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Hiccups are something that can happen to anyone. As adults, we may see them as a minor inconvenience — guzzle some water to get rid of them, and then go about our day. Although annoying to adults and older children, hiccups are usually a short-lived experience for babies, lasting only a few minutes.
Babies are also typically not bothered by hiccups. While hiccups are not something to worry about, it may be possible to help prevent them in babies and even stop them when they do happen. Infant hiccups are a reflex that starts very early, even before your baby is born. The hiccuping reflex is very strong in newborns especially; they can spend up to 2. Hiccups are a reflexive action, meaning we can't stop it from happening or control it, just like sneezing or coughing.
Different triggers are thought to cause hiccups—excess air in the stomach, esophageal irritation, stress, and more—but no concrete reason for the occurrence of hiccups is known. A hiccup is actually triggered by the nerve that connects the brain to the diaphragm and can be set off by a lot of different things, such as eating too much or too fast or even swallowing at the wrong time. Normally when you breathe, you pull air into your lungs and then your diaphragm relaxes to let that air go back out through your mouth.
When you hiccup, however, the diaphragm spasms and the air that you're trying to suck in gets "stuck" against your closed vocal cords, which causes the distinct "hic" sound of a hiccup. Despite the fact that hiccups are so closely related to breathing, studies have found that breathing and hiccuping are not connected and they seem to be two separate mechanisms in the body.
That is, your body won't cause you to start hiccuping if you need more air. This process may sound especially precarious for babies, but studies show that typical bouts of hiccups do not cause significant changes in the respiratory rate, heart rate, or oxygen saturation of healthy infants. In general, occasional hiccups are not dangerous to a baby. They can occur from time to time in your infant and resolve on their own.
Curing hiccups in a baby doesn't require any action, but there are a few things you can try to help stop your baby's hiccups once they start. Some home remedies that may work for adults and older children can be dangerous for babies. When the stomach fills with air, it may push on the diaphragm, causing spasms. Taking a break from feeding to burp the baby may reduce the amount of air in their stomach. This can prevent hiccups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is a good idea to burp bottle-fed babies every time they consume 2 to 3 ounces.
Gripe water is a mixture of herbs and water. It is traditionally used to treat colic and other stomach problems.
If stomach issues are responsible for hiccups, some people believe that gripe water may help. However, no scientific evidence currently supports this treatment. Because the risks are low, a person may decide to give gripe water a try. Several brands are available for purchase online. Rubbing their back and rocking the baby back and forth can help them to relax.
This may stop the spasms that cause hiccups. Some well-known remedies for hiccups are entirely rooted in tradition and have no scientific basis. These include:. It is a bad idea to try these, and many other home remedies, on a baby. These supposed remedies can distress a baby and may even be dangerous.
They are unlikely to stop the hiccups. Hiccupping is generally not a cause for concern. Authors of a study from suggest that the hiccup reflex may serve to remove excess air from the stomach. However, the medical community is still unsure whether hiccups have a purpose.
So, what happens in the body to cause them? Hiccups happen when something causes the diaphragm to spasm, and the vocal cords quickly shut. Air is forced out through the closed vocal chords, creating the hiccupping sound. The diaphragm is a large muscle that runs across the bottom of the rib cage. It moves up and down as a person breathes. Hiccups in babies tend to occur for no apparent reason, but feeding can occasionally cause the diaphragm to spasm. In addition to feeding-related triggers, once in a while, a case of constant baby or newborn hiccups can be caused by something entirely different.
When baby suffers from gastroesophageal reflux, partially digested food and acidic juices from the stomach flow back up into the esophagus causing burning and discomfort. Since the esophagus passes through the diaphragm, it can get irritated and lead to lots of baby hiccups. Here are some other clues to look out for that could mean GER:. If you notice several of these symptoms and suspect those baby or newborn hiccups may be due to gastroesophageal reflux, speak to your pediatrician.
The good news is the condition is easily treated. Babies can have hiccups multiple times a day, lasting for 10 minutes or longer.
You can just wait it out and allow the hiccups to resolve on their own. If the hiccups persist and seem to be causing baby distress, call your pediatrician to figure out the cause. Of course, as you know, hiccups can be a pesky nuisance, and baby may find having a case annoying, disruptive or mildly uncomfortable, in which case, you may want to hold them upright until the hiccuping subsidies.
That said, babies who are hiccuping as a result of reflux may be prone to vomiting; if your little one seems to be having a painful GER episode, try keeping them upright.
Hint: It has a lot to do with burping! While there are several ways to try and stop baby hiccups, there are a few things that should be avoided altogether:. Of course, you may want to try a few tricks to prevent baby hiccups from happening in the first place.
Baby hiccups tend to happen less frequently as kids mature. At the end of the day, remember that baby or newborn hiccups are rarely a cause for concern. Yes, some infants are just prone to frequent hiccuping; in fact, plenty of babies get them in the womb too! If you ever felt your bump jump in a rhythmic pattern, baby hiccups were likely the culprit!
In the meantime, if your infant has the occasional episode here or there, try to worry less and enjoy the adorable little high-pitched sound while it lasts…. She earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School.
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