Hiccups are uncontrolled withdrawals of the diaphragm. Diaphram is a large, curved muscle settled below the lungs and known as breath muscle. Hiccups create a sudden discontinuance of vocal cords and generate a “hic” sound.
During pregnancy, the rhythmic twitch you feel in your uterus is probably the baby’s hiccup. Either the child is a fetus or an infant; their hiccups often make parents worried, especially the novice ones. For those tensed parents, here we are with this feature writing. We hope the information we are including will remove all the confusion concerning baby hiccups.
Is hiccupping normal in babies?
Yes, hiccupping is normal in babies as like as it is regular among adult people and the unborn in the womb. Most of the babies start hiccupping in their mom’s womb, especially in the second trimester. Then after the birth, hiccupping becomes very frequent up to the first year.
What causes hiccups in babies?
It’s a common question from first-time parents: why does my baby get hiccups? First of all, relax. It will not cause any harm to your baby. It is merely a jerking or twitching of the diaphragm. But the reason behind this twitching is not clear at all. Baby hiccups may occur due to various reasons.
• If your baby eats too quickly, filling up their stomach with too much air can cause hiccups.
• Sudden changes in food temperature can cause hiccups among infants. It’s like that if you feed him cold milk, just after having hot Cerelac, it might cause hiccups.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease is not uncommon among children, and it can lead to lots of infant hiccups. Babies’ digestive systems are not well developed as adults. Therefore, their muscular valves at the end of the food pipe do not work well sometimes. Foods and acids may come up when his tummy gets full, which may cause hiccups. When kids start hiccupping due to gastroesophageal reflux, they begin to cry frequently and bend their back without any reason.
Consult with a pediatrician if your baby is hiccupping a whole day long or more than 6 hours. However, do not worry much, as professional treatments will help your baby out of this situation.
How to get rid of baby hiccups? What should you do for the hiccupping newborn?
You can try to make your baby burp while feeding. Feed him when he is relaxed. While breastfeeding, let the baby burp before switching him from one breast to another. It may reduce the chance of newborn hiccups after breastfeeding. To learn how to burp your baby, read the following.
• Sit straight and carry your baby against the chest. His chin should relax on your shoulder while you need to support the baby with one hand. Gently pat his back by using another hand. Relaxing in a rocking chair often helps the baby in burping.
• Put your baby on your lap. Make sure he is on his stomach and ensure that his head is higher than his chest. Then, gently caress the back.
Try to feed your baby always in an upright position. Never feed him while lying evenly on a bed. Hold the baby in an upright position for about 15 minutes after each feed will prevent infant hiccups after feeding.
Sometimes swallowing air seems to be the leading issue of hiccups among the breastfed babies. Be sure that your baby’s lips are sealed around the areola of your breast to avoid swallowing air, not just around the nipple.
Reposition of the bottle during feeding will let the air away from the nipple. Therefore, it will not enter into the child’s stomach and affect the digestive system.
What should I avoid to prevent hiccups?
Avoid overfeeding; take breaks. Let your kiddo burp while feeding. It will help to reduce the chances of hiccups.
You should avoid the old remedies such as pulling your baby’s tongue or holding his breath; it can be dangerous.
Don’t let your baby eat a full bottle at once. Allow a break of five to ten minutes halfway.
Do not worry if your baby still gets hiccups even after strictly following the tips. There is not any specific reason and remedy for hiccups. Several babies pass their first year with hiccups for almost no sure reason. Sometimes it may longer up to toddlerhood. It will less frequently as he matures. But if you see any symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, immediately consult with a doctor.
In this journey of parenthood, momion is always with you. Follow our article regarding sponge-bathe and cleaning baby-bottles-and-nipples. Enlighten us with your thought by commenting below.
