There are things that happen to us in our lives that leave an imprint and remain with us forever. The first “proper” kiss you ever had, the first time you heard the words “I Love You” from someone other than your parents, the day you graduate from university, your wedding day, the birth of your children and,,,, the day that you nearly lost them. I have shared an awful lot about my life and journey with Alyssa but it has taken me until now, almost six months on for me to be able to share with you what happened and hopefully help raise awareness that may in fact save your child’s life in the future!
It was early December and a horrible cold and wet day. Despite this I had the Christmas bug and was so excited to get ready for Alyssa’s first Christmas. She was already four months old and the time was flying by so fast.
Despite the horrible cold and dreary weather, my mum and I decided to bundle up, jump in the car and head over to one of our local garden centres for a spot of lunch and to pick out a few new Christmas decorations for the house – we do the same each year!
When we got there, I swear the heavens opened up even more and we had to park quite far away, but I managed to get the pram set up, get Alyssa in and under a blanket bundled up and peg it to the entrance whilst managing to keep her, at least, dry.
We decided to go and have lunch first as it was time for Alyssa to eat too and we were quite peckish as well. I never knew at the time whether or not I would feel comfortable breastfeeding in public but I had some expressed milk in a bottle which I chose to give her as it was quite busy and I didn’t fancy putting on a show for everyone to see.
After lunch, which was completed by a giant burp from Alyssa that drew a few looks, we pootled around the shop, picked up some lovely decorations and Alyssa fell asleep in her pram all snuggled up.
Once we had everything we wanted we headed to the checkout. The till is right next to those one way automatic exit doors that only open via a sensor on one side but they were clear glass and through them we could see that somehow the rain had gotten even worse. I suggested to my mum that she stay with Alyssa and pay and I go and get the car and bring it to the entrance as we had parked so far away – I didn’t want Alyssa getting cold and wet. So off I went to get the car, absolutely soaked by the time I reached it and drove round to the exit and leaving the car running went to meet mum at the door, but what I was actually met with was something else…
What I actually came face to face with when I reached the door and looked in, was to see my mum looking frantic half-way through grabbing a beetroot coloured Alyssa out of her pram and flinging her upside down on her arm and banging her on her back over and over again. I didn’t initially understand what was happening and think I might even have smirked, until I saw the panic in my mum’s eyes and that of the eyes of the people around them! I started banging on the door because of course I couldn’t get in, it was one way and I was on the wrong side of the door – but no one was listening. They were all too busy
watching my mum, trying to stop my precious baby girl from choking and dying. To see my mum panicked let me know that what was happening was bad because she used to be a Night Sister and has always been quite calm and collected even when we had serious injuries and hurt ourselves as children – but here she was panicked and worried.
I stopped banging and just watched her smacking Alyssa, who suddenly after what seemed like an age, had some white vomit fall out of her mouth and went a slightly lighter shade of red. At this point someone noticed me and moved to the sensor to let me in the door. I ran over to Alyssa and took her off my mum and held her up on my shoulder, patting her back. She was now half screaming her head off and half gulping. She still couldn’t get her breath properly. My mum said she was concerned her breathing hadn’t returned to normal, she was blotchy all over her head which wasn’t going and she was worried that some of the vomit had perhaps gotten onto her lungs. That’s right, whilst sleeping in her pram, my little baby had vomited up her dinner and it had got caught in her throat and she had started to choke. My mum and noticed just in time to whip her out and try and save her.
After a few minutes, she still wasn’t breathing as she should so we had no choice but to call the ambulance.
No emotion had escaped me at this point, I was just hugging my baby and patting her on the back telling her between her gasps and cries that everything would be alright. I glanced at my mum on the phone to the ambulance and my eyes welled up and she said “Not now. Keep it together!” The lovely staff at the garden centre, cleared their office and took Alyssa and I in there. My mum joined us a minute or two later and
suddenly for the second time that day, a huge burp came out of my little girl and her colour and breathing started to slowly return to normal as the paramedic came through the door. He was absolutely lovely and checked her over thoroughly, reassuring me the entire time he was doing so. He listened to her chest and I held my breath, but he assured me he couldn’t hear anything. However, to be on the safe side he was going to send us to hospital so she could be monitored for an hour or two to make sure she really was okay.
