A must-have for new parents! Learn these methods to deal with choking on milk!

Oops! Is the baby choking on milk?

How can so much milk come out of the nasal cavity?

Seeing this, will the new parents panic and get flustered? Will the first reaction be to hold the baby in their arms or pat their shoulders? But do you know? If the baby is choking on milk, it is very dangerous to hold the baby like this!

1. What should you do if your baby chokes on milk?

Mild choking (i.e. the baby can still breathe normally)

Place the baby gently on his side and pat his back from bottom to top with your hollow palm to help expel milk and air.

Severe choking (i.e. the baby has difficulty breathing, cannot speak, has a cyanotic face, etc.)

The Heimlich maneuver must be performed immediately.

Pay attention to the key points of the operation. Support the baby's chin with the base of the thumb. When the baby is lying prone, the head should be slightly lower than the chest and back. Use the base of your palm to gently pat the midpoint of the line connecting the baby's two shoulder blades. Use your index and middle fingers to press the chest. Do not hang the baby upside down and pat him to avoid damaging the cervical spine.

2. Why do babies choke on milk?

1. Immature swallowing function: The swallowing coordination ability of newborns has not yet fully developed, and they are prone to inhaling air or milk when eating.

2. Improper feeding methods: the nipple hole is too large, the breast milk secretion is excessive, the feeding posture is incorrect (such as lying down to feed), the feeding speed is too fast, etc.

3. Disease factors: respiratory tract infection, neonatal esophageal or laryngeal cartilage dysplasia, congenital heart disease, congenital cleft lip and palate, etc. may also cause choking.

3. How to prevent baby from choking on milk?

1. Choose the right nipple: Make sure the nipple hole is of moderate size so that milk can flow smoothly but not too fast.

2. Adjust the feeding posture: It is recommended to feed the baby in a semi-sitting or slanted position, so that the baby's head and body are at a certain angle, which is conducive to swallowing and reduces air inhalation. If breast milk secretion is too strong, clamp the areola when feeding to prevent breast milk from flowing out too quickly and causing choking.

3. Control the feeding speed: Avoid feeding the baby immediately when the baby is crying because of hunger, so as to prevent the baby from eating too quickly and too fast.

4. Observe the baby’s condition: pay attention to the baby’s expression and swallowing movements while feeding, and make timely adjustments if there are any abnormalities.

5. Burp the baby after feeding: After feeding, hold the baby upright and pat his back gently to help expel air from the stomach and reduce the risk of choking.

4. Indications for seeking medical attention when a baby chokes on milk

1. After the baby choked on milk, he still had no spontaneous breathing, his face was cyanotic, and he lost consciousness.

2. Choking occurs frequently and is accompanied by other discomfort symptoms, such as fever, mental depression, etc.

3. Parents are unable to judge the baby’s condition.

Highlight the key points!

1. When the baby chokes on milk, do not hold the baby upright to prevent the inhaled liquid from entering the trachea or lungs and causing suffocation.

2. When your baby chokes on milk, don’t panic. Stay calm! Stay calm! Stay calm again!

If you want to know more about related issues, you can consult the Neonatology Department of Hanshou County People's Hospital .

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Luo Ruying, Hanshou County People's Hospital

Follow @湖南医聊 to get more health science information!

(Edited by YH)