Newborn Hiccups Remedy

We get hiccups due to a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, which is a muscle located at the bottom of the ribcage that relaxes and contracts alternately, so as to facilitate breathing. Hiccups are quite common in newborn babies, and is usually not associated with any major health problem. It has been observed that the frequency of hiccups in babies usually decreases as the child grows. To cure hiccups in newborns, parents can employ a few simple remedies, but frequent and persistent newborn hiccups need to be medically evaluated, as it can be a sign of certain underlying disorders.

What Causes Hiccups in Infants?
As mentioned already, hiccups are caused by sudden involuntary contractions or spasms of the diaphragm, which can allow air to enter the lungs quickly. Air entering into the lungs due to spasms of the diaphragm closes the epiglottis, which is the flap of cartilage that covers the windpipe when we swallow food. This in turn, produces the characteristic sound when we hiccup.

In newborns, air swallowed while feeding can be the main factor that can trigger hiccups. Babies can swallow a lot of air when they feed too fast, which is why they can get hiccups at some point during feeding. Overfeeding could also be another cause. It occurs due to a sudden drop in body temperature. Apart from these, infant acid reflux disease too can cause hiccups.

Hiccup Remedies for Infants
Parents should make it sure that their babies drink or feed slowly in order to prevent hiccups. Apart from this, there are many other simple ways to get rid of hiccups.

• If your baby gets hiccups, then wait for a couple of minutes before trying any remedy. This is because, most of the hiccup episodes usually resolve within a few minutes without any intervention.
• If the hiccups persist, then try to burp your child, which is the traditional cure for this problem. Babies cannot burp on their own, but you can help your child to burp by holding him or her in an upright position and then gently pat the back. This helps to release the pressure on the stomach, to cure hiccups caused by swallowing of air.
• You can also give your baby a little water or sugary water. Many babies also cease to hiccup when they are given a pacifier to suck on.
• Babies can get hiccups when they feed too quickly. So, check the nipple size of the bottle by filling the bottle with milk or baby formula and then turning it upside down. A right nipple will allow the milk or formula to come out in continuous drops. If milk comes out in a stream or if it does not drip at all, then the size of the nipple is not right.
• Try to change the feeding position of the baby, which has been observed to provide relief from hiccups, in many instances.
• Many people also recommend to lay the baby on its belly and then gently rub the back, which is believed to break the air bubble causing the hiccups.
• Gripe water is usually considered as a safe remedy for problematic hiccups, that cannot be resolved with other methods.

It is true that hiccups can be bothersome for parents, especially for new parents. But these are usually harmless. An interesting fact is that babies can get hiccups even before birth, which is called fetal hiccups. However, frequent hiccups persisting for a long time should be properly evaluated by consulting a pediatrician, as these can create problems in feeding and adversely affect the sleep pattern of babies.