Newborn Hiccups Reasons & Treatments

What causes hiccups in newborns?

So why do babies get hiccups? It is claimed that the hiccup reflex serves to remove excess air from the stomach. So whenever, a baby’s stomach is filled with air, they can start hiccupping. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm (a large muscle that runs across the bottom of the rib cage) spasms, and the vocal cords shut. Air is forced out through the closed vocal cords, and this is what causes the hiccup sound.
Since hiccups might bother you personally, you may feel that your baby is uncomfortable. However, you can take a deep breath, as babies are usually not affected by them. In fact, most of them can sleep through a bout of hiccups without waking up, as hiccups do not have any effect on their breathing.

Even though hiccups are usually random, there might be some things that trigger it. These are:

1. Overfeeding – If baby is eating too much milk, air gets trapped in the stomach after a big feed. This causes the diaphragm to spasm and baby hiccups to start.
   
   
2. Eating too quickly – When a baby is hungry, they might eat quicker than usual which would cause them to hiccup because they are swallowing more air out of sheer hunger.
   
   
3. Swallowing air – The most common reason to hiccup, this happens to adults as well as babies. Swallowing excess air might trigger the diaphragm to spasm.
   
   
4. GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) – Babies with GERD tend to hiccup more frequently This occurs when partially digested food and stomach acid come back up through the food pipe. When it passes through the diaphragm on its way up, it irritates the diaphragm and causes spasms.
   
   
5. Giggles – Yes, something as simple and innocent as giggling can bring up the hiccups. However, this isn’t much cause for concern and will usually pass in a few minutes. Alternatively, in some cases, the onset of hiccups might just make your baby giggle!

How to stop newborn hiccups

While most hiccups go away on their own, you might feel the need to intervene if you think your baby doesn’t react well to them. Here are some ways to stop newborn hiccups from happening.
 

1. Take a break from feeding and burp – How to stop baby hiccups after feeding? Simple. Just rub or gently pat your baby’s back in between switching breasts. This will encourage them to burp, and get rid of excess gas without feeling the need to hiccup. Make sure baby is in an upright position when getting them to burp. Even if you don’t burp them, taking a break is always a good idea as feeding from the breast can be a taxing activity for the baby. 
   
   
2. Pacifier – Wait at least 4 weeks to introduce the pacifier. Pacifiers help lower the risk of SIDS while also satisfying the suck reflex. Pacifiers prevent baby from swallowing too much air, and relaxes the diaphragm when used immediately to treat hiccups.
   
   
3. Gripe water - Gripe water is a mixture of water with common herbs such as fennel, ginger, chamomile and cinnamon (combination of herbs can vary from formula to formula). It is used to prevent babies from getting gassy, and aiding their digestive systems after a feed. By relieving stomach discomfort, it can be used to soothe hiccups in babies. However, just make sure that you purchase gripe water made specifically for babies, as some gripe water formulas for adults contain added sugar, alcohol, or even sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
   
   
4. Wait it out – While this might make you feel uncomfortable, if your baby isn’t in visible discomfort, you can just wait it out. Hiccups usually tend to go away on their own, and have zero effect on your baby’s ability to breathe. Think about how when hiccups happen to you, they don’t really harm you in any way. It is just a funny feeling that will go away soon.

While most hiccups go away on their own, you might feel the need to intervene if you think your baby doesn’t react well to them. Here are some ways to stop newborn hiccups from happening.

1. Always try to feed baby when they are calm, not hungry – When hungry, baby will tend to swallow more air, leading to more hiccups. Feeding when calm should significantly reduce the chances of hiccups.
   
   
2. Make feeding a calm, quiet, and leisurely process – If baby is distracted, it will lead to a less effective feed. This doesn’t help either party as your breasts will be swollen and your baby will be hungry again shortly. Make sure you are in a comfortable, familiar environment without too many distractions. It is best if both you and baby are relaxed so that effective feeding can take place.
   
   
3. Frequently burp the baby – As gas is relieved in the baby’s stomach, the incidence of hiccups will exponentially decrease. Gently pat or rub the baby’s back in an upright position to relieve them of excess gas buildup. This is especially effective in between feeds, when baby switches from one breast to another.
   
   
4. Sit the baby upright for half an hour after every feed – Sitting upright prevents gas buildup in the baby, and will lead to a lower chance of hiccupping. In addition to that, sitting upright will help build muscles in their abdomen. Just make sure you support them while they are sitting up, as they are prone to toppling over.
   
   
5. Reposition the bottle so that no air is near the teat – Swallowing excess air can be prevented if the bottle is simply repositioned. Once the teat is air-free, it will be easier for baby to drink milk without their diaphragm spasming.
   
   
6. Ensure baby’s mouth is latched over whole nipple – Another way to prevent swallowing excess air is to fix your baby’s latch. A few ways to do this is to ensure that baby’s head, neck, and spine are aligned. Hold baby close, and encourage them to open their mouth wide. Once the mouth is wide open, aim your nipple towards the top of their mouth. Baby will do short, rapid sucks to trigger your let-down reflex. Once your milk flow comes in, they will suck slowly and deeply, with pauses in between. If your baby has trouble latching onto the nipple, it’s best to contact a lactation consultant who will be able to help you out.