hunger cues and not waiting until your baby is so hungry (hint: crying) that they’re upset and fussy before their feeding begins. After feeding or in between feedings, take a quick break and burp your baby while holding her in an upright position.
When she's done feeding, hold her in the upright position for at least 20 minutes before putting her down on her crib. Just relax with your baby and avoid engaging in heavy activities such as dancing, bouncing up and down, or high-energy play.
Newborn hiccup - should you be worried?
Hiccup episodes usually last for a few minutes, but if your newborn baby is still hiccuping for a few hours, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Although the doctor might rule it as something harmless such as a sore throat or something in the ear that is touching the eardrum, there is a possibility that hiccuping at prolonged stretches at a time could be due to several health issues including:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
- A tumor or cyst in the throat
- Kidney problems
- Diabetes
- Pneumonia
Take note of other changes to her behavior or pattern, like during feeding, sleeping habits or increased fussiness -- this information will help your doctor to diagnose and treat the problem.
Remember, if your baby has been hiccupping nonstop for a few hours and this happens frequently, it is best to bring her to see a doctor to rule out any underlying problems.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Singapore
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