If a pregnant adult is choking and acknowledges that she needs your help, what should you do?

In the case of a pregnant adult who is choking, the appropriate action is to perform chest thrusts. Performing chest thrusts is safer and more effective than abdominal thrusts in this situation because the enlarged abdomen of a pregnant woman can complicate the mechanics of abdominal thrusts and potentially harm both the mother and the fetus.

Chest thrusts should be administered by standing behind the individual, placing your arms around her, and using your fist to thrust inward and slightly upward below the breastbone. This technique can help dislodge the obstruction without putting excess pressure on the abdomen.

While back blows may be an option in certain choking scenarios, they are not as effective as chest thrusts for pregnant individuals. Calling for emergency medical services is always a good practice, but immediate action to relieve the choking should take precedence.