Purpose of suctioning
When to suction
Equipment for suctioning
How to suction
Cleaning equipment
Supplies
Suctioning is used to remove mucus or saliva from your baby’s nose, mouth and throat.
1. Congestion heard in nose or throat.
2. Visible mucus or saliva in nose and mouth.
3. Gurgling heard in throat.
4. Restlessness, increased breathing rate, blue color, increased heart rate.
5. Suction only as needed.
6. Use the suction catheter when the bulb syringe cannot remove mucus.
Supplies:
Suction machine and tubing (portable or stationary)
Suction catheter with sleeve
Cup of tap water.
1. Wash your hands before suctioning. You do not need to wear gloves to suction your baby.
2. Get all the equipment together and ready to use.
3. Open catheter with sleeve. Connect the catheter to suction tubing. Place catheter on a clean towel or area.
4. Measure the distance from the baby’s mouth to ear to determine the correct depth to insert the catheter.
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It may help to have a marked suction catheter taped to the bed as a guide |
5. Position baby with nose pointed up or your baby may lay quietly to the side.
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You may need to use one hand to hold your baby’s head still while you suction him. |
6. Insert the suction catheter into the back of your baby’s throat until baby coughs, but do not push it back further than the distance measured from his mouth to ear.
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Inserting the catheter farther may result in placing the suction catheter into your baby’s stomach. |
7. Suction by blocking the fingerhole on the catheter every second or two and withdrawing the catheter slowly. Rotate the suction catheter between your fingers to provide better suctioning. SUCTION ONLY ON THE WAY OUT OF YOUR BABY’S MOUTH AND THROAT OR NOSE.
8. Suctioning should last only 5 seconds during each entry.
9. Stop suctioning when mucus or saliva cannot be heard or seen.
10. Allow your baby to catch his breath and calm down, and let his color return (about 30 seconds) between each time you suction.
11. Rinse the suction catheter by suctioning tap water up into the catheter and tubing.
12. The suction catheter with sleeve should be thrown away every 8 hours.
13. Turn off the suction machine and make sure supplies are ready for use later.
14. The suction machine should be set at 10-15 inches Hg to suction the mouth. Check the machine daily to make sure the machine is adjