How do hiccups affect babies?
Pediatrician Tanya Altmann, MD, explains how hiccups affect babies and how to relieve them.
Transcript
Did you know that babies can hiccup in the womb even before they're born?
While there isn't a quick fix for hiccups in the womb, there are some things that can work once your baby is born when they do get hiccups.
You can try breastfeeding a little more or giving them a little bit of water. Feeding them in an upright position may help, burping them to help release the excess gas,
or propping them up on a pillow when you're watching them so they aren't lying flat. Let them suck on a pacifier or your clean finger
to help relax their diaphragm and just let the hiccups run their course. While it often hurts parents to watch their baby hiccupping,
it's really not dangerous, and it actually doesn't hurt your baby. Babies hiccup the same way adults do.
Their diaphragm spasms and their vocal cords close due to swallowing too much air. It's important to note that this will not at all hurt your baby
and some babies will even hiccup while they're sleeping. And that is perfectly OK.
baby health development
Browse videos by topic categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
ALL