What causes premature babies to hiccup?

Many new parents often fail to provide adequate care for their children when they are just born because they have no relevant experience or knowledge. Inadequate care from parents can cause many problems for the baby. For example, hiccups, which are common among newborns, are largely caused by inadequate care from parents. Below we will introduce in detail the causes and care methods of newborn hiccups.

1. Due to improper care by parents, the baby catches a cold, which induces hiccups. If the baby has no other diseases but suddenly hiccups, and the hiccups are loud, powerful and continuous, it is usually caused by cold. At this time, you can give your baby some hot water. At the same time, you should pay attention to keeping the chest and abdomen warm and cover him with warm cotton clothes and quilts. In winter, you can also put a hot water bottle outside the clothes and quilts to keep them warm. Hiccups can sometimes be cured without treatment. If the baby's hiccups last for a long time or occur frequently, you can also soak a small amount of orange peel in boiling water (orange peel has the function of unblocking the Qi, clearing stomach turbidity, and regulating spleen qi), and drink it when the water temperature is suitable. The hiccups will stop if the water is cold enough.

3. Hiccups can also be induced by choking caused by babies eating too quickly or after crying. In fact, most hiccups in newborns are benign and self-limiting. They are not as uncomfortable as those in adults and will go away after a while. Parents don’t need to worry too much.

2. What to do if your newborn hiccups

1. The baby will burp when he lies down after feeding. This is because when newborn babies suck milk, they suck hard and swallow too much air, causing bloating. Therefore, parents can hold the baby upright after the baby finishes drinking milk, let the baby's head rest on their shoulders, gently pat the baby's upper back with their hollow palms, hold the baby upright for half an hour, and then let the baby lie down; or parents can gently massage the baby's abdomen to help expel gas, which can also effectively prevent the baby from hiccups or milk regurgitation.

2. Parents should have the correct feeding posture, and let the baby sit diagonally on their laps to drink milk. When feeding, they should also avoid letting the baby drink too quickly or the milk is too cold or too hot.

3. Parents should not feed the baby when the baby is too hungry or crying too hard. Feeding should be done in a quiet environment.

4. You can feed your baby small amounts of milk frequently. Let your baby take a break halfway through feeding, pat your baby’s diaphragm to release the gas, and then let your baby drink the remaining milk. When your baby hiccups, you can also feed him some warm water, or use toys that interest him to attract his attention, so as to improve the hiccups.

5. If the baby's hiccups are caused by gastroesophageal reflux, parents can let the baby lean upright on the parent's shoulder to pass gas after feeding, and do not let the baby lie flat within half an hour. When the baby is 4 months old, complementary foods can be added to increase the viscosity of the milk to prevent the baby from hiccups.

1. Hold the baby upright on the shoulders: Whether standing or sitting, the mother should hold the baby as upright as possible on the shoulders, hold the baby gently with the strength of the hands and body, and then pat the baby's upper back with the palm of the hand.

2. Sitting upright on the lap: The mother sits and lets the baby sit on her lap facing her. One hand supports the baby's head, chin and cheeks, and the other hand gently pats the baby's upper back.

3. Sideways on the thighs: The mother sits down with her legs together, and places the baby horizontally, letting him lie sideways on her legs, with the baby's head slightly facing downwards. The mother can hold the baby's lower body with one hand and gently pat the baby's upper back with the other hand.