Any woman wants to know what motherhood is. Most importantly, you need to take this very seriously and understand that a child is not a toy. Each parent worries about the health of their baby. He perceives even the little things with great concern. Particular attention is paid to stool and the body's reaction to food intake. In this case, one of the most common is the question of why the baby hiccups after breastfeeding. It would seem that there is nothing terrible here, but for many it causes great concern. Let's understand the main causes of the problem and find out what actions need to be taken to help the baby.
Symptomatology
How to understand that a newborn baby hiccups after breastfeeding ? Let's dwell on this in more detail. There will be no particular difficulties with this, since this process in babies proceeds in the same way as in adults. There is a contraction of the chest, accompanied by a characteristic sound. As a rule, young children behave very calmly in this case, but in some cases they may experience regurgitation, vomiting, and blue fingers and toes. Such symptoms are a serious cause for concern, as they may indicate the presence of any pathologies. If you notice them in your child, then you should show it to the doctor as soon as possible.
Causes
So, why does a baby often hiccup after feeding? According to doctors, there can be quite a few reasons, but the most common are the following:
- excessive accumulation of air in the stomach due to improper feeding;
- overfeeding;
- muscle strain;
- thirst and dry mouth;
- flatulence;
- insufficient development of internal organs;
- ARVI;
- nasal congestion;
- parasitic worms wound up in the digestive tract;
- diseases provoking spasms of the diaphragm.
This is only a small part of why the baby hiccups after breastfeeding. In fact, there are many more reasons. Therefore, before proceeding with the solution of a problem, it is first important to establish its nature.
Excess air
So what do you need to know about this? As a rule, this happens due to the fact that the baby does not completely grip the nipple during feeding. Therefore, if after eating he starts to hiccup, then you need to observe how he eats. With artificial feeding, the cause of the problem can be covered in a too large hole in the dummy. If the reflex is really caused by an excessive accumulation of air in the stomach, then there is nothing wrong with that. You just need to replace the nipple or feed it properly.
Binge eating
Why does a newborn baby hiccup after breastfeeding? Let's dwell on this issue in more detail. Many young parents think that the more the baby eats, the better. But this is far from the case. When overeating, the stomach increases in size and begins to create pressure on the diaphragm, as a result of which the baby begins to hiccup and may even spit up. It is important to understand that this will not happen in individual cases, but everywhere. With artificial feeding, everything is much simpler. Parents can control the amount of mixture consumed, following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Among the main reasons why babies overeat, one can distinguish:
- Feeding on a schedule that is not suitable for the baby. The baby may feel hungry before the next meal is planned, so he will eat with great greed.
- An excess of front milk from the mother. In this case, the child’s stomach is filled faster than he gets to the back milk, which is characterized by increased fat content and nutrition.
In order for the baby to stop hiccuping, it is very important to control the portion size at each feeding. Indeed, overeating can lead to many other more serious problems.
Flatulence
So, you are sure that there is no overeating, but the baby hiccups after feeding with breast milk. With what it can be connected? Let's dwell on this in more detail. Another common problem is increased gas formation in the intestines. In this case, the baby will also experience abdominal pain and colic, as well as belching. The main reason for the occurrence of a reflex is in the mother, namely in her malnutrition. Therefore, you need to completely review your daily diet, excluding the following products from it:
- chocolate;
- cabbage;
- any nuts;
- legumes;
- soda;
- bakery products;
- pickled and salted vegetables.
With artificial feeding, you need to replace the mixture. But it is better not to experiment, but to consult with a qualified specialist.
Hypothermia
If a newborn baby hiccups after breastfeeding, this does not mean that he has any health problems. Perhaps he just froze, and this is a completely natural response of the body not only in young children, but also in adults.
Most parents will immediately start warming up their children or wrapping them in a blanket, but, as many pediatricians say, this is wrong. The thing is that hiccups are not associated with the cold itself, but with the fact that the child’s body is just beginning to adapt to the environment. During subcooling, the operation of the thermoregulation mechanism is set up. Do not interfere with this, as this will adversely affect resistance to negative factors. The best solution in this situation is a light massage, which will normalize blood circulation. And the hiccups will disappear after a certain period of time by itself.
How to help the baby?
So, the baby hiccups after feeding, what should I do? First of all, you need to calm down and understand for yourself that this process is not a disease. This is a mundane situation that every parent regularly encounters. As a rule, it itself will stop after a few minutes without any action on your part.
