Hiccups in a newborn after breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, a baby may swallow air, feed quickly, or take in more milk than the stomach comfortably holds. Stretching of the stomach can trigger the diaphragm and produce hiccups. A good latch and coordinated sucking can help, though hiccups may still happen in a healthy baby. Repeated hiccups with spit-up, back arching, coughing, or refusal to feed can occur with [Acid Reflux](/conditions/acid-reflux/), but hiccups do not diagnose that condition.

If hiccups begin, stop briefly and hold your baby upright against your chest, supporting the head and neck. Try a gentle burp without pressing on the abdomen. Keep clothing loose around the tummy and wait for calm before offering more milk. At the next feed, check that the mouth covers much of the areola, listen for repeated clicking, and consider a slower pause if milk is flowing strongly. Do not give water, honey, gripe mixtures, or adult remedies.

Seek urgent care for breathing pauses, blue colour, choking that does not settle, unusual limpness, or inability to suck. Arrange medical advice when every feed is followed by marked distress, repeated vomiting, poor urine output, or a baby who is difficult to wake. Blood in vomit or green vomit requires prompt assessment. A clinician can also consider other digestive causes, including [Gastritis](/conditions/gastritis/), when the overall pattern warrants it.

Bring details about latch, milk flow, feed length, spit-up, stools, wet nappies, and your baby's comfort. Ask whether a feeding observation would help and whether positioning changes are suitable. Do not start [Acid Reflux Medication](/treatments/medical-management/acid-reflux-medication/) without a clinician's assessment, because medication is not a routine response to hiccups alone.