Thursday 15 March 2012

How to stop a baby's hiccups


First-time parents quickly learn that their new babies can do a lot more than eat and sleep. Among other things, newborns will sneeze, yawn, kick, cough, cry and hiccup. In fact, they have been hiccuping in the womb since six weeks after conception.

Hiccuping is a perfectly normal reflex action caused by a sudden contraction of the diaphragm muscle at the bottom of the chest. The contraction is the result of stimulation or irritation of that muscle.

Experts disagree on the exact cause of hiccups. It may be the result of nursing too quickly, a sudden change in temperature, drinking the formula too fast, excitement, upset, swallowing air, or simply immaturity of the baby's internal organs.

A hiccuping baby is a perfectly natural, normal phenomenon. It should not be a cause for alarm unless it goes on for over an hour, and this seldom occurs. There are a few suggested remedies that may be helpful:

* The caregiver should remain calm. Babies can sense stress or anxiety in a parent.

* Pick up the baby and hold him close to your body, so he will feel warm, relaxed and secure.

* Feed the baby when she is relaxed and calm. If she is upset, she may drink more quickly and this could result in hiccups.

* Don't wait until he is very hungry to feed him. He'll is likely to suck hard and this could result in swallowed air which may lead to hiccups.

* Try to ensure that the baby drinks slowly. If using bottled formula, find a nipple with a small hole so that the milk doesn't flow out too freely.

* Stop the feeding frequently to burp the baby. While gently patting or rubbing her back, change her position often: hold her over your shoulder, sitting and leaning forward on your lap, or laying on her stomach across your knee.

* Do not overfeed the baby in one sitting. It is better to feed small amounts at regular intervals.

* A drink of warm, sterile water may be helpful.

* If that doesn't work, try a small spoon of Gripe Water ( 2.5 ml ) or Colic Calm.

Sometimes there is nothing that will help a stubborn case of hiccups in a newborn. All you can do is to wait patiently until they stop by themselves, and try to comfort and distract the baby as long as the hiccups persist. Unless they last more than an hour, there is no cause for concern.

As the baby gets older, episodes of hiccups become fewer and fewer. Meanwhile, as long as the baby is contented and happy and eating and sleeping well, enjoy him and don't worry. The hiccup period is only a minor blip in the grand panorama of your baby's childhood.


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