We were bathing little one last night and she put her head to the side and inhaled a little water. She was frantic and trying to get a breath for around 2-3 seconds, finally did and choked for another second or two and then was fine.
I freaked out though, worried she'd inhaled some water into her lungs so we took her to emergency - they checked her over and she was fine. They were really good with us too, I felt a little stupid but I'd rang 13HEALTH and they told me to ring an ambulance!! All I wanted was some advice on what to look out for if she perhaps did have some water in her lungs!!!!
I'm still completely freaked though and can't get the image of her struggling for a breath out of my head. I cry every time I think about it.
I'm totally over-reacting I know, but it gave me and DH such a fright.
DD has done it a couple of times, when she was a bit older than your DD though and could move around in the tub. I think the first time she put her head down to grab her rubber duck with her mouth and her nose went a bit under. silly girl! I freaked and snatched her out of the tub but I think it made her reaction worse! She coughed and spluttered and screamed for about 5 mins but she was fine
Yeah its happened with all of mine, so I'd say its a pretty normal thing, sometimes they get so slippery and they move quickly and I lose my grip on them for a second.. LOL.. Eden has inhaled some water a few times, but she's fine afterwards, we've never called an ambulance though (whoops! didn't even occur to me to do so - bad mother...lol)
It is scary!
It has happened a few times, but like AE, it never occured to me to take them to hospital.
Both DD's have done it, coughed spluttered but fine after a few minutes.
Scares everyone alot though. Hope all is well now.
Choking with a baby or small child is always terrifying. A Dr I worked with once told me that if your baby or child can cough then they can breathe as you can't actually cough unless you are moving some air. It's when they open their mouth and no sound or gag/cough comes out then they are not moving air and are really at risk. Turn them over in your lap and with a flat open hand 2 firm blows on the upper back in an upwards motion will often dislodge an object stuck in their airway.
As for water in their lungs better to be safe than sorry. A trip to the ER to ensure your bub is OK is always worth it. Don't ever feel silly, if you are concerned seek help. You did the right thing.
I had Miss K throw her head back in the bath 2weeks ago and duck her whole head under the water. Scared the life out of me. I just monitored her breathing for 3hours, but once she recovered from the fight she was happy and smilling and laughing. If her breathing became laboured or noisy then I would of called an ambulance and told them it was a Cat A job due to 2 and a half month hold struggling to breath.
My DF and I are both highly trained volunteer fire fighters and both have SFA and we both want to do Advanced Resus. So we are fairly clued into what to look for, not that it didnt bother us any less. Its scary to think that your LO could get hurt so easy.
its quiet a common thing to happen I think all babies/kids do it at some point but its our reactions (as its HUGELY scary and not an over reaction) that set them off a bit too
I am sure she will be fine and u will be too at this age she will never remember it so take heart in that so it wont traumatise her (u will so thats a bit different) and the hospital said she is ok so that can help ease ur mind.
I can tell u it probably wont be the last time she does it too but as long as ur there then u know she will be safe as u wont let her get hurt
xoxoxo ur a great mum
Last edited by ~*Kat*~; June 20th, 2010 at 01:13 PM.
Sue I can just imagine how scary it was DD did a head dunk on me a couple of weeks ago and I was really worried she'd breathed in water because it was just after watching some life saver show on the effects of taking water into the lungs and how it can be a delayed reaction. Whilst she didn't choke, it played on my mind for the rest of the evening and into the night. So I don't think you're over reacting, you've had a big scare with your LO As hard as it will be, enjoy your next bath time and don't be too hard on yourself about it
My story if your interested goes like this ( I've never told anyone this before due to "horrible mummy" guilt)...
When DS was a month or 2 old I had him in the bath with him belly down over my arm. I thought he was well out of the water as his head was above my arm and my arm was out of the water. He was splashing a little, which was normal- he sometimes kicked a bit- and remember saying "he likes it" Then, a few seconds later my DF said "he cant breathe"
I immediately ripped him out of the water and after what seemed like forever (in reality it was probably 5 or 10 seconds) he coughed and started breathing again, then screamed - as you would.
He had been under the water for about 15-20 seconds I think and was bright red/ purple, though I couldn't tell while he was in the water. I guess it just didn't occur to me he couldn't breathe!
I had no idea he was supposed to be checked out or could have water in his lungs (though in hindsight it seems pretty obvious), I watched him closely for a while after but he seemed fine and completely back to normal after he'd calmed down. He's still perfectly happy and healthy today so I guess we were lucky.
I'm so glad your DD is ok, like others have said dont be too hard on yourself (should take my own advice ), it was an accident, and a fairly common one at that judging by the number of other posters that have experienced the same thing.
Traumatised!!
It is scary!
I've never told anyone this before due to "horrible mummy" guilt)...
), it was an accident, and a fairly common one at that judging by the number of other posters that have experienced the same thing.
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