What to do if your baby chokes on breast milk

When a baby is born, breast milk is the most important food. The baby's esophagus has not yet fully developed, and if parents are not careful when feeding with breast milk, the baby can easily choke. In recent years, there have been news reports of babies choking on milk and becoming unable to breathe, or even suffocating. This shows that choking on milk is a very serious matter and parents should pay attention to it. So how do you prevent your baby from choking on breast milk?

1. Do not feed the baby when he is crying or laughing; do not wait until the baby is very hungry to feed him, as the baby may choke if eating too fast; do not force the baby to feed after he is full, as forced feeding may cause accidents.

2. When breastfeeding, the baby should lie diagonally in the mother's arms (upper body at 30 to 45 degrees), and should not lie on the bed to feed. When bottle-feeding, the baby cannot lie flat, but should be in a sloped position with the bottom of the bottle higher than the nipple to prevent inhalation of air.

3. When the mother secretes milk too quickly and the amount of milk is large, she can gently press the areola with her fingers to slow down the flow of milk. When bottle-feeding, the nipple hole should not be too large, and when the bottle is turned upside down, the milk should flow out in drops rather than in lines.

4. The mother's breast should not block the baby's nostrils. The mother must observe the baby's expression while feeding. If milk overflows from the corners of the baby's mouth or the area around the mouth and nose turns blue, the mother should stop feeding immediately. Infants who have experienced choking or premature babies should be closely observed or asked to ask a doctor for feeding guidance.

5. After feeding, hold the baby upright on your shoulders and pat the baby's back to help him/her expel gas from the stomach. It is best to hear the baby burp before putting him/her to bed. The head of the bed should be raised 15 degrees. The child should lie on the right side for 30 minutes and then lie flat on his back. Do not let the child sleep on his stomach.

6. If an infant chokes and suffocates due to swallowing milk too quickly at the beginning of feeding, he or she should be placed prone on the rescuer's legs with the upper body leaning forward 45 to 60 degrees to facilitate the drainage of milk in the trachea. At the same time, foreign objects in the infant's mouth should be removed promptly. Letting the infant cry or cough will help cough out the milk in the trachea and ease breathing.

<<: Seven-month-old baby's waist is soft and can't stand straight

>>: What to do if your baby is allergic to milk