Update & ***CPR*** (please read)

Just a little update::

Yesterday, I had another two week check-up. According to the doctor everything is progressing as it should, but I am a little confused about something he said. Two weeks ago, he told me that the measurement from my pelvic bone to the top of my uterus was slightly behind what it should be. He said there was still growth, so there was nothing to worry about. But, yesterday he said my measurements were ahead of what they should be, and that they have always been ahead. So either she had a HUGE growth spurt, or I am misunderstanding something. Oh well! As long as she is healthy I am not going to worry. (Although, it did take him a while to find her heart beat. That had me nervous. BUT when he finally found it, it was nice and strong!!!)

Then, today I had the second half of my birth class. Last week was the birth coaching portion, so I did not feel the need to share. However, this week we learned CPR and what to do if someone is choking! Personally, I think this is something we all need to know (especially those who may watch Cote), so I have decided to share.

**The following is from my handbook from the American Heart Association.**

CPR FOR INFANTS::

Push Hard and Push Fast::

This is the most important part of CPR. When you push on the chest, you pump blood to the brain and heart.

People often don't push hard enough because they're afraid of hurting the infant. An injury is unlikely, but it is better than death. It's better to push too hard than not hard enough. Occasionally, students worry that they'll make an injury worse if they give an injured infant CPR. They won't. In an infant's heart has stopped, she won't survive. Your actions can only help.

If possible, place the infant on a firm, flat surface above the ground, such as a table. This makes it easier to give CPR.

Follow these steps to push hard and fast::
1. Make sure the infant is lying on her back on a firm, flat surface above the ground.
2. Move clothes out of the way.
3. Put 2 fingers of one hand on the breastbone just below the nipple line.
4. Press the infant's chest straight down about 1.5 inches at a rate of at least 100 pushes a minute.
5. After each push, let the chest come back up to its normal positon.

Give Breaths::

Infants often have healthy hearts. Usually an infant's heart stops because she can't breathe or is having trouble breathing. As a result, it's very important to give breaths as well as chest pushes to an infant.

Your breaths need to make the infant's chest rise. When the chest rises, you know the infant has gotten enough air. Pushing on the chest is the most important part of CPR. If you are also able to give breaths, you will help the infant even more.

Before giving breaths, open the airway. Follow these steps to open the airway::
1. Put one hand on the forehead and the fingers of your other hand on the bony part of the infant's chin.
2. Tilt the head back and lift the chin.

When tilting an infant's head, do not push it back too far because this may block the infant's airway. Avoid pressing the soft part of the neck or under the chin.

Follow these steps to give breaths to an infant::
1. While holding the infant's airway open, take a normal breath.
2. Cover the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth.
3. Give 2 breaths (blow for 1 second each). Watch for the chest to rise as you give each breath.

If your mouth is too small to cover the infant's mouth and nose, put your mouth over the infant's nose and give breaths through the infant's nose. (You may need to hold the infant's mouth closed to stop air from coming out through the mouth.

If you give an infant a breath and the chest doesn't rise, reopen the airway by allowing the head to go beck to the normal position. Then open then airway again by tilting the head and lifting the chin. Then give another breath. Make sure the chest rises.

Don't interrupt pushes for more than 10 seconds to give breaths. If the chest doesn't rise within 10 seconds, begin pushing hard and pushing fast on the chest again.

Assess and Phone 911::

Now that you've learned how to give CPR, it's time to learn when to give CPR. If an infant doesn't respond and if that infant isn't breathing or is only gasping, then you need to give CPR.

If you are not sure whether or not to give CPR, go ahead and give it. It's better to give CPR to someone who doesn't need it than to do nothing when someone does need CPR.

Before you give CPR, make sure the scene is safe. Look for anything nearby that might hurt you. You don't want to hurt yourself.

Check if the infant responds. Tap her foot and shout her name. If she doesn't move, make sounds, blink, or otherwise react, then she is not responding.

Yell for help. If someone comes, have that person phone 911. Whether or not someone comes, check the child's breathing next.

