What causes hiccups in newborn babies?

We all know that hiccups are a common phenomenon in our daily lives, but frequent hiccups always make us feel very uncomfortable. In particular, many newborn babies hiccup, which always makes parents very worried. They are afraid that the baby’s gastrointestinal problems and improper diet will cause the baby to not absorb the nutrients in the food better. Let’s take a look at why newborn babies hiccup.

What causes hiccups in newborn babies?

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 your 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 is at an appropriate temperature. The hiccups will stop if the water is cool enough.

2. Due to lack of control over the baby's diet, giving the baby too much milk, or too much raw and cold milk, or excessive use of cold medicines, the baby's spleen and stomach function will be weakened, causing the stomach gas to rise up to the diaphragm, resulting in hiccups. At this time, parents can use methods to help digestion and relieve constipation, such as gently massaging the baby's chest and abdomen to let the hiccups go down, or drinking hawthorn water to relieve gas and constipation (hawthorn is sour, helps digestion and strengthens the stomach, and increases the secretion of digestive enzymes). Once the gas is smooth, the bowel movements will be unblocked and the hiccups will naturally stop.

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.

The above is an introduction to why newborn babies hiccup. After understanding it, we know that there are many reasons why newborn babies hiccup, so parents must master the correct methods and ways when choosing to feed their babies. In addition, mothers who breastfeed should also pay special attention to their diet and avoid eating spicy and irritating foods.