I held my baby girl through the whole of the ambulance journey, talking to one of the paramedics as my mum followed behind in the car. Once we arrived at the hospital we were taken straight through and a couple of nurses arrived to check her in and check her over.
It was here that I knew she was really okay, because she instantly turned on her charm and was smiling and giggling and chattering away to everyone who stopped by to see her. We were there for just under three hours where she was checked several times. However, we were told she was okay and none the worse for her ordeal and so mum drove us home, with me holding Alyssa’s hand the entire way.
Once home, I got us both into pyjamas and climbed into my mums bed where I fed her and got her to sleep. But IÂ could feel something bubbling up inside me. I handed her to my mums partner and that’s when it hit me. Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe, my whole body began to shake and these great heaving sobs came wracking out of me. I thought I had lost her. The main thought that had crossed my mind several times throughout the ordeal had been “I knew she was too good to be true!” I had held it together all that time and now, cradled in my own mothers arms I let it all out and sat there sobbing for ten minutes. I didn’t sleep well that night or for a good few after as I would watch her to make sure she was okay, or I’d fall asleep and jump awake with an urgent need to check her and make sure she was okay. She was fine, but it took me a long time to realise that.
This all happened because Alyssa suffered from reflux and despite burping her after her lunch, I had not waited long enough before putting her down in the pram. If she had been with anyone else that day, I am almost certain this story would have had a very different ending. Children’s safety and first aid is important and that is why I am insisting her dad does a baby first-aid course before he is allowed to take her out on his own. I am not being horrible towards him, but he admits he is clueless about babies and I just think that if it happened again then at least he would know what to do. Alyssa is the most precious thing in the world to me and I can’t and wouldn’t want to imagine my life without
her.
To my own wonderful mother, I say thank you. Thank you over and over and over again. Those words are not enough, I am not sure anything ever will be enough to say thank you for saving her life.
To all you parents out there, new and old, please make sure that both you and anyone you trust to look after your child, know what to do in a choking situation like this. Just a tiny bit of knowledge can have such a huge affect on your child’s life and yours.
The Redcross do Baby First Aid courses in areas all over the UK so there is no excuse as there is bound to be one near you! You don’t want to go through what I did… it stays with you forever!
For more information on the courses available please click here.Â
 Thank you for reading and allowing me to share this experience with you. Would you know what to do?
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31 Comments
Oh wow, I cant even begin to imagine, and it makes me feel sick to think of such an ordeal and how I would have managed if it happened to me. Choking is something that really scares me, I have done a first aid course, it’s so good to be aware. Im so glad to know that the outcome was a good one. She is a beautiful little girl. xxx
Awww thank you for your kind words. All we can do is be prepared isn’t it? xx
Oh my goodness. How terrifying. Thank you for sharing. They really are so very fragile and precious. God bless your mum. #Ablogginggoodtime
I can totally relate to this, as my eldest choked part of a prune stone at about the same age. It was so scary, but I managed to dislodge it with back slaps. Then, when daughter 3 was 3 years old, she choked on a piece of mango and I had to hold her upside down. It’s so frightening and I am first aid trained. A good post to spread awareness. Choking petrifies me. Alison x #ablogginggoodtime
How absolutely terrifying. We had to slap our eldest on the back a few times when he was a baby and even that single moment was full of fear. I cannot imagine. Very important post, thank you for sharing. #ablogginggoodtime
I can’t imagine how awful it was for you and your mum. You’re right though, we should all undertake children’s first aid. It should be offered as standard like prenatal classes. I’m glad it all turned out OK #ablogginggoodtime
It’s a situation no parent ever wants to go trough. I can’t imagine how you felt, but your mom is a heroin for reacting like she did. Because in crisis like this, it really comes down to how you’re going to react, panic or rational, with or without knowledge. But I agree with you, parents should def take classes of first aid. Thank God everything turned out OK, but I beelieve that it’s left a scar on you and you know how scars fade away really slowly..#ablogginggoodtime
Man, that is so scary!! It’s so great that you had that training.
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#ablogginggoodtime
Sp scary- one of the twins choked on a chip at 18 months and turned fifty shades of blue- my husband works in medicine and he was freaked out- that is when my heart stopped. I just stood there completely helplessly as he saved our baby.
