Patient's question:
Back pain, curled toes, finger twitching Cesarean section third day back pain The previous treatment and effect: The doctor told you to pay attention, not to choke on milk, no effective measures were taken What kind of assistance is needed: How to treat and the cause of the diseaseDoctor's answer:
Absolutely do not let the baby choke on milk! Suggestions:1. First, enhance care. During feeding, the milk flow should not be too fast. For breastfeeding, you can use the "scissors method" to let the milk flow slowly. If the breasts are overfull, you can first express a lot of milk to reduce the fullness. When feeding, the child can be in a semi-reclined position, and burping should be done after feeding. If stable care does not improve the choking, seek medical attention for a thorough examination.
2. Infants and young children often vomit milk due to their unique physiological structures. When vomiting is significant, choking may occur, where the vomited milk re-enters the respiratory tract with each breath. The nervous system of infants is still developing, and many reflexes are weak. They cannot expel milk that has entered the respiratory tract. As a result, milk may mechanically block the airway, leading to breathing difficulties. Additionally, infant brain cells are highly sensitive to oxygen—just 5 minutes without oxygen can be fatal, making sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) a serious risk.
So, if an infant chokes on milk and experiences suffocation, how should you perform first aid? Generally, infants who choke and have difficulty breathing may exhibit bluish faces, upward rolling of the eyes, convulsions, no breathing or irregular breathing, vomiting milk or foam, fresh blood, or dark fluid. In such cases, adults should immediately provide on-site first aid. Quickly rouse the infant—if they cry out, the rescue has succeeded by half. If ineffective, turn the infant’s head to one side, open their mouth, and use fingers or a small cloth piece to clear the milk from their throat. For milk that cannot be reached deep inside, it is best to suck it out with a mouth-to-mouth approach. Then, perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation with appropriate force to alleviate brain hypoxia.
All rescue actions must be swift—no hesitation is allowed. If first aid is unsuccessful, the infant must be urgently transported to a pediatric hospital for medical treatment. For infants who frequently vomit, parents should closely monitor them and elevate the head of the bed slightly, allowing the infant to lie semi-reclined. During feeding, the head should be kept slightly elevated, and after feeding, the infant should be held upright, their back gently patted until they burp before being placed back in bed. At night, parents should periodically observe the infant for vomiting, breathing, and sleep posture.
Additionally, lactating mothers should ensure the nipple does not block the infant’s mouth or nose, leading to breathing difficulties or suffocation. The esophageal opening and tracheal opening are connected in the throat. The most dangerous aspect of vomiting is when milk flows backward from the esophagus to the throat and is inhaled into the trachea during breathing—this is what is known as choking. A large amount can cause airway obstruction and inability to breathe, endangering life; a small amount can be directly inhaled into the deep lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia.
Mild spitting up or vomiting allows the baby to adjust breathing and swallow reflexively without inhaling it into the trachea. Simply monitor the baby’s breathing and skin color closely. If vomiting is significant, follow these steps:
1. If the infant vomits while lying flat, quickly turn their head to one side to prevent vomit from flowing backward into the throat or trachea.
2. Wrap a handkerchief around your fingers and insert them into the infant’s mouth, even into the throat, to quickly remove milk or food, keeping the airway clear. Then, use a small cotton swab to clean the nostrils.
3. If the infant holds their breath or their complexion darkens, it may indicate that the vomit has entered the trachea. Place them face down on your knee or bed and firmly pat their back 4–5 times to help them cough it up.
4. If ineffective, immediately pinch or squeeze their soles to cause them to cry, increasing their breathing. At this point, the most important thing is to ensure they receive oxygen, not wasting time trying to remove the foreign object.
During this process, the infant should also be taken to the hospital for a thorough examination. If breathing is smooth after choking, it is still best to encourage the infant to cry a bit more to observe their breathing and exhalation for any abnormalities (e.g., weak or altered voice, difficulty breathing, severe chest). If any abnormalities are present, seek medical attention. If the infant cries loudly, has strong breath, and a rosy complexion, it indicates no serious harm.