Choking

[keli]

Just started BLW with Coop and i am trying not to worry too much about choking but i'm sure all us mummies do.. have read what i need to do etc just wondered how many have experienced this, what did you do, and how did you react? Thanks xx

 

[Charlie:-)]

I haven't experienced choking so cant speak from experience but Maia gagged loads on Sat & Sun when we started BLW. She seems to have calmed right down though now and only gags when she's got too much food in her mouth, usually when she's bitten a big bit off and hasn't broken it down.

If she was ever to choke, touch wood she doesn't *moves hand to forehead* then I would lean her slightly forward and pat her back, if it didn't help I would take her out and put her over my knee patting her back and if that didn't work then I would hold her upside down and pat her back.

Well after just typing that I questioned myself on whether I would be correct in doing the above so I just googled it and here's what I found.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=75052#section2

Glad you posted this hun as I wouldn't have looked it up and I would have been doing it all wrong.

 

[Sherlock]

The idea of BLW is that gagging isn't such an issue as with babies that are pureed weaned then move onto solids and finger foods. If your LO has the chewing ability then he should do ok chewing his food before it moves to the back of his mouth to be swallowed. Choking on food stuffs may happen but then it could happen when moving from puree to solids also.

FWIW we've had a few episodes of coughing lots but other than that Galen has coped brilliantly with BLW. We've given him foods we are happy he can cope with and based on his ability. He has chewed from the start and its only things like skins on foods that tend to cause him problems from time to time. I was expecting him to gag more tbh as many puree weaned babies do when going on to solids and actually posted saying this hadn't happened and was that a problem. Ladies reassured me that his not gagging was fine and showed that he was developmentally ready for solid foods.

If you are starting off with good first foods and see how your LO goes before moving on to new foods and textures then you should do just fine.

As for what to do, I am guessing its covered in the link given above.

 

[keli]

I haven't experienced choking so cant speak from experience but Maia gagged loads on Sat & Sun when we started BLW. She seems to have calmed right down though now and only gags when she's got too much food in her mouth, usually when she's bitten a big bit off and hasn't broken it down.

If she was ever to choke, touch wood she doesn't *moves hand to forehead* then I would lean her slightly forward and pat her back, if it didn't help I would take her out and put her over my knee patting her back and if that didn't work then I would hold her upside down and pat her back.

Well after just typing that I questioned myself on whether I would be correct in doing the above so I just googled it and here's what I found.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=75052#section2

Glad you posted this hun as I wouldn't have looked it up and I would have been doing it all wrong.

Have you tried to pop little one on your forearm? lol. Just tried with Cooper and it's not that easy! Think what you put above would be ok? But i'm sure if in an emergency i'd manage.

I realise following BLW doesn't enhance the risk of choking and its said that there is more chance with sucking the purees to the back of the mouth, its still a worry i think whatever way you wean. Cooper has had a gagg and a cough on his food. So far i've given him banana and steamed carrot sticks and is now doing really well chewing his food and his nappy says he's swallowing (only the one nappy as only started again on wed)
I just wondered what peoples experiences of choking was, if it has happened to them, as with everything i feel its always better to be prepared.

 

[purple13]

connor's gagged a fair few times but i let him get on with it. he has choked once however, which was a different kettle of fish; he couldn't breathe and his lips started to go blue. OH and i were so calm though - OH just laid him over his knee and slapped him between the shoulder blades a couple of times until a piece of babybel shot out. connor was completely unphased by the entire thing and just launched himself at another piece of cheese.

so whilst it wasn't much fun, as experiences go, it actually wasn't scary or worrying because we both knew what to do.