Question
My little baby is only 18 days old and mainly breastfeeds. Everything has been normal until recently, when he often hiccups after feeding. I’m really worried, could you please tell me what’s going on?
Answer
There are mainly three reasons why infants get hiccups. The first is due to improper care, catching a cold, or experiencing wind-cold and reverse Qi. As the saying goes, “eating cold wind” can cause hiccups. The second reason is improper diet, such as overeating, indigestion, or consuming too much cold milk and cold medicine, which can lead to Qi stasis, weakened spleen and stomach function, and abnormal Qi movement, thereby causing belching and hiccups. If the baby is being fed with a bottle, it’s important not to let air get trapped in the nipple. After feeding, it’s best to let the baby lie on an adult’s shoulder and pat the baby’s back to help expel the inhaled air.