What should I do if my newborn keeps hiccuping after spitting up milk?
Jun 06, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xie Zixing
Introduction
Newborn spitting up milk followed by persistent hiccups
First, minimize air swallowing. During feeding, ensure the baby latches onto the entire nipple (including the areola) to reduce air intake. After feeding, gently pat the baby’s back to help expel swallowed air.
Second, a newborn’s stomach capacity is small. Avoid placing the baby flat immediately after feeding. Instead, keep the baby upright at a 45-degree angle for some time after feeding.
Spitting up milk is a common phenomenon in newborns. Additionally, some newborns experience persistent hiccups after feeding. What should you do if your newborn spits up milk and then continues hiccuping?
What to Do When a Newborn Hiccup Continuously After Spitting Up Milk
First, minimize air swallowing. During feeding, ensure the baby latches onto the entire nipple (including the areola) to reduce air intake. After feeding, gently pat the baby’s back to help expel swallowed air. Second, newborns have small stomach capacities. Avoid laying the baby down immediately after feeding; instead, keep the baby upright at approximately a 45-degree angle for a short period post-feeding.
Special attention is required after breastfeeding. Do not lay the newborn down immediately after feeding. Instead, hold the baby upright and gently pat their back until they burp. Then place the baby on their side for a brief period to prevent spitting up. Breastfeeding should be performed regularly and in appropriate amounts. Many mothers worry that their babies aren’t getting enough milk and therefore increase feeding volume; however, feeding too frequently can actually exacerbate spitting up.
Therefore, newborns should be fed at regular intervals and in appropriate quantities—neither overfed nor fed too frequently—since their immature digestive systems cannot fully process food quickly. Spitting up is very common in infants and is generally not abnormal; it primarily results from incomplete gastrointestinal development. If the infant urinates adequately and gains weight normally, no specific treatment is necessary. We hope this information is helpful to you!
