Gagging baby...

[suburbanslob]

My bub is five weeks old. I do realise I'm going to sound like a neurotic new mum (which of course I am to a degree) but I really do need some advice on this.

Basically DS will randomly 'gag' and seem to be choking on something. It is so scary when it happens that I have called 999 and almost did again yesterday. I have had him to the doctors but, as often seems to be the case, it's a 'let's wait and see' and 'he seems fine'.

The other annoying thing is that with me being slightly on the neurotic side anyway I think my husband and family aren't really taking me seriously about this as by the time I've called them round for reassurance he seems fine. But when it happens I am so shaken up I feel I need some support.

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this and if it can ever lead to the baby actually choking? He was in his Moses basket the other day when it happened and I saw what look like a piece of fleghm fly up vertically. It has also been followed by projectile-style vomiting on a couple of occasions, which always has a mucousy-type look to it. Any advice much appreciated as I'm driving myself nuts with worry.

I don't think it's possible for them to properly choke until they're on solids. Gagging and coughing is perfectly alright and usually just them learning to cope with feeds etc. In fact the coughing that often goes with gagging is a positive thing because it means they're learning to cope with it. Scary to listen to though! Real choking is absolutely silent and far more terrifying. He may have some leftover mucous from the birth - it often happens and can take several weeks to clear. Why not brush up your knowledge about what to do if there is choking (which you won't really have to do until he's on solids) and then at least you'll be reassured that you can cope if something does happen.

Thanks Octavia - that's really helpful advice and a great idea about brushing up on what to actually do in an emergency. Thanks again.

I think Octavia said it all, but one thing I will say is that i've learnt that everything with a baby always seems a lot worse than it is, and that they're just learning to deal with all their strange new bodily functions, it's always over the top. Like a yawn for example or when they strain to poo - I don't blame you for being worried as I get worried over the smallest things, but remember that it's never as bad as it seems! I expect he probably does still have mucous from the birth in there, but that will clear soon and if everything else is as it should be then I would try not to worry. He's dealt with it so far and it won't last!