DAN WUORI: Hiccups are a reflexive contraction of the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the chest that relaxes and contracts to help us breathe. Like most bodily functions, breathing is controlled by the brain, but when infants are born their neural circuitry remains immature.

Your baby’s hiccups are training the brain to control their breathing. As adults, we all get a case of the hiccups every once in a while. But for babies developing in utero and newborn infants, hiccups are often a daily event. In fact, preterm babies (those born three or more weeks prematurely) spend up to 15 minutes hiccuping each day. Hiccups are a reflexive contraction of the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the chest that relaxes and contracts to help us breathe. Like most bodily functions, breathing is controlled by the brain, but when infants are born their neural circuitry remains immature. And hiccups may be key to its development. Researchers at the University College London measuring infants' brain waves discovered that hiccups produce significant neurological signals, which they believe assist the brain in learning to control breathing voluntarily. So don’t be alarmed by your newborn’s frequent hiccups. Not only will they subside in time, but they play an important role in your baby’s development. This adorable little hiccupper was shared with TT by Viola & zayn.

Your baby’s hiccups are training the brain to control their breathing.

As adults we all get a case of the hiccups every once in a while.

But for babies developing in utero - and newborns infants - hiccups are often a daily event.

In fact, preterm babies (those born three or… pic.twitter.com/bH1v95fUHL

— Dan Wuori (@DanWuori) June 23, 2024