#ablogginggoodtime
You are right about first aid, I did a training course when pregnant and when my daughter fell in a pool I was able to quickly put her in the infant recovery position. She was fine but I was grateful I knew what to do!
What a horrendous experience, choking is such a real risk every single time they eat food. I am paranoid about it and won’t let my daughter eat in the car or any time she isn’t fully supervised! #ablogginggoodtime
Helen x
http://www.treasureeverymoment.co.uk/
That must be so terrifying, I can’t imagine how you felt looking through those doors x #ablogginggoodtime
I have no words. I wouldn’t have a clue what to do. So pleased everything turned out okay. How frightening. #ablogginggoodtime
Jeez… I’m not to proud to admit that I welled up reading this – I’m sure any parent can totally empathise with that feeling of holding it all in to be strong and then finally allowing yourself to let it all out. So glad she’s ok, and high five to you and your mum!! #ablogginggoodtime
Oh my gosh, thank god everything was ok in the end. #ablogginggoodtime
Terrifying, simply terrifying – so glad Alyssa was ok in the end. xx
#ablogginggoodtime
scary stuff. Even knowing that everything would be OK at the end, I found myself getting anxious reading this #blogginggoodtime
Oh My God Katie – I have tears at my eyes reading this – how absolutely horrendous and somethings Ineiuld never have thought of. I’m so pleased all was ok in the end but my goodness you must have found it hard to recover from. You right with just the right balance of emotion and ‘matter of factedness’ – if you get what I mean xx #ablogginggoodtime
Ever since Peachy has begun eating solid foods I have been so worried about her choking. I know what to do in theory but I don’t know if any of that would do any good in a panic situation. I cut up all her food into little pieces and make sure she is supervised at all times when eating but I still worry sometimes. #ablogginggoodtime
It is scary when something is wrong and the medics have to be called. I personally think that everyone should do a first aid course. #ablogginggoodtime
You must have been so scared. Thank god your mum was there and knew what to do. I really think baby first aid courses should be given alongside antenatal classes. I’m off to give my two a hug now as this has made me quite emotional x
#Ablogginggoodtime
Oh my goodness! I’m so happy and glad your mother was there. My mom has been there for me during some trying times and thank GOD for her. I’ll be sure to share this with my sister who has a new little one. xo #ablogginggoodtime.
How terrifying for you. I can totally understand why it has taken you so long to write about the ordeal! That would stay with you alright. Glad you had your mum with you at the time for support. #ablogginggoodtime
oh i so welled up reading this!! even though I know she is absolutely fine now, i was so desperate to read the happy ending! thank god for you and your mums quick thinking! #ablogginggoodtime
Goodness what an ordeal – I had no idea this could happen…thanks so much for sharing x #ablogginggoodtime
Oh Katie, that must have been an awful experience for you all. Choking on something she accidentally put in her mouth would be one thing, but choking on her own vomit when vomiting is something babies do is a different kind of scary. I am so glad that there was no lasting damage caused and I hope it never happens again.
#ablogginggoodtime
Thank you lovely xx
I’m finding it hard to type a comment through wet eyes, sending huge hugs to you, your little one and especially your mum, what amazing ladies you all are! I’ve been trying to tell everyone here in Thailand the importance of knowing First Aid, especially as we just been voted the worst place in Asia for traffic jams (which don’t move for ambulances!), and I recently attended the worst first aid course conducted by one of the hospitals here. I used to be a first aid trainer myself….maybe I’ve found a new calling???!!! Hugs, hugs and more hugs!
Oh how awful for you. Thank goodness your mum acted quickly. I had a very similar experience when my daughter was about 6 weeks old and she was sick and choked on her sick. I panicked and didn’t know what to do but my husband was there and somehow we managed to whack her enough to unblock her airwaves.. Then once she was weaning, I can’t remember the age, she choked on sick and a bit of tangerine was stuck. I’d done a first aid course by then and could react much more quickly and in the right position. Still terrifying though. Glad all was ok. xx #ablogginggoodtime
How terrifying. So glad she was okay. I took a baby and child first aid course when my eldest was a few months old, because I realised that I had never learnt any first aid. You still worry about whether you would be able to remember it under pressure though don’t you? #ablogginggoodtime
Yeah you really do x