Should I worry if my baby has hiccups?

Our article is about a very common phenomenon. Many parents are concerned about their baby's frequent hiccups. They fear that this frequency, which is different from that of adults, could be problematic. It is understandable, since we consider every little thing important in our child's development. What to do if your baby hiccups often?

The baby's hiccups begin as early as 10 weeks into its fetal life. At this point, the expectant mother naturally doesn't feel them, but as she approaches the end of pregnancy, she can often notice the tiny, rhythmic movements taking place in her belly. The contractions of the baby's diaphragm can even be seen with the naked eye, in the wriggling of her belly. 

Hiccups are more common in the first year of life than they are later in life. Some people hiccups several times a day. As a parent, you may be concerned about something you think is not healthy. Let's take a look at what causes hiccups, whether you should be concerned about them, and what you can do to try to reduce their occurrence! We'll also talk about what not to do.

What are hiccups?

Hiccups are a natural physiological phenomenon. To understand this, imagine the diaphragm muscle moving continuously, tirelessly up and down, rising and falling. When this movement suddenly changes and turns into a rhythmic contraction, hiccups occur. Hiccups are involuntary contractions. 

The sound is produced because the sudden movement forces air upward toward the vocal cords, which come closer together and quickly close. The air is forced out through the closed vocal cords, creating the well-known sibilant sound.

Babies are not bothered by hiccups, and they can happily look around, rest, and nap during them. 

Source: Dr. György Kiss, obstetrician-gynecologist

Why does the baby hiccups?

Hiccups are a natural process for everyone. It can be related to how tight the diaphragm is. For example, when a baby's tummy is full after eating and starts to roll around and exercise in his bed, these movements can trigger hiccups by putting pressure on the diaphragm. It often starts when the baby's tummy, or small stomach, suddenly fills with food or air. That's why it's better for the baby to eat at a slower, more relaxed pace.

Hiccups can sometimes be traced back to psychological causes, such as excitement, fear, or joy. 

If your baby is a big eater or is bottle-fed, they may swallow air. The size of the bottle opening determines how quickly your baby can drink expressed milk or formula, and how much air gets into their stomach. The stomach can feel tight, which can trigger hiccups. Hiccups are a natural process, but there are some conditions that can trigger them.

Source: Dr. Ildikó Batta, infant and pediatric physician , Children's Smile Health Center

Does your baby hiccups too often?

How often a baby hiccups doesn't have any particular significance for their health. They usually don't mind, but if they do, they start crying and stop quickly. Parents are usually more concerned about why their baby hiccups and why this phenomenon occurs relatively often. Many people try to assume that older children and adults don't hiccups several times a day, or even very rarely. However, babies' bodies don't always work the same way as adults.

When should you see a doctor?

If you notice other problems in your baby besides hiccups, such as symptoms of reflux. If your baby has a visible stomach ache or cough, you should seek medical advice, as reflux can often be detected alongside hiccups. You should also consult a doctor if hiccups persist for a long time.

When can we still think about reflux?

• Even with breastfeeding, the baby regularly vomits, which is greenish-yellowish, or maybe pinkish in color.
• Restless, sleeps poorly, refuses to eat due to inflammation caused by refluxed stomach acid
• Often strains his neck and back
• Lack of weight gain
• The respiratory tract may also become irritated, which may lead to more frequent upper respiratory tract illnesses.

How can we help avoid frequent hiccups?

Baby hiccups are not a problem and cannot always be prevented. If they are frequent and you want to try to reduce them naturally, you can try to get your baby to eat more slowly and swallow less air . While breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, occasionally lift your baby upright, lay them gently on your shoulder, and burp them so that the air can escape and not strain their tummy. You can also stroke their back, which helps them relax. When breastfeeding, burping can also be done when switching breasts.

With proper breastfeeding technique, the baby does not swallow unnecessary air. If you have problems with breastfeeding, you can learn how to properly attach to the breast with the help of a lactation consultant. 

When is the baby correctly at the breast?

When

• it grabs not only the nipple, but also part of the areola, it sticks to the breast
• lips turn outward
• The tip of his nose and chin touch his mother's breast.
• Breastfeeding is not painful for the mother.

When eating, air and food enter the baby's stomach in layers, and to allow the air to escape, it is sometimes good to hold the baby horizontally in addition to the vertical position. Changing the position makes it easier for the air to move and escape. If you gently rock the baby in a horizontal position, this will relax the muscles, stomach, and entire body. 

In the case of bottle-feeding, keeping babies in a slightly more upright position when eating can help prevent choking. 

If your baby has been hiccupping for a long time and won't stop, you can try picking him up, soothing him, or breastfeeding him. Try giving him a burp too! Don't use any common practices – don't put a little lemon juice in his mouth, and definitely don't hold his nose – because these will cause completely unnecessary unpleasant and intense stimuli for the little baby, and they can be dangerous! 

Source: Dr. Ildikó Batta, infant and pediatric physician , Doctor Mami , Heim Pál Children's Hospital Breast Milk Collection Station

Baby hiccups are a natural phenomenon that can be related to feeding, so we can try to reduce their occurrence with a few simple methods – mainly by burping – if we find their frequency disturbing. In other cases, they do not cause any problems. If we do experience other symptoms associated with hiccups, we should see a pediatrician!