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Expert Q&A
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| By Melissa Clark Vickers International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Moms & Babies Huntingdon, Tenn. | ||
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My two week old breastfed baby always seems to get the hiccups. What can I do to prevent or relieve his?
Some babies seem more prone to hiccups than others. Often, in a breastfed baby, hiccups happen as a result of a strong letdown reflex. Does your baby gulp at the breast when your milk lets down? Does he sputter to try to keep up with the flow?
If so, try taking him off the breast during the letdown until the milk slows a bit. Use a cloth or a bowl to catch the milk in the meantime. Also, you might try nursing from one breast per feeding, or at least letting him nurse as long as he will on the first breast before burping him and offering the second breast. By doing this, he gets more of the fattier hindmilk. That means more calories in less milk, and it means that your breasts will tame the letdown a bit.
Some babies take in more air while nursing and that could be contributing to the hiccups. Make sure he gets as good a seal around your breast as possible, and burp him well during and after feedings.
Check with your doctor for other causes or ways to get rid of hiccups once they start. Most of the common ways adults use to get rid of hiccups won't work for an infant!
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