Help! Terrified now...

So Phe occasionally brings up some undigested milk after a feed. Its always a smallish amount and so I was unconcered - until today.

I fed Phoebe and she was happy enough so I put her back in her pram in the kitchen and went onto the deck to help DH move more furniture in. We are in the middle of carting in a wardrobe and she started whinging. I figure I can get the wardrobe in and put where its going and then go check her nappy.

We get in there and they have left the bunks in the middle of the room so I had to push it back against the wall so we could get the wardrobe in and because it was blocking the door I had to move the bunks back myself. Some time while I was doing this Phoebe stopped crying. We get the wardrobe in and I go to check her nappy. When I get there, she was not moving, she was not breathing, the top of her head and face was blue and she was just staring straight ahead. I am panicking by now and grab her out of the pram to put her on an open solid surface to check her out properly and as soon as I sat her up, she coughed, gasped in a deep breath and then started screaming. Slowly got her colour back as I was giving her some massive cuddles but some of this undigested milk came out again as she had been choking on it.

I didnt realise but because it is such a small amount that is brought up with little force and she was laying on her back at the time - it got caught in her mouth and probably got stuck when she went to inhale to cry.

I am feel very very lucky that I went to check her nappy but terrified to leave her alone. She had her last sleep in her bouncer which keeps her sat up more and so when she brought up a small amount with her last feed it run straight out.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening all together? Just so scared now.

Far out, Inertia! How scary! I wouldn't blame you if you dont put her down for the next week!

No advice, just huge hugs as I wander off to check my sleeping girl.... :hug:

Oh Inertia...this post just bought back all sorts of feeling of panic. The exact same thing happened to my first baby when she was only 8 day sold....and I was only 17. Very scary indeed!!!!!
She spent the rest of her baby life sleeping on her side or tummy. (which was the recommendation that many years ago:rolleyes: )

I hope you can sleep tonight after that scare...but I am sure it will be a while before you can rest easy again. :hug:

I've never been so scared in my whole life. After some huge cuddles, I changed her nappy - big poo - and then double checked her hearing and vision, and she looked into my eyes like she loves doing and gave me this big smile - I just burst into tears.

I put her down after her next feed to help DH bring in the lounge suite, but she didn't sleep long so picked her back up and havent put her down since.

She sleeps overnight on her side next to me but and usually tilts her head to the side to sleep anyway - but she was awake so completely on her back.

The regurgitation usually comes up with a burp or hiccup, so I am not even sure it can be prevented.

Inertia - how frightening for you...the panic is just gripping isn't it.

I hope you can rest with her tonight :hug:

I can only imagine how scared you must have been.

Position is everything. I guess being more vigilant wont hurt as you'll feel you are watching your little one even more.

You can't second guess every possible regurg. If she's like that again, heaven forbid, on her side to let anything drain out and let her airway open up to give her enough force to cough out anything.

On her back is still the safest position - the food pipe is actually behind the wind pipe, so when they vomit, the milk normally slides back down the throat. On their tummy, it flows forward and if it doesn't drain out of their mouth, it can be inhaled and cause problems.

There's really not much you can do, apart from keeping a close eye on them. Keep them with you as much as possible - in a pouch, or in a bassinet next to you. As she gets older and stronger, and more able to move her head or spit out or swallow the milk, things will get easier and less stressful.

Pretty much where she will always be now! As I said, I think it was because she was crying at the time. When she went to breathe in again for another big scream it probably because trapped then. She did it again to us this morning but DH was on top of it the second he heard her stop crying. She is being extremely clingy right now and is screaming minutes after I put her down asleep. And to think, she had the best sleep yesterday while I was at Kidz HQ.