Choking (TW)
Hi everyone, I really need some reassurance or advice because I feel awful.
Today my 7-month-old was eating spaghetti bolognese. It was blended, but not completely smooth because he’s been doing so well with different textures recently. His dad was feeding him while I was nearby.
I turned around because I heard his dad call my name, and all I saw was my little boy with his face bright red, eyes wide open, and sick coming out of his mouth. I couldn’t hear him crying or coughing, I could just see him gagging, and I genuinely thought he was choking.
Without really thinking, I picked him up and gave him back blows on his bare back because I thought he still had food stuck. He then started screaming and crying, and afterwards I noticed there was a red handprint on his back from where I’d hit him. He’s absolutely fine now and is back to his normal self.
I can’t stop replaying it in my head. I feel so guilty that I hit him so hard it left a mark, and now I’m worrying that I’ve scared him or that he’ll be frightened of me because of it.
Has anyone else ever been in a similar situation? Did I do the wrong thing? I feel like such a terrible mum, even though I was just trying to help him.
Please be kind—I’m already beating myself up over it.