Choking In Babies: What To Do?

Choking on babies is a tragedy that happens more often than people think. When you are a mother, one of the hardest experiences is to face that when you do not know what to do if your baby suffocates in milk, either from the breast or from a bottle. Asphyxia is not uncommon during early childhood and is a more frequent occurrence than you might imagine.

Being a first-time mother means facing many new things in terms of caring for and protecting your child. At this time, it is important to be aware of potentially dangerous situations that could affect both the health of the mother and the baby.

For new mothers , we need to maintain a calm attitude and react quickly if the baby is suffocated in milk. Panicking does not help at all. It can even hinder the solution and endanger the health of the child.

What is the procedure if a baby is suffocated in milk?

In addition to trying to stay calm all the time, here are some tips to follow:

• Immediately lay the baby face down on your legs.
• Give soft but firm touches with the palm of the baby’s back to make it cough.
• This should be enough as the induced cough will clear the airways.

However, the child may suffocate on something solid. In these cases, parents can use what is called the Heimlich maneuver. It is important to note that this procedure can only be performed with children older than 12 months.

The Heimlich maneuver can only be used on babies older than 12 months

• To perform this familiar maneuver, sit and wrap your arms around the baby.

• Place your hands on the solar plexus or over the abdomen.
• Then apply pressure with one hand on top of the other.
• The pressure exerted between the thorax and navel will push the object or piece of food that is blocking the airways out.

Other techniques to use when a baby is about to suffocate in breast milk

• Lay the baby face up on the floor or on a hard surface.
• Place your hands on top of each other in the area between the sternum and the navel.
• Press against the chest with five compressions.

If this does not resolve the issue, call the emergency services as soon as possible. It is important to have all the relevant numbers in one accessible place. Memory will most likely fail you in these situations.

If the baby suffocates in milk, the first thing to do is to place the baby upside down on your legs immediately and give soft but firm touches with the palm of your hand on your back.

Causes of suffocation in babies

Choking can be caused by several factors. Some of them are things we can prevent, while others have to do with your little baby’s newly formed body.

If you notice that your baby often suffocates, it is best to talk to your pediatrician. He or she will decide what to do.

External factors that cause suffocation in babies

When the baby is breastfeeding, the milk flows directly to the throat. It is possible that the flow of breast milk is too strong. This situation can be solved by pressing on the nipple or pumping some milk just before breastfeeding.

Proper breastfeeding prevents the baby from suffocating in milk. It is important to ensure the baby’s proper attachment to the mother’s nipples. The mother should make sure that the baby’s tummy is facing the mother’s tummy, while the baby’s nose should be directly opposite the nipple. This position will give the child good care.

If, on the other hand, the baby is bottle-fed, the liquid may flow too fast. Very young children can not adapt to this themselves, but this situation can be resolved with patience.

Internal factors for suffocation in babies

Some children may have internal conditions that affect their ability to swallow, or that may cause gastroesophageal reflux : that is, the contents of the stomach return to the mouth.

To check if the problem is internal and not related to feeding problems, talk to a medical specialist.

Reducing the risk of suffocation in infants

In a short time, your baby will be able to eat and drink without your help. But in the meantime , it is advisable to follow these tips on what to do if your baby suffocates in milk:

• Do not let your baby lie down after feeding it. Keep the child upright. In case of reflux, the child may cough or vomit without danger.
• It is necessary to prevent the child from using the bottle without supervision.
• Have the baby’s crib near you for at least the first six or seven months.

With these simple recommendations, we can reduce the risk of this incident in babies. Whether or not you notice more serious problems such as the above reflux, do not hesitate to consult a professional as soon as possible.