Is it OK to ignore a newborn's hiccups?

Hiccups in newborns are very common. There are many reasons for baby hiccups, such as catching a cold, swallowing air while drinking milk, or improper care. Newborn hiccups cannot be ignored. It is best to pat the baby's back. If you leave it alone, it will affect the baby's health over time. Therefore, when the baby hiccups, you can give the baby some water appropriately.

Baby hiccups are mostly caused by three reasons:

One is due to improper care, external wind and cold, the cold and hot air are reversed and not smooth, as the saying goes, "drinking cold air" and inducing hiccups;

Second, it is due to improper feeding. If the feeding is not moderate, the food will not be digested, or if too much raw and cold milk is consumed or too much cold medicine is taken, the qi will stagnate, the spleen and stomach function will be weakened, and the qi movement will be abnormal, causing the stomach qi to rise up and move the diaphragm, thus inducing hiccups.

Third, eating too quickly or after crying can cause choking and hiccups.

If a person suddenly has hiccups without any other illness, and the hiccups are loud, powerful and continuous, it is usually caused by cold. You can give the person some hot water to drink, and cover the chest and abdomen 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. Sometimes the hiccups can be cured without treatment.

If the attack lasts for a long time or occurs frequently, you can also soak a small amount of orange peel in boiling water (orange peel has the effect of unblocking Qi, resolving 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.

If the hiccups are caused by undigested milk and food or the person has no appetite for milk and food, he or she may smell an undigested sour and rotten odor when hiccups occur. You can use methods to help digestion and relieve stagnation, such as gentle massage of the chest and abdomen to guide the air downward, or drink hawthorn water to relieve ventilation and defecation (hawthorn tastes sour and can help digestion and strengthen the stomach, and increase the secretion of digestive enzymes). Once the food is digested and the air is flowing smoothly, the hiccups will stop.

Tips for baby hiccups

1. Upright type:

Try to hold your baby upright on your shoulders, hold the baby gently with the strength of your hands, and then pat the baby's upper back with your palms to induce burping. Note: To prevent the baby from spitting up milk, when using the upright position, the mother can put a small towel on her shoulders to facilitate cleaning; since the baby is supported upright by the hands, when the baby is facing you, be careful not to cover the baby's mouth and nose with your body to facilitate the baby's breathing; if the baby does not hiccup after being patted several times, you can consider stroking first and then patting, or you can switch to another shoulder and pat again.

2. Sitting position:

If you find the upright position too difficult, you can consider the sit-down position. The mother can sit with the baby facing her on her lap. The mother supports the baby's head with one hand and pats the baby's upper back with the other hand. Note: Prepare a small towel for your baby to prevent spitting up milk; if your baby does not burp after being patted several times, consider caressing first and then patting.

3. Side lying position:

The mother sits up with her legs together, and places the baby horizontally, with the baby lying on his side on her legs, with the baby's head slightly facing downward. The mother can hold the baby's lower body with one hand and gently pat the baby's upper back with the other hand. Note: This position is more suitable for smaller babies. To prevent the baby from slipping, use appropriate force to secure the baby's body on the mother's thigh.