Baby hiccups could be linked to a bigger problem

If your child hiccups constantly and for long periods at a time, then you need to worry -even though hiccups on their own aren’t harmful to your little one. Make an appointment to see your GP or paediatrician, who can rule out any underlying health issues. Hiccups could signal an even bigger and serious problem. Babies often hiccup when they get a fright, giggle too much or for too long, drink too quickly or gulp down milk but on a more serious note, it could be as a result of reflux, which is uncomfortable for babies. “A wet burp or wet hiccup is when a baby spits up liquid when they burp or hiccup. This can be a symptom of acid reflux or, less commonly, gastroesophageal reflux disease – also known as GERD,” explains medical writer and researcher, Tayla Hoffman.

How hiccups happen?

According to children’s health experts at the Nemours Foundation in the US, hiccups occur when the diaphragm (the dome-shaped muscle that pulls air into your lungs) gets irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which causes a build-up of air in the throat. When the air rushing in hits the voice box, the vocal cords close suddenly and there’s a big hiccup. Babies tend to hiccup more than adults.

Baby hiccups start early 

What most people don’t know is that a baby starts hiccupping while they still in the tummy. Experts say that it can start as early as 9-12 weeks gestation and some moms-to-be know exactly when their little one has a bout of hiccups as their tummies jerk and jolt around for a few minutes. A recent study published in the journal, Elsevier, shows that although there isn’t one specific reason why your baby might hiccup more in the womb, some evidence points to the fact that hiccupping has a purpose in pregnancy. The jerking motion of the hiccup causes an increase in amniotic fluid around the baby. This is important because a developing foetus needs to swallow a certain amount of amniotic fluid to help with the formation of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to treat and prevent baby hiccups 

Overfeeding has been identified as a culprit for causing hiccups hence experts have recommendations when feeding your baby. When breastfeeding, try to slow down and burp your baby more often. The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests burping your bottle-fed baby after every 50-100ml. If your baby is breastfed, you should burp her when they switch breasts. Although hiccups aren’t bothersome to babies, they might worry you as they happen throughout the day. If you’d like to stop your little one from hiccupping, “try and let your baby nurse slowly or suck on a bottle or pacifier which may quell the attack and relax the diaphragm” explains Heidi Murkoff, author of the What to Expect When You’re Expecting series.

To prevent baby hiccups in future, try these tips: 

• Feed your baby when she’s in a calm state
• Don’t overfeed your little one and take your time with feeds
• Keep your baby in an upright position when feeding and for a little while after
• Avoid bouncing the baby after a feed
• Don’t let your baby get too hungry before feeding her. This will help to prevent gulping down milk and swallowing too much air