I just last week gave my pregnant wife the Heimlich after she started choking on food at home. She is about 6 months pregnant. I was present enough in the moment to press into her abdomen above where the baby is situated. The food released on the second or third thrust. The thrusts where rather light compared to what I would have done had she not been pregnant. I shudder to think what I would have had to do if the light thrusts had not worked, given that the only thing in my mind at the time was the Heimlich maneuver. Despite it all happening to so fast, I was aware of the fact that I was willing (as a last resort) press lower in her abdomen and harder and risk injuring the baby to save my wife.
It all turned out okay, but I wish I had known that back blows are a viable alternative and probably a first approach for pregnant women.
I just last week gave my pregnant wife the Heimlich after she started choking on food at home. She is about 6 months pregnant. I was present enough in the moment to press into her abdomen above where the baby is situated. The food released on the second or third thrust. The thrusts where rather light compared to what I would have done had she not been pregnant. I shudder to think what I would have had to do if the light thrusts had not worked, given that the only thing in my mind at the time was the Heimlich maneuver. Despite it all happening to so fast, I was aware of the fact that I was willing (as a last resort) press lower in her abdomen and harder and risk injuring the baby to save my wife.
It all turned out okay, but I wish I had known that back blows are a viable alternative and probably a first approach for pregnant women.