Hiccups After Breastfeeding

Hiccups are a common problem for babies, particularly after eating. Some babies may get the hiccups every day; some even multiple times per day. Hiccuping happens when air is trapped under the diaphragm, which is often the result of gulping or drinking hungrily during breastfeeding. Bottle-feeding can also cause hiccups in babies, and most of the time hiccups are nothing to worry about. If your baby's hiccups cause him discomfort or scare him, you can work to reduce their appearance.

Causes

The diaphragm is the muscle that moves when you breathe in and out deeply. The diaphragm spasms when it has air trapped underneath it; this causes the hiccups to occur. Trapped air gets under the diaphragm when baby swallows a lot of air while she eats; this most often occurs when babies gulp down their milk. Hiccups can also occur when the stomach becomes too full, because the stomach is right next to the diaphragm.

Smaller Feedings

William Sears, a pediatrician at parenting.com, recommends feeding a baby twice as often but half as much at each feeding to reduce the appearance of hiccups. Feeding baby smaller quantities of milk will help his stomach stay down at a normal size, which means the stomach won't push against the diaphragm. If this doesn't happen, then the diaphragm won't spasm and the baby won't hiccup.

Frequent Burping

Another way to prevent hiccups during breastfeeding is to burp a baby more frequently in the middle of a breastfeeding session. This will help her get rid of the air she has swallowed, so it will be less likely to build up in her diaphragm and cause hiccups. Keep baby in an upright position for at least 20 minutes after feeding, which will help the air in her stomach rise to the top and come out as a burp rather than a hiccup.

Other Remedies

Pediatrician Diane Sacks advises at todaysparent.com that a few spoonfuls of water may help baby's hiccups go away if he gets them. She also recommends feeding baby when he is calm, rather than when he is starving. An agitated or extremely hungry baby will be more likely to gulp his milk quickly and swallow air in the process. Sacks does acknowledge, however, that sometimes feeding an agitated or overly hungry baby is unavoidable.

It is also perfectly fine to continue to nurse a baby while he hiccups, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics; the hiccups will eventually go away on their own.

Link to Reflux

According to parenting.com, if your baby has persistent hiccups she may also have gastroesophageal reflux, or GER. Other symptoms of this temporary condition include abdominal pain after feeding, general fussiness, painful night-waking, and spitting up. Parents who suspect their child might have GER should consult with a pediatrician about diagnosis and treatment options.