It is quite another matter if the baby is naughty, crying and cannot fall asleep. In this case, measures must be taken. Reducing the diaphragm makes babies uncomfortable, and in some cases can even scare them. Therefore, in order to calm the baby, you should take it in your hands, holding the body upright. This will facilitate the release of excess food and air. To improve your well-being, you can do a light back massage. If this does not help, then try drinking with warm water or fennel tea.
If the baby hiccups severely after breastfeeding, and also has colic and bloating, then special medicines for newborns should be given. Among the best can be distinguished "Sub-simplex" and "Espumisan." After taking the drugs, you need to massage the tummy. It stimulates the elimination of accumulated gas, so that the symptoms disappear much faster.
When to sound the alarm?
This aspect should be given special attention. Above, it was examined in detail why the baby hiccups after breastfeeding. In the vast majority of cases, there is no cause for concern. However, if the diaphragm spasm occurs with each feeding and does not disappear for a long time, then you should consult a doctor. It is not recommended to take any measures on your own, since only a qualified specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.
Hiccups can be caused by various serious pathologies that require immediate treatment. These include the following:
- various pathologies of the liver;
- inflammation of the respiratory organs;
- gastritis;
- stomach ulcer;
- parasitic diseases;
- pneumonia;
- tonsillitis;
- destruction of nerve endings;
- aortic aneurysm;
- damage to the central nervous system.
At the reception, the pediatrician will first listen to the parents, after which he will conduct a general examination and send him to the necessary laboratory tests. After the reason is established for the infant to hiccup after feeding, the doctor will select the most optimal treatment program.
Recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky
Well-known domestic pediatrician is convinced that hiccups are a common occurrence that does not require medical attention. It is worth worrying only if it does not go away for three hours or more, and is also accompanied by colic and pain in the tummy.
Komarovsky is convinced that hiccups have nothing to do with hypothermia. In most cases, the baby’s body adapts to new temperature conditions. To help the baby, the pediatrician recommends giving the baby a little drink or going for a walk in the fresh air.
Preventive actions
If the infant often hiccups after feeding, then some measures can be taken to get rid of it. Qualified professionals recommend the following:
- With artificial feeding, giving babies mixtures is necessary at their first request. This will exclude cases of overeating.
- Throughout the entire period of lactation, the mother is obliged to adhere to a special diet.
- If there is an excess of the first milk, you should express it a little before giving the baby a breast.
- Feeding babies is best when they are in high spirits.
- To get rid of hiccups, it is very important to give the baby the right breast. And with artificial feeding, a certain angle must be observed.
- After eating, do not immediately put the baby in the crib. Let him stay upright for some time in his arms.
- Maintain the optimum temperature in the living room so that the baby is comfortable and he does not experience any cold or heat.
These simple tips will help reduce the likelihood of developing hiccups. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to them during the first months of life, which are the most problematic.
General tips and tricks
If the baby hiccups after each feeding, then you can try to solve the problem using some folk methods. Wait 10 minutes first, and if the condition does not return to normal, try the following:
- Put the baby on its feet, hold it by the hands and wrap them by the head. After that, give ten sips of water to drink.
- Give your baby a quarter teaspoon of granulated sugar.
- Inhale the baby, raise your hands and pull them up slightly, then lower them as you exhale.
- Gently grasp the tip of the tongue, slightly extend it and hold the baby's breath for a few seconds.
- Another excellent hiccup product is lemon. Let the baby eat one slice sprinkled with sugar.
These seemingly simple methods are very effective in controlling hiccups in young children. They have been tested by more than one generation, so they work 100 percent. But in any case, it will be useful to consult a pediatrician along the way.
What should not be done?
Today on the net you can find a huge number of tips on how to rid a baby of hiccups. However, some of them do not work, while others are contraindicated. Doctors advise to refrain from the following:
- It is forbidden to smear the tongue with vinegar or mustard. This can cause laryngeal spasm or lead to allergies.
- It is forbidden to give babies salt. This food product is very harmful to the child's body.
- Do not artificially induce a gag reflex. Firstly, it does not help with vomiting, and secondly, it can be harmful to mental health.
- Give valerian or corvalol. Medications intended for adults are contraindicated for children.
And, of course, do not try to defeat the hiccups by fright. Unless, of course, you want your baby to remain a stutter for life.
Conclusion
This article gave a detailed answer to the question of why the baby hiccups after breastfeeding. As you can see, there’s nothing wrong with that. In most cases, the process ends on its own after a few minutes. But if he does not disappear for a couple of hours or more, then you should think about showing your baby to the doctor, because hiccups may indicate the presence of any serious pathology. But practice shows that such a need arises extremely rarely. Therefore, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.