Try burping or giving a pacifier, but know that baby hiccups are normal
Anyone may get the hiccups, even infants. Adults could consider them to be a small or mildly annoying annoyance. How To Get Rid Of Newborn Hiccups may be treated in a variety of ways, but most of the time you just need to wait them out.
Hiccups are often a mild, brief event for newborns, lasting just a few minutes, as bothersome as they might be for parents and older kids. Hiccups usually don’t disturb babies either.
According to Nurse Elena, a general pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, “Hiccups in newborns are a frequent physiological reflex—all babies hiccup.”
Nurse Elena says that hiccups in infants rarely warrant worry. Hiccups in newborns can be avoided with certain measures, and they can even be stopped once they start.
What Causes Baby Hiccups
Infant hiccups are a reflex that begins well before the birth of your child. Since hiccups are a reflexive response, we are powerless to prevent or stop them from occurring (just like sneezing or coughing).
Hiccups are considered to be brought on by several factors. Although there may be a connection between stress, esophageal discomfort, and excess stomach air, there is no proven cause for hiccups. According to Nurse Elena, “At this time, it’s unclear why hiccups occur, and often, caregivers are more concerned about hiccups than the infant.”Hiccups, according to experts, are caused by the nerve that connects the brain and diaphragm and can be brought on by a variety of factors, including eating too quickly or quickly or simply swallowing at the incorrect moment.
Your diaphragm moves lower as you breathe by first drawing air into your lungs and then contracting it. Once the diaphragm has relaxed, you may exhale via your mouth or nose to let the air out again.
The sound of a hiccup is produced when the diaphragm contracts and the air entering your body becomes “caught” against your closed vocal cords. Despite the fact that breathing and hiccups are so closely associated, research has revealed that they are not linked; rather, they appear to be two distinct systems. In other words, your body won’t make you begin to hiccups instead of breathing. For infants, this technique can seem particularly dangerous. Fortunately, research indicates that routine hiccup episodes don’t significantly affect a healthy infant’s breathing rate, heart rate, or oxygen saturation.
What Else to Know About Baby Hiccups
On ultrasounds, strangely enough, fetuses may be observed hiccupping. Hiccups can occasionally even be felt in the parent’s abdomen. In reality, a lot of expectant mothers experience hiccups from their unborn children, and these hiccups frequently persist after the kid is delivered.
Infants have a very powerful hiccupping reflex. According to research, newborn babies may hiccup up to 2.5% of the time. During the first few months of life, hiccups usually lessen as a baby grows.
“I recommend savoring the pleasure of infant hiccups! Holding and spending time with your hiccuping infant may be a terrific way to bond, and hiccups are rarely a reason for alarm ” Nurse Elena adds.
How to Prevent Hiccups in Babies
Despite the fact that hiccups in newborns are usually harmless, there are certain things parents may do to avoid them. You might try some of the following remedies if your infant hiccups frequently or appears uncomfortable while they do so.
Track Timing of Hiccups
First, observe when your infant experiences hiccups. Hiccups could be brought on by certain situations, such as when you lay your infant in a particular posture or just after feedings. You might want to experiment with altering your baby’s feeding schedule or posture.
Feed Smaller Amounts More Often
According to several studies, overfeeding or feeding your kid too quickly might cause hiccups. Giving your infant a bit less at each mealtime, whether you are Breastfeeding or using a bottle, could be beneficial. Additionally, observe how frequently they nurse or chug from the bottle. If they consume milk or formula too quickly, they may inhale air as well, which may result in hiccups.
Burp Your Baby Regularly
Every time your baby is fed, burp them. Excess air bubbles that become caught while your infant is feeding might cause hiccups. Their esophagus can be cleared of gas bubbles by burping.
Check Your Baby’s Bottle
If your baby’s hiccups are a serious issue, the bottle may be to blame. During feedings, some bottle designs will trap more air than others. Try other sorts or brands to see if you can get the bottle’s air content down.
How to Get Rid of Hiccups in Babies
In general, a baby’s infrequent hiccups are not harmful. They will occasionally occur in your baby and go away on their own. According to Nurse Elena, hiccups frequently stop as abruptly as they started. However, you can attempt the following methods to assist in halting your child’s hiccups once they begin.
Rub Your Baby’s Back
To assist release extra air and decrease hiccups, try stroking your baby’s back in a circular motion. Your infant may find this motion soothing even if they keep doing it.
Burp Your Baby
Stop feeding your infant if they begin to hiccup, and burp them. Burping Your Baby can assist reduce discomfort and possibly put an end to the hiccups.
Change Your Baby’s Position
Depending on where your baby was when the hiccups began, it is OK to try to lay them down or prop them into a sitting posture. While changing positions might sometimes assist, it won’t always halt a baby’s hiccups.
Offer Your Baby a Pacifier
A pacifier’s sucking motion can calm a fussy infant and reduce the spasms in the diaphragm.
Be aware that certain natural therapies might be harmful to newborns even if they may be effective for adults and older kids. Don’t give your infant water when they are hiccupping, hold them upside down, startle them, pull their tongue, or attempt to force them to hold their breath.
In addition, some people use a product called gripe water, herbal-infused water, to soothe babies’ upset stomachs and hiccups. Grip water is not especially efficient or secure for infant usage, though. So, before using it, see your child’s physician.
Despite the fact that many parents all around the world vouch for gripe water, studies have not found any advantages, and there is also a chance of negative effects. Grip water products are not strictly controlled, may interfere with nursing, and are not advised for usage, according to health authorities like the World Health Organization.
When to See a Pediatrician
It is advised to contact a doctor if you observe that your infant seems to be hiccupping regularly or if the hiccups are hurting your child. Your infant could be having stomach problems.
“You should consult your physician if the hiccups are consistently accompanied by excessive spitting up, agitation, or crying. Your physician will look at the big picture, including your infant’s development, and talk about whether or not gastric reflux disease (GERD) might be the cause of hiccups “According to. Hiccups can occasionally be brought on by GERD, often referred to as acid reflux. To rule out any underlying medical concerns, your kid should be checked by a physician, particularly if their hiccups are followed by vomiting.
A Word From NewBaby N You
The body’s natural hiccuping process starts long before birth. Although there are numerous hypotheses on why our bodies have hiccups, no conclusive causes have yet been identified. Infants have hiccups frequently, especially newborns, and the frequency will lessen as your child gets older. Consult a physician, however, if your baby’s hiccups appear to be inflicting pain or discomfort, or if they are accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting.