If the infant doesn't respond, check his breathing. Look from head to belly to see if the infant is breathing. Do this for at least 5 seconds but no more than 10. If the infant isn't breathing at all or if she is only "gasping," then she needs CPR.

A person who gasps usually looks like she is drawing air in very quickly. She may open her mouth and move the jaw, head, or neck. Gasps may appear forceful or weak, and some time may pass between gasps because they usually happen at a slow rate. The gasp may sound like a snort, snore, or groan. Gasping is not regular or normal breathing. It is a sign of cardiac arrest in someone who doesn't respond.

Put It All Together::

Because infant's hearts are often healthy and because breathing trouble is often the cause of the infant's heart problem, it's important to get air to the infant as fast as possible. For this reason, you should give 5 sets of CPR before phoning for help.

Pushing is very important and is the core of CPR. Try not to interrupt pushing on the chest for more than a few seconds, even when you give breaths.

When doing CPR, you give sets of 30 pushes and 2 breaths. If the infant is not injured and you are alone, after 5 sets of 30 pushes and 2 breaths, you may carry the infant with you to phone 911.

[You need to stay on the phone until 911 dispatcher (operator) tells you to hang up.

The dispatcher will ask you about the emergency. She may also tell you how to help the infant until someone with more advanced training takes over.

Answering the dispatcher's questions will not delay the arrival of help. If you can, take the infant with you to the phone wile you talk to the dispatcher.]

After phoning, keep giving sets of 30 pushes and 2 breaths until the infant begins to respond or someone with more advanced training arrives and takes over.

If another person is with you when you give CPR- or if you can yell for help and get someone to come help you- then send the other person or people to phone 911 while you start pushing hard and fast and giving breaths. You push and give breaths; they phone.

REVIEW::

1. Make Sure the Scene Is Safe
2. Tap and Shout
3. Yell for Help
4. Check Breathing
[no response + no breathing or only gasping = give CPR]
5. Give CPR
6. Keep Going

CHOKING IN INFANTS::

Choking is when food or another object gets stuck in the airway or throat. The object stops air from getting to the lungs.

Some choking is mild and some is severe. If it's severe, act fast. Get the object out so the infant can breath.

Use the following to figure out if an infant has mild or severe choking and what you should do:

If the infant can make sounds or can cough loudly, the block in the airway is mild. You should stand by and let her cough. If you are worried about the infant's breathing, phone 911.

If the infant cannot breathe or has a cough that has no sound or cannot make a sound, the block in the airway is severe. You should act quickly and follow the steps to help a choking infant.

When an infant has severe choking, use back slaps and chest thrusts to help remove the object blocking the airway.

Follow there steps to help a choking infant::
1. Hold the infant facedown on your forearm. Support the infant's head and jaw with your hand.
2. Give up to 5 back slaps with the heel of your hand between the infant's shoulder blades.
3. If the object does not come out after 5 back slaps, turn the infant onto his back, supporting the head.
4. Give up to 5 chest thrusts using 2 fingers of your other hand to push on the chest in the same place you push during CPR.
5. Repeat giving 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts until the infant can breathe, cough, or cry, or until he stops responding.

An infant who has been given back slaps and chest thrusts should be seen by a healthcare provider.

If you give an infant back slaps and chest thrusts and can't remove the object blocking the airway, the infant will stop responding. Pushing on her chest may force the object out.

If the infant stops responding, follow the above steps for CPR.

If you have any questions or want to review, click here for more information. On the website, you will also be able to find CPR and such for children and adults. In December the procedure for adult CPR was officially altered, so I strongly recommend checking out the site.

Thank you so much to those of you who read all of this!! Cote and I thank you!!

Just Stay Connected :)

Scooby Doo

This morning, I had a vey exciting moment watching Whats New Scooby Doo? The crew was being guided by a Native American woman, and her name was Cote!! I was so excited! Its not much, but I had to share it!

Just Stay Connected :)