Question
My baby is one and a half months old. They get hiccups after feeding, but even after a long time of patting them on the back, they still can’t stop hiccuping. What’s going on?
Answer
Hello, newborn hiccups can be caused by three reasons. Firstly, improper care, exposure to wind and cold, leading to cold and hot qi reversal, commonly known as ‘drinking cold wind,’ can trigger hiccups; Secondly, improper diet, overeating milk or food, or consuming cold milk and medicine can lead to Qi stagnation and damage to the spleen and stomach function, causing the upward movement of Qi and resulting in hiccups; Thirdly, eating too quickly or feeding immediately after crying can also cause hiccups. If hiccups occur suddenly with strong and continuous sounds, it is usually due to catching a cold. You can give the baby some warm water to drink and wrap them in warm clothing around the chest and abdomen. Sometimes this can alleviate the hiccups. If frequent hiccups are caused by food residue with a sour smell, you can use digestion methods such as gentle massage on the chest and abdomen or drink hawthorn water to promote digestion. When food is digested and Qi flows smoothly, the hiccups will stop. Newborn hiccups are benign self-limiting reactions that usually stop quickly on their own. Prevention should be the main approach to dealing with newborn hiccups. It’s not advisable to feed the baby immediately after crying or getting emotional. During breastfeeding, maintain the correct posture. When breastfeeding, make sure the baby’s lips are properly sealed around the nipple.