choking episode this morning

COmommy

We had a scare this morning with choking.  Emmeline had very thick spit-up coming out of her nose and mouth and couldn't breathe. This was not typical spit-up and had the consistency of glue or thick frosting.  DH picked her up and starting vigorously patting her back and I ran to get the suction.  She was turning gray around the mouth and her body went stiff.  It was the scariest moment of my life.  Luckily, we got her crying and breathing again after suctioning.  We have an appointment with her doctor in an hour.  Anyone had a similar experience? Was it reflux or something else causing it?  What did you do to prevent it from happening in the future?  

JakesBride07

It could be reflux...DD had those issues when she was back in the NICU. Both twins have reflux, typically what we do is try to give them a good 20-30 minutes post feeding before laying them down, elevate the head of their crib, etc.. With DS we also thicken his formula with a tablespoon full of rice cereal (per 7-8 ounces) to help keep it down.

bhilyer

Sounds like reflux  The milk gets mixed with the mucus and makes a nasty mess.  Hope your pedi has some answers for you.

ETA - we started thickening feeds with rice. 

Irishsapphire

It sounds like reflux.  We were told to keep him at an angle for 30 minutes after we feed him.  And we got a wedge--my son actually slept on this wedge on the floor during the night for the majority of his first year.  The crib was okay, but he had a tendency to sleep on his face when he first learned to roll over.  The wedge looks like a preemie king size bed--the pediatrician put in an order with an occupational therapist at the hospital--and they made the wedge for him. 

 

Irishsapphire

We also had a Baby Einstein bouncer that we put him in after feeding. 

njdcgirl

That is so scary!  I'm glad LO is ok!  Andrew had a few of those, and I was always terrified.  For him, it was reflux, and that mixture of mucus/milk mess was what would come out - gross!

We too used to hold upright for at least 20 - 30 minutes after feeding, and he napped in a bouncy chair for the first 6-8 months or so (loved that thing....only gave it up b/c he was too big and sitting up in it and I thought he would topple it over forward!)

Piper345

Definitely sounds like reflux. DS had this all of the time when he was little, and its very scary. We always held him up 30 min after eating and he sleeps with a wedge under his crib mattress. We also had a bulb syringe nearby at all times. I also suggest the fisher price rock and play sleeper. This is the best baby item that we have. We still put him in it today if we have to put him down right after eating. He is starting to grow out of it now

 

neko621

We had something very similar happen to Tristan the week we brought him home from the NICU.  We freaked and called 911.  Of course, by the time they arrived, he was perfectly fine---we on the other hand were wreaks.  It was definitely reflux, and from then on we worked with the pediatrician on ways to help keep it under control. 

Belleza907

My Gina has reflux and would have episodes like that all the time. We keep her upright after feedings, thicken her feedings, and she's also on reflux medications. I second the recommendation for the Rock and Play. My girls are almost 4 months adjusted and they still sleep in them. We also stationed nasal aspirators around the house so we'd always have one handy. I'm so sorry you had to experience this - it's beyond scary when it happens.