The hiccup in babies is a common situation, especially in the first days after birth and may already arise the maternal uterus, in the last days of pregnancy. The hiccup happens due to contractions of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, since these are still very immature, and end up being stimulated or easily irritated.
The stimuli that usually cause the hiccup are when the baby swallows a lot while nursing, when it fills a lot of stomach or when it has refluxes, for example, so to stop the hiccup, some tips are to put the baby to suck something or to breastfeed, to realize when the child has already suckled enough and knows when to stop or put it vertically to make it burp, for example.
Thus, episodes of hiccups are not usually worrisome, however, if they are intense enough to disturb sleep or feeding the baby, it is necessary to seek care from the pediatrician for a more detailed evaluation of the possible causes and indication of the treatment.
What to do to stop the hiccup
Some tips to make your baby stop sobbing are:
- Putting the baby to suck : this can be a good solution for the moment, if it is at the correct time, because the act of sucking can decrease the reflex of the diaphragm;
- Observe the position at the time of the feeding : keeping the baby with the head higher, decreasing the chances that he swallows the air during sucking can greatly reduce episodes of sobbing. Check out some guidelines on the right positions for breastfeeding;
- Taking intervals during feedings and putting the baby on his feet : this can be a good strategy if it is common to have hiccups after breastfeeding, because this way the baby belches and decreases the excess gas in the stomach;
- Knowing the time to stop : It is important to know when the baby has eaten enough, because the full stomach facilitates the episodes of reflux of contractions of the diaphragm;
- Put it upright : in times of sobbing, if the baby is on a full stomach, it is recommended to leave it in position to burp, standing up, as it facilitates the release of gas into the stomach;
- Warm up the baby : the cold can also trigger the hiccup, so whenever the temperature goes down, it is recommended to keep the baby warm and warm;
Usually with these measures, the hiccup in babies disappears alone and does not need to be treated since it does not pose any health risk, being just a little uncomfortable. However, you should avoid homemade techniques such as scare or shake the baby, as they have little effect and can be harmful to the child.
Baby hiccup still on the belly
The baby's hiccup inside the belly can happen because he is still learning to breathe. Thus, during pregnancy, the baby's hiccup in the uterus can be felt by the pregnant woman or during the ultrasound examination.
When to go to the pediatrician
It is recommended to consult your pediatrician when your baby has very frequent hiccups that prevent him from eating or sleeping, as it may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, which occurs when food returns from the stomach to the mouth. Learn more about reflux and how to treat it in: Reflux in baby.
