Do you know how to help a choking pregnant woman? My husband and I recently took a momease infant and CPR class at GW hospital and this question came up. The room went silent.
We learned that a pregnant woman cannot perform abdominal thrusts on herself nor can someone else perform it on her. Instead, someone else should perform contractions on her chest (as if she weren't breathing.)
Here's how the Mayo Clinic describes the procedure:
Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:
Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.
Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.
Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
Here's a video showing you what to do.
In our class, the instructor suggested having the pregnant woman's back against the wall, to keep her steady, with her fact turned away from you.
We learned that a pregnant woman cannot perform abdominal thrusts on herself nor can someone else perform it on her. Instead, someone else should perform contractions on her chest (as if she weren't breathing.)
Here's how the Mayo Clinic describes the procedure:
Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:
Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.
Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.
Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.
Here's a video showing you what to do.
In our class, the instructor suggested having the pregnant woman's back against the wall, to keep her steady, with her fact turned away from you.
Excellent explanation and demonstration. Thanks.
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