Your child may need to have his/her mouth and nose suctioned with a bulb syringe or with a suction catheter. Parents and all hospital caregivers can use a bulb syringe. We will teach you to use a bulb syringe before you go home. A nurse, doctor or respiratory therapist will suction the back of the nose and throat to reach mucus that is too far back in the throat to be removed with the bulb syringe or a plastic tipped suction catheter. Show
Why does my child need to be suctioned?A stuffy nose can make it difficult for your child to breathe. This can make your child fussy, especially when he/she tries to eat or sleep. Suctioning is necessary when an illness causes the body to make too much mucus. Some examples of illnesses that cause the body to make excess mucus are:
Suctioning is also necessary when cough reflexes are not strong enough to get rid of mucus, saliva or vomit.
How to make salt water solution for bulb suctioning:Mucus can be thick. A salt water solution can be used to help thin the mucus and make it easier to remove. A salt water solution (saline) can be bought in the drug store or you can make your own at home using the steps below. Use salt water solution up to 4 times a day for suctioning.
Suctioning with a bulb syringeYour baby cannot blow his/her nose, so you need to use a bulb syringe to remove excess mucus. A bulb syringe (or suction bulb) is a small rubber object with a long tip at the end of a bulb. Have a bowl of tap water ready to clean the bulb between suctioning attempts. There are several ways to position your child so he/she does not push you away or wiggle out of your arms. Your child’s nurse will help you find the best position for your child. If both the mouth and nose need to be suctioned, suction the mouth first. When suctioning the mouth, place the tip of the bulb syringe towards the inside of your child’s cheek. Wash your hands before and after suctioning.
When should I suction my child’s nose or mouth?
Try to limit suctioning to two to three times a day. Suctioning more often may cause the inside of the nose to dry out, get sore and bleed. Nasopharyngeal (NP) suctioningA nurse, doctor or respiratory therapist may decide to use NP suctioning if:
A small suction tube is connected to a suction device. Salt water solution may be used to thin and loosen the mucus and to moisten the inside of the nose. The tube will be gently placed in your child’s nose until it touches the back of his/her throat. This makes most children cough. The coughing will help bring up the mucus to the back of throat where it can be removed. The tube will be gently and slowly pulled out of your child’s nose while suction is applied to get rid of the mucus. This may need to be done several times in each side of the nose. After your child’s nose is clear, another suction tube may be used to suction his/her mouth. Are there any problems with NP suctioning?The inside of your child’s nose may become swollen if he/she needs frequent NP suctioning. Also, your child may have a mild nosebleed. If this happens a smaller suction tube or a different tool called a “neosucker” can be used until the bleeding or swelling is gone. If your child has to be suctioned within 30 minutes after eating, he/she may vomit. NP suctioning is only done when it is necessary. Although suctioning may upset your child for a few minutes, he/she will feel better and breathe easier once the excess mucus is cleared. If you have questions or concerns, please speak with the nurse, doctor or respiratory therapist. Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided on this page is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition. Reviewed: 09/2018 When giving birth do you suction nose or mouth first?Clear secretions from the mouth and nose with a clean, dry cloth. Figure 7.9 Suctioning the newborn with a bulb syringe to clear mucus from its upper airway: (top) suction the mouth first; (bottom) then suction the baby's nose ('m' before 'n').
When should a newborn first be suctioned during delivery?The World Health Organization (WHO) now advises against routine bulb suctioning of neonates in the minutes following birth. If the baby is born through clear amniotic fluid and begins breathing on their own shortly after birth, do not suction.
What is the effect of routine oral and nasal suctioning in normal healthy neonates immediately after birth?In conclusion, routine oral and nasal suctioning in normal healthy neonates immediately after birth is associated with lower oxygen saturation levels (high quality evidence) and lower Apgar scores (low quality evidence).
What is done immediately after birth?At one and five minutes after birth, an Apgar assessment is done to evaluate your newborn's heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex response, and color. Your doctor should be able to do these simple assessments while your baby is resting on your belly, so you can stay together.
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