CPR and Choking While Pregnant: What’s Different and How to Prepare
Pregnancy changes how first aid is given to an expecting mother — and the third trimester is the perfect time for partners to learn the skills they’ll need when baby arrives.
Most first aid is the same in pregnancy — two emergencies change. Choking: you can’t do abdominal thrusts, so give 5 back blows first, then 5 chest thrusts (hands on the centre of the breastbone), alternating until the object clears or she collapses. Cardiac arrest: do standard CPR — push hard and fast at 100–120/min in the centre of the chest and use an AED (safe in pregnancy) — but a second helper should gently displace the belly to her left so the uterus doesn’t block a major vein. Always call 911 and say she is pregnant.
Most first aid for an expecting mother is exactly the same as for anyone else. But two emergencies — choking and cardiac arrest — require important adjustments when someone is pregnant, because there are now two lives to protect and the growing uterus changes how the body responds. Partners, family members, and the expecting mother herself should know these differences before they are ever needed.
This guide explains what changes, what stays the same, and why the third trimester is an ideal window for couples to take an infant first aid and CPR course together.
Helping a Choking Pregnant Woman
If a pregnant woman is choking and can still cough, speak, or breathe, encourage her to keep coughing — do not intervene. A forceful cough is the most effective way to clear a partial blockage on its own (Canadian Red Cross). The danger is when the airway is fully blocked: she cannot breathe, cough, or make sound, and may clutch her throat.
Here is the key difference: you cannot perform standard abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich) on a pregnant woman, especially in later pregnancy, because of the baby. Instead, you use back blows first, then chest thrusts — the same order the Canadian Red Cross and AHA 2025 teach for choking, with chest thrusts substituted for abdominal thrusts.
1Confirm the airway is blocked and call for help
If she cannot breathe, cough, or speak, act immediately. Have someone call 911 while you begin.
2Give 5 back blows first
Support her chest with one hand and lean her well forward. With the heel of your other hand, deliver up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades. Back blows come first because current evidence shows they clear more obstructions than thrusts, and leaning her forward lets a dislodged object fall out of the mouth (Canadian Red Cross / AHA 2025).
3Give 5 chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts
Stand behind her and wrap your arms around her chest, under the armpits. Place the thumb side of your fist on the centre of the breastbone (the same spot used for chest compressions, not the abdomen). Grasp it with your other hand and give up to 5 firm, distinct inward thrusts. Alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is expelled or she becomes unresponsive.
4If she becomes unresponsive, lower her safely and begin CPR
Ease her to the floor, call 911 if not already done, and start CPR (see below). Check the mouth for any visible object before giving breaths, but never do a blind finger sweep.
Source: Canadian Red Cross 2025; AHA 2025 BLS (foreign-body airway obstruction — back blows first, then chest thrusts in an infant or pregnant person; abdominal thrusts avoided). Anyone who receives thrusts should be assessed by a clinician afterward.
CPR on a Pregnant Woman
The fundamentals of CPR do not change: it is still about high-quality chest compressions and early defibrillation (Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke Foundation). But the late-pregnancy uterus can compress a major vein (the inferior vena cava) when the woman lies flat on her back, reducing the blood your compressions can circulate. The fix is simple and important.
1Call 911 and get an AED
Confirm she is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Call 911 (say she is pregnant and how far along) and send someone for the nearest AED immediately.
2Start chest compressions in the same place
Place the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest, the other hand on top, and push hard and fast — about 5 cm deep, 100 to 120 compressions per minute, allowing full recoil between each. The hand position, depth, and rate are the same as for any adult (Heart & Stroke Foundation / ILCOR 2025).
3Relieve pressure from the major vein
If a second helper is available, have them kneel at her left side and gently displace the belly up and toward her left using both hands, holding it there throughout compressions. This is manual left uterine displacement, the preferred method in AHA / Heart & Stroke maternal-resuscitation guidance because it keeps her back flat for effective compressions. If a second helper is not available, a firm wedge or rolled towel under her right hip and lower back can tilt her slightly to the left instead. Either way, this restores blood flow back to the heart so compressions work better.
4Use the AED as soon as it arrives
AEDs are safe in pregnancy (Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke Foundation). Apply the pads as normal, follow the voice prompts, and deliver a shock if advised. Do not hesitate — the best thing for the baby is to restart the mother’s heart.
5Keep going until help arrives
Continue cycles of compressions (and rescue breaths if trained) without long interruptions until paramedics take over or she shows signs of life.
Source: Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada / ILCOR 2025 BLS (compression depth, rate, hand placement, AED use in pregnancy). Maternal positioning — manual left uterine displacement and left-lateral tilt — per AHA / Heart & Stroke maternal-resuscitation guidance.
Preparing in the Third Trimester
The weeks before your due date are the ideal time to get ready — you have the motivation, and the skills will be fresh when your newborn arrives. Here is a simple preparation checklist for the third trimester:
- Take an infant CPR and first aid course together. Many couples book one around weeks 28 to 36. Learning side by side means two prepared adults in the household.
- Learn infant CPR and choking response specifically — newborn technique differs from adult and child. See our Baby CPR guide and infant choking guide.
- Know your local emergency numbers and nearest hospital with an obstetric and neonatal unit.
- Locate AEDs in the places you spend time — many public buildings, gyms, and offices have them.
- Build or refresh a first aid kit for home and the car (see our new parent checklist).
- Brief other caregivers — grandparents and anyone who’ll help with the baby should ideally be trained too.
For Partners and Support People
If you are the partner of someone who is pregnant, you are the most likely first responder if something happens at home. Knowing chest thrusts, CPR with left uterine displacement, and the warning signs of postpartum complications means you can act in the critical first minutes. A hands-on course turns that knowledge into confidence.
Learn Together Before Baby Arrives
A Life Safe first aid course lets expecting parents practise infant CPR, choking response, and the pregnancy-specific adjustments on manikins, with a certified instructor. It is one of the most practical ways to spend an afternoon before your due date — and one of the best gifts you can give your growing family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is CPR different on a pregnant woman?
The core technique is the same — call 911, push hard and fast in the centre of the chest at 100 to 120 a minute, and use an AED (Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke Foundation). The key difference is that in later pregnancy the uterus can reduce blood flow when she lies flat, so a helper should gently displace the belly to her left (manual left uterine displacement) during compressions, per AHA / Heart & Stroke maternal-resuscitation guidance. AED use is safe.
How do you help a choking pregnant woman?
You cannot do standard abdominal thrusts because of the baby. Per the Canadian Red Cross and AHA, give up to 5 back blows first, then up to 5 chest thrusts: stand behind her, place the thumb side of your fist on the centre of the breastbone, and give firm inward thrusts. Alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object clears or she becomes unresponsive. Call 911 right away, and begin CPR if she collapses.
Can you use an AED on a pregnant woman?
Yes. Using an AED on a pregnant woman in cardiac arrest is safe and recommended (Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke Foundation). The shock is delivered to the heart and does not harm the baby. Place the pads as normal, follow the prompts, and do not delay — restoring the mother’s heartbeat is best for both.
When in pregnancy should we take a first aid course?
Many expecting parents take an infant CPR and first aid course in the third trimester, often around weeks 28 to 36, so the skills are fresh for baby’s arrival while there’s still time and energy. Taking it together means two prepared people in the household. Life Safe offers infant-focused courses ideal for soon-to-be parents.
Sources & medical review
Written and reviewed by Milos Radojcic (Canadian Red Cross / Heart & Stroke / Lifesaving Society First Aid & CPR Instructor, 10+ yrs; First Aid Instructor Trainer). Clinical content aligned with the Canadian Red Cross (2025), the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, the American Heart Association (AHA) 2025 BLS, and the 2025 ILCOR Basic Life Support consensus; maternal positioning follows AHA / Heart & Stroke maternal-resuscitation guidance. Last reviewed July 2026.
Get Ready Before the Due Date
The third trimester is the perfect time to learn infant CPR, choking response, and the pregnancy-specific first aid that protects you and your baby. Book a hands-on Life Safe course with your partner and walk in prepared.
Find a class near you: Toronto • Downtown Toronto • East York • Hamilton • Welland • Guelph