During the early weeks of life, a baby will often have hiccups after meals and in between. This should not cause any concern or anxiety. Hiccups result from a normal reflex that begins during the last trimester of pregnancy and is designed to strengthen the diaphragm, the main muscle of breathing. This reflex continues during the first month or two following birth. The hiccups will stop whether you do anything or not. It is not necessary to feed water or peppermint, to burp or to hold. Hiccups cause distress in the parents, not the babies.