Question
After drinking formula milk, even after burping, the baby still experiences spitting up when lying down, sometimes accompanied by persistent hiccups. Some suggestions indicate that instead of burping immediately after drinking, the baby should be held for a while longer, and it is important to ensure that the milk temperature is appropriate.
Answer
Occasional hiccups after a baby drinks milk are normal, but if hiccups occur frequently and are accompanied by spitting up, further intervention may be needed. This may suggest that the baby has gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as indigestion or abdominal cold. In this case, a warm towel or hot water bottle can be used to apply heat to the baby’s abdomen to relieve hiccups caused by abdominal cold. Additionally, vigorous crying before feeding may cause the baby to swallow too much air, leading to spitting up and hiccups, so it should be avoided to let the baby cry violently before feeding.