How Should You Treat a Pregnant Choking Victim?

Have you ever seen a pregnant woman choking? It can be a frightening situation. During pregnancy, a woman’s body becomes more sensitive, and her growing belly makes it harder to use normal first aid techniques like abdominal thrusts.

Choking can happen when something gets stuck in the throat or windpipe, blocking the airflow and making it hard to breathe. In pregnant women, this can be especially dangerous for both the mother and her baby.

That’s why it’s important to know the correct and safe steps to help a pregnant choking victim. In this blog, you will learn how to treat a pregnant woman by applying the right method.

Signs that a Pregnant Woman is Choking

It’s very crucial to recognize the signs of choking, especially in a pregnant woman. During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes, and it can be harder for a woman to manage sudden stress, like choking. Choking can occur while drinking water or eating food, or any object can accidentally block the airway. The responder must quickly notice the signs and respond calmly.

Here are the common signs that a pregnant woman is choking:

1. She cannot speak, cough, or breathe properly
2. She may place her hands on her throat (a universal choking sign)
3. Her face may turn red or blue due to a lack of oxygen
4. She may look panicked or distressed
5. There might be silent or weak coughing sounds

Step-by-Step Guide to Save a Choking Pregnant Victim

It can be difficult for a pregnant woman to help herself while choking, especially with a growing unborn baby inside her belly. In such moments, the person nearby may feel panicked and unsure, wondering, “What should I do if she’s choking?”, “How can I help without harming the unborn baby or How to perform CPR on collapsed pregnant women?”

If someone without proper training tries to help, they may use the wrong technique, which can worsen the situation. However, if you are trained or even have the knowledge of basic life support techniques, you can save her life by staying calm and following these safe, step-by-step actions.

Here’s a safe and effective step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Check if She is Conscious

The first thing you should do is check responsiveness to see if the pregnant woman is conscious or unconscious. While treating a pregnant woman, gently speak to her in a calm and clear voice. Try asking, “Are you okay?” or “Can you talk?”

If she can’t talk, breathe, or even cough, it means her airway is fully blocked. This is a medical emergency, and she needs immediate help from medical professionals. By checking her condition, you will find out the solution.

Step 2: Call for Emergency Help

If the situation is serious, call 911 emergency services right away or take the pregnant woman to the hospital as quickly as possible. Choking can make it very hard to breathe during pregnancy. It can be even more dangerous for both the mother and the baby.

If help is delayed and she does not get proper CPR or rescue breaths in time, it can cause serious harm. That’s why it’s crucial to act fast and get professional medical help. If you know how to handle a choking victim, then you can follow the next procedure while waiting for the EMT.

Step 3: Give a Back Blow

If a pregnant woman is choking and still conscious, you can try to clear the blockage by giving firm back blows. Stand behind her and slightly to the side for support. Make sure she is leaning forward so that the object can come out of her mouth.

Use the bottom part of your hand to give up to 5 firm hits between her shoulder blades. After each hit, check if the object has come out. If the blockage is not cleared after the back blows, move on to the next step, like chest thrusts. While doing these steps, be gentle and ask someone nearby to help you or call emergency services right away.

Step 4: Perform Chest Thrusts (Not Abdominal Thrusts)

If a woman is in late pregnancy or obese, then a responder should perform chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts. Are you untrained and unsure about how to help her? Then, immediately call an emergency medical technician and stay with the victim until they arrive. Chest thrusts are safer because they avoid putting pressure on the baby.

Note: Abdominal thrusts are also known as the Heimlich maneuver. During pregnancy, the Heimlich maneuver is not recommended to be performed.

If back blows fail and she’s in late-stage pregnancy, follow the steps to perform the chest thrust :

1. Stand behind the pregnant woman.
2. Place your arms under her armpits and wrap them around her chest.
3. Make a fist and place it on the center of her chest, just above the baby bump.
4. Grab your fist with your other hand.
5. Push inward and upward quickly and firmly, just like a hug with force.
6. Repeat until the object is expelled

Step 5: If She Becomes Unconscious

If a pregnant woman suddenly becomes unconscious or unresponsive during a choking incident, this is a critical medical emergency. It is very crucial to perform high-quality CPR by giving effective chest compression and rescue breathing to save both her life and her baby.

When a victim becomes unconscious while choking, early CPR and defibrillation play a big role in saving a victim from death. Hand placement and early CPR help to restore the flow of oxygenated blood to vital organs and also restart the heart.

Also read: What Should You Do Before Giving Breaths to an Unresponsive Choking Person?

Step 6: Post-Incident Medical Care and Monitoring

After a choking incident, medical evaluation is essential, even if the obstruction has been cleared. For a pregnant woman, recovery must address both maternal health and fetal well-being.

Key post-incident actions:

1. Full clinical assessment to check for internal injuries, hypoxia, or trauma caused by chest thrusts or the choking episode.
2. Oxygen saturation monitoring to detect any lingering respiratory impairment.
3. Fetal monitoring through prenatal ultrasound or fetal heart rate tracking to assess the baby’s condition.
4. Follow-up care coordinated with an OB-GYN and possibly a respiratory specialist to ensure comprehensive maternal-fetal health.
5. Encourage rest, hydration, and stress reduction to support full physiological recovery.

Also read: Can You Use an AED on Pregnant Women?

Why the Heimlich Maneuver is Unsafe for Pregnant Women During Choking?

The standard Heimlich maneuver involves delivering forceful abdominal thrusts to dislodge an object from the airway. However, this technique is unsafe for pregnant women, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, because the pressure applied to the abdomen can compress the uterus and pose serious risks to both lives; the mother and her baby. For this reason, organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC) recommend using back blows and chest thrusts instead, as these methods avoid putting harmful pressure on the belly while still effectively helping the choking victim.

Conclusion

Choking can occur suddenly, even while eating or drinking water, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. If you’re a husband, friend, or family member, it’s important to know the right steps to take in an emergency. You must know how to perform chest thrust and CPR techniques to save a mother until emergency service arrives.

If you’re ready to learn life-saving skills, trust Heart Start CPR, an AHA-authorized training center located in the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer expert-led courses including ACLS, BLS, PALS, CPR, and First Aid. Our experienced instructors provide hands-on training using professional tools such as AEDs, bag-valve masks, and CPR manikins. Whether you’re caring for a pregnant woman, an infant, or an adult, we’ll equip you with the confidence and knowledge to respond effectively in any emergency.

Enroll now in our courses, or you can visit us at your nearest training center.