Help! Newborn almost choked on breastmilk just now

[vanillacremebrulee]

I'm really scared and it keeps happening. When he's feeding greedily he can't cope with a large flow of breastmilk and he seems to choke on it. I pat him on the back but he stops breathing for a while. Then if I blow on his face and turn him upside then he's all right in the end. Scares the hell out of me.
Please tell me if this is normal and if it's as dangerous as it seems and what's the best way of dealing with it.

That does sound scary vanilla.

To slow the flow down a bit, you could try feeding him in a reclining position.

I seem to remember someone else here had a similar situation. Will have a look hang on.

OK, here it is.

Might be worth getting it checked out if he is actually stopping breathing.

spent the whole night half awake when he was sleeping to check for signs of reflux before he gagged again. Thanks for your reply. I've done quite a lot of reading on fast letdown and have spoken to a midwife on the phone but she wasn't that concerned. Might get a visit today. Should I push for a referral to a paediatrician? I'm so stressed about this

Does he actually stop breathing or is he gagging on his milk for what seems like forever?

If he really is not breathing then the MW should come & check.

I know it's difficult but try not to stress, they are developing their gag reflex and can make very alarming noises when they've got a mouthful!

What is his colour like when he's struggling?

On the fast let down, could you express a wee bit first before feeding, usually just fast at the start, it's scary eh. X

It's always fast unfortunately, not just at the start. Actually the gagging and choking seems to happen more towards the end of the feed when he's sucking lightly but still getting plenty I'm his mouth.
A couple of times I think he definitely stopped breathing briefly because his lips turned purple . It was probably only a few seconds by it felt like forever.

I'm sure it does, is teh MW coming to see you today?

This is a situation that absolutely needs someone to give a medical view - and the midwife should want to observe this, IMO.

It's scary because it is serious - babies who cannot coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing need investigating. Most babies who splutter with a fast let down do just that - splutter and gag and come off . Choking and ceasing breathing - deffo needs checking out, and I would say asap.

I am not wanting to scare you, OP, as I am not medical and I am not making any sort of 'diagnosis', but I do know that babies who have difficulty breathing and who stop breathing when feeding at any time need checking out. If the midwife is not able to come and see you, you can go to A&E.

Also the fact this is at the end of the feed makes it unlikely to be let down.

I think you need to see a paediatrician. Good luck. :)

If you think he's actually stopping breathing rather than just gagging a bit (common) then don't wait for a mw appointment, get the mw out today or take him back to the hospital. It is not (imo only, not medical) normal for a baby to keep stopping breathing while feeding
Ds1 did once 'choke' but it was on mucus while feeding. He had been cs and the mucus had not been pushed out of his lungs during birth. Was terrifying!
He was 'aspirated' I think they call it (sucked gunk out basically) and was ok after that
Get him checked out today to put your mind at rest

If you think he's actually stopping breathing rather than just gagging a bit (common) then don't wait for a mw appointment, get the mw out today or take him back to the hospital. It is not (imo only, not medical) normal for a baby to keep stopping breathing while feeding
Ds1 did once 'choke' but it was on mucus while feeding. He had been cs and the mucus had not been pushed out of his lungs during birth. Was terrifying!
He was 'aspirated' I think they call it (sucked gunk out basically) and was ok after that
Get him checked out today to put your mind at rest

And tell them his lips went purple.

Midwife came to see me and I described all that and when i asked if it was dangerous she just said "there's not much that you can do about it" and moved on to fill in her forms with tick boxes for number of dirty nappies, etc. i absolutely hate the woman, she's totally useless and I'm so frustrated with her.
If I go to A&E will I be taken seriously or just end up sitting for hours in a room full of sick people just to be fobbed off by a nurse? I think my best bet may be to see my GP tomorrow?

:( at the midwife.

This is a talkboard, and rather limited in what can be done.....the risk with A&E is that you will be subject to investigations that turn out to be a waste of time.

But if you take a newborn baby to A&E and tell them your baby has difficulty breathing at the end of a feed and his lips turn blue, you will be taken seriously, and you will not have to wait hours.

How about calling the maternity unit where he was born and asking for an opinion from them?

Speaking as a mother only, if it was my baby, I'd do that or else go straight to A&E.

i would follow tiktoks advice and ring the maternity ward or a&e, it needs to be checked out and you need a professional to see you feeding observe exactly what is going on.

i had a fast let down and oversupply problems and my babies all choked and spluttered etc but they didnt stop breathing.

the one thing that i found helped was to feed against gravity so leaning back and then baby choked less and they all learnt to let the excess milk dribble out the side of their mouths whilst feeding. but they never stopped breathing, that would really worry me, i guess it could just be that baby needs to get breathing/swallowing/sucking timing/reflex sorted out? but it needs checking out and that midwife is appalling!

I think the others have it spot on, definitely go to either a and e or ring and ask to speak to someone other than that midwife, who sounds dire.

I have to say that both of my babies have done as you describe -e.g., stopped breathing momentarily and gone a very funny colour. With my daughter I was kind of fobbed off like you're been, but with my son his issues were obviously more pronounced and so things were looked into a bit more and it was eventually decided that the cause of his short choking fits was reflux.

I'm totally shocked at the mws reaction

Hope you're getting some good help Vanilla

Christ alive! I would report this woman as she clearly doesn't give a shit.

Have you managed to see anyone today OP? That midwife sounds horrendous. I would definitely report her, she needs retraining.

THANK YOU for your messages, I have taken him to A&E after phoning the delivery unity this morning and being advised to do so.
He was checked by two paediatricians, one being a registrar. We were reassured that there seems to be nothing wrong with him and they did observe us during a feed too. They're satisfied that he can suck and swallow adequately although he momentarily did not breath a couple of times. I feel reassured but still need to keep a close eye on him day and night to help him clear his airways as it happens with reflux too just during feeds.
How do I report that silly midwife?

Glad to hear that he's been checked over and given the all clear Vanilla.

Re. complaining, I'm not quite sure- you could go through PALS- the patient liaison service or find out who the head of midwifery is and write to them.

Thanks crikeybadget. I do feel relieved but also know that i need to carry on being extra vigilant.I also need to work on reducing my milk production because I'm always engorged and often in pain! On then plus side he was weighed at the hospital and he's gained 5 oz in the last 4 days.
I'm very grateful for the support I've been getting from you, tiltok and everyone else on this forum. Thanks again.

Good news - and pleased they took you seriously :)