What to Do If Your Baby Is Choking

What to Do If Your Baby Is Choking Dr. Travis Stork: Now, we’re here with identical triplets, Erica, Jaclyn and Nicole who is joining us via Polycom. And Erica and Jaclyn, they’re near in the -- into their pregnancy, Nicole obviously has already had her baby. But you’re interested rightly so, in figuring out what to do in case of an emergency and you need to be prepared before the emergency takes place so you know what actions to take. Dr. Lisa Masterson: And before we get started, I wanted to say -- just as an OB, I always encourage my parents-to-be to take an infant CPR, it is the number one important class that any parent could take actually beyond labor class, because you’ll be able to do labor even without it. Dr. Jim Sears: Yeah, first off, you know, be concerned with parents. What happens if my baby -- oh she’s so cute, what happens if my baby starts choking or gagging on food, because that’s a big concern. And the first thing, if you’re baby is making noise, if they’re coughing, if they’re gagging, then their airway isn’t totally obstructed. So they’re not actually choking, they’re just gagging on something, you kind of want to leave them alone, you don’t want to start CPR then. Maybe support them a little bit to kind of help them get the food out, you know, they’re going to cough it out if they’re making noise. Now, if they’re not making noise, and they’re kind of obviously choking on something, you want to get that object out because it’s blocking their way, they’re not breathing. So, the best ways to do -- so first off, you kind of grab the baby, you put them -- put her on your arm, supporting her head and neck with your hand, head lower than the rest of her body, by about that much. And you just take two fingers on the lower part of her chest and just -- up to five quick thrust, see? Like that. Did you hear how that forces air out of the lungs and should push the object out. If it doesn’t worked, flip her over and try some back thrusts or back blows rather with the palm of your hand and kind of right in the -- be right between the shoulder blade. Do you want to come try it Erica? Erica: Sure? Dr. Jim Sears: Yeah. Dr. Travis Stork: And one -- a real important point here Erica is, don’t worry in this circumstance about hurting your baby, meaning if your baby is choking and you need to get that object out, you need to press enough air to get the object out. Dr. Jim Sears: Because I want you to see how much force we’re going to be doing, okay? Erica: Oops! Oh my Gosh. Dr. Jim Sears: Perfect, that’s how you do it. Dr. Travis Stork: Did you hear the air? That’s what you need, you need that air to come out. Dr. Jim Sears: You’re going to want to see that her chest move. Erica: And you do this how many times? Dr. Jim Sears: Up to five times. Erica: So that was five and then if it’s not out, you flip her over -- Dr. Jim Sears: You flip her over and you do the back blows right between the shoulder blades. Erica: With my -- the heel of my palm. Dr. Jim Sears: Yeah, heel of your hands. Erica: Goodness, yeah, I hear that too. Dr. Travis Stork: But again, Erica, you’re not putting the pressure there. Erica: Still not? Dr. Jim Sears: Do you really want to -- Jaclyn: Do you want that food to come out? Dr. Travis Stork: I see that you don’t want to hurt your baby but you’ve got to give enough pressure that the air will try to expel that object. Erica: My goodness, okay, good to know. Dr. Jim Sears: So hopefully -- Erica: I can see why the class is so important, that you actually have hands-on. Dr. Jim Sears: Right, so now you’re seeing it.