Newborn babies make plenty of strange noises, including gurgles, cries and hiccups. Though most new parents have had hiccups themselves, watching their new baby's body shake with his first hiccups can be a scary experience. It's usually a relief to discover that hiccups aren't dangerous or painful for newborns.
- Identification
Hiccups occur when the muscle located at the base of your lungs contracts, causing your vocal cords to momentarily close. This closure causes the distinctive "hiccup" sound. Newborns are especially prone to hiccups, possibly because of their still-developing nervous systems, according to Medline Plus.
Hiccups are a good sign in newborns, Mark Widome, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital tells "Parents" magazine. Hiccups are likely to happen when a newborn's little stomach is full so that it pushes against the diaphragm, says Widome. If your newborn has hiccups, it may just be because she's getting enough to eat.
Hiccups often occur during feeding time. If your baby's hiccups bother you, you can take a few actions to reduce their occurrence. Feed your baby less food more frequently so that his stomach doesn't get overly full, and be sure to burp your baby halfway through feeding---when you switch breasts if you're breastfeeding or when he's finished half of his bottle. Keep your baby at a 30- to 45-degree angle during feeding so that air doesn't settle in his stomach, and don't lay him down for 20 minutes after feeding to encourage burping.
If you're breastfeeding and your newborn is prone to hiccups, consider the possibility that your diet could be the culprit, says William Sears, M.D., on AskDrSears.com. Sears recommends cutting out cow's milk to see whether your baby's hiccups improve. Other potential causes of hiccups are caffeine-rich products such as coffee or cola, soy products, chocolate, peanuts, shellfish and citrus fruits, says Sears.
Though hiccups in your newborn aren't usually something to worry about, if your baby gets them frequently, it could be a sign that she has a condition called gastroesophageal reflux, also known as GER, says Sears. Babies who have GER regurgitate some of their stomach contents into their esophagus, causing pain and hiccups, says Sears. If your newborn's hiccups are accompanied by wakeful nights, general fussiness or other stomach discomfort, ask your pediatrician to check for GER.
No comments:
Post a Comment