When someone suddenly collapses and stops breathing, it can be a scary situation, especially if the person is pregnant. In emergencies like cardiac arrest, shock, or choking, CPR and AED play a vital role in saving a mother and a growing baby. But many bystanders wonder, “Is it safe to use an AED on a pregnant woman?” The good news is “yes, it is safe and necessary.”
When you use an AED on a pregnant woman, it helps to restart her heart and improve her chances of survival, which also protects the baby. The device is designed to analyze the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock only if it’s needed. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a bystander, this blog will guide you on how to properly apply AED pads to a pregnant woman’s skin and explain the importance of timely resuscitation and AED use.
What is an AED and How Does It Work?
An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a portable medical device designed to help people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, including cases of maternal cardiac arrest. When someone’s heart stops beating normally, the AED can deliver an electric shock to restore a healthy heartbeat. The device is easy to use and provides step-by-step voice instructions, which make it accessible even to people without medical training.
The AED works by analyzing the heart’s rhythm through electrode pads placed on the chest. If it detects a dangerous irregular heartbeat, it will advise delivering a shock to reset the heart’s rhythm. This quick response can save lives by restoring the heart’s normal function before emergency medical help arrives.
Steps to Follow When Using an AED on a Pregnant Woman
If you’re a friend, bystander, or family member with no medical training, it’s completely normal to feel unsure during an emergency. But if you are CPR-trained individuals, then your quick action can help to increase the survival chances of pregnant women. A complete understanding of how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) on a pregnant woman can help save her life and her baby. AEDs are too simple to operate, with clear voice prompts that guide you through each step, even if you’ve never used one before.
Here are the steps that you need to follow while using an AED on a pregnant woman :
1. Check Responsiveness and Call Emergency Services
The first step is to check if the pregnant woman is responsive before providing any medical assistance. Gently tap her and ask, “Are you okay?” If there is no response and she is not breathing normally, call emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby to do so.
During pregnancy, medical help is especially important in emergencies like cardiac arrest or, heart attack. Healthcare professionals will check her condition and give advanced treatment that may save her life and the baby’s life.
2. Start CPR Immediately
If a pregnant woman doesn’t respond or stops breathing, act quickly and perform CPR to help save her and her baby. Don’t wait—delays can cause serious problems like brain damage, or other severe situations. While performing hands-only CPR, put your heel of one hand in the middle of her chest and press hard and fast, about 100 to 120 times each minute.
If you are trained in CPR, then perform CPR and rescue breathing effectively. Your quick action and applying an AED can help to keep women safe until medical professionals arrive.
3. Open the AED and Prepare the Pads
The next step is to open the AED and prepare the pads for placement on the pregnant woman. The device will include two electrode pads. You need to carefully remove them from their packaging and get ready to place them directly on her bare chest.
It is essential to place the pads directly on bare skin, as they will not work properly if placed over clothing. You may need to gently remove or cut away clothing to fully expose the skin and ensure good contact.
4. Place the Pads Correctly
When using an AED on a pregnant woman, it’s important to place the pads correctly to ensure the electric shock travels properly through the heart. The first pad should go on the upper right side of her chest, just below the collarbone. The second pad should be placed on the lower left side of her chest, just beneath the armpit. This standard adult placement helps the AED deliver an effective shock in case of sudden cardiac arrest.
Correct AED pad placement can make a critical difference in survival. During pregnancy, the adult AED pad positioning remains the most reliable for allowing the AED to assess heart rhythm and deliver life-saving treatment. While applying the AED, make sure the pregnant woman’s skin is dry so the pads can stick properly.
5. AED analyzes the Heart Rhythm
Once the pads are in place, it allows the AED to analyze the mother’s heart rhythm. While using an AED, make sure no one is touching her body in this process to avoid interference. The AED will automatically assess whether a shock is needed, ensuring an accurate reading and keeping everyone safe.
Proper heart rhythm analysis with an AED is a vital step in treating cardiac arrest during pregnancy. Remember, early use of an AED combined with effective CPR is the best chance to save lives during cardiac arrest, even during pregnancy.
6. Continue CPR and Follow Prompts
It is important to begin CPR right away with strong and fast compression. This step is essential to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to vital organs like the heart and lungs. While rescuing a victim, you need to become more focused and listen to the AED’s voice and watch the screen for the clear instructions. The device will guide you on when to pause for reanalysis and when to continue CPR. You need to keep performing and listening to the AED voice until EMS arrives to give advanced care.
Infographic: Steps to Follow When Using an AED on a Pregnant Woman
Is It Safe To Use An AED On A Pregnant Woman?
Many bystanders hesitate to use an AED or perform CPR on a pregnant woman due to the fear of harming the developing fetus. There’s a common misconception that chest compressions or defibrillation might injure the mother or baby. However, it’s important to understand that an AED delivers a controlled shock specifically to the heart, it does not harm the uterus or the fetus.
According to the American Heart Association and other leading medical organizations, using an AED and performing CPR on a pregnant woman is both safe and strongly recommended in the event of cardiac arrest. The priority is to save the mother’s life, and doing so also gives the baby the best chance of survival. Your quick action and better decision would help to increase the survival chances.
Conclusion
Yes, AED plays a huge role in saving victims from drowning, choking, cardiac arrest, and heart attack. If a pregnant woman is facing cardiac arrest, then you need to stay calm and follow the AHA recommended CPR guidelines to save her. If you’re a bystander or healthcare professional and want to be prepared to handle such critical situations, consider enrolling in certified life-saving courses like ACLS, BLS, and PALS.
Heart Start CPR is one of the leading AHA-authorized CPR training centers in the United States. We offer comprehensive training in ACLS, PALS, BLS, CPR, and First Aid, led by experienced instructors. Our hands-on approach, using advanced manikins, helps you build real-world skills and confidence to act fast, even in high-stress situations like helping a pregnant woman during a cardiac emergency.
