Call 9-1-1! A Mother Uses Infant CPR to Save Her Son

Copyright to the American Red Cross - Read the original story at
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012463

Three pounds, 11 ounces. That's all Nathan weighed when he came into this world. He was the first child of Niki and Gil Maroko. After more than five weeks in the hospital, he came home with his mother and father. But the scares were not over yet. Six days later, Nathan--who was born nine weeks and two days premature--stopped breathing. The Marokos were at Niki's parent's house, relaxing in front of the TV after a home-cooked meal, when it happened.

Niki wrote this story the following day. The former English major who often writes about things in her life--including her earlier miscarriage--says, "I do it for myself. It's my own personal therapy. I also think women need to communicate more with each other about personal matters--real life."

Last night, during nursing, my six-week-old son Nathan made a sputtering sound and let go of me. I figured he was done so I put myself back together and looked down at him. His lips were blue and he didn't look right. I picked him up and put him in an upright position. "He's not breathing! He's not breathing!" I called out to my husband and parents.

He had choked before while drinking a bottle at the hospital, prior to his discharge. The nurse who was there just touched his cheek and he was fine. I remember asking what to do if that didn't work and she had told me to stimulate his back. So I touched Nathan's face and rubbed his back, but he didn't respond. His whole face was turning blue so I called out to my husband and parents: "Call 9-1-1! Call 9-1-1!"

His eyes were glassy and unresponsive

My husband told me to do CPR. I placed Nathan on the couch next to me. He was limp and his whole head was blue. His eyes were slightly open, but they were glossy and unresponsive. All I could think of was, "My baby is dying right in front of me!"

I checked Nathan's breathing. I couldn't see any movement or feel any breath. I kneeled over him and gave him two breaths, placing my mouth over both his nose and mouth. My CPR training was echoing in my head. I couldn't see whether he was breathing, so I unsnapped his clothes to get a better view of his chest. I tilted his head back to open the airway. I tried two breaths again. I still couldn't see if he was getting any air. His whole head was blue and he was completely limp, like a rag doll.

I could hear my mom on the phone with 9-1-1. She told me to get him on the floor. I picked Nathan up, stumbled and fell to my knees before placing him on the carpet. I couldn't see.

My whole body was pumping with fear and adrenaline

I kept calling out for somebody to turn on the lights. The light came on. My mom was right there on the phone telling me to check for breathing again. And was husband was right there telling me, "Keep going! Keep going!" (I found out later than my step-dad had gone outside to meet the emergency crew.)

I could hear a siren in the distance and that eased my mind a bit. My whole body was pumping with fear and adrenaline. It was like a dream.

I flipped him over and gave him another set of back blows

I checked Nathan's breathing again. It sounded faint--like something was blocking it. I turned him over in my arms and gave him about five back blows. I checked his breathing again and it was still stuck. So I flipped him over again and gave him another set of back blows. I remember thinking, "How do I do chest compressions? He's so tiny!" He spit up and turned his head to the side. I checked his breathing again and it sounded clear. Color was returning to his face, but he still looked gray.

Help arrived in less than six minutes

I heard somebody open the front door. Nathan was breathing and moving around on the floor. Two large firemen came in with what looked like black first-aid kits. I later found out they arrived in less than six minutes, although it seemed like an eternity. They saw the baby lying on the floor and looked very serious and concerned. As soon as they saw that he was breathing, they relaxed and asked us what happened. They held an oxygen mask over Nathan's face not touching, but close so he wouldn't have to work so hard.

Then three paramedics arrived. After assessing the situation, they asked me to pick him up and carry him to the ambulance. They asked me where he was born and whether I wanted to return there. Nathan was crying and I just remember telling him to keep crying.

Nathan spent five days at the hospital before returning home again. He hasn't had any further difficulties with his breathing. At his five-month-old check-up, he weighed 12 pounds, 4 ounces. "He's doing great," says Niki.

"What happened to us was a parent's nightmare," she continues. "I'm glad I had taken infant CPR--actually several times, including once after Nathan was born. I still had moments of panic and there were still moments when I asked myself, 'What do I do now?' but my husband was there coaching me and so was my mom. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I urge everybody to sign up for CPR classes. I'm thinking I may have saved my baby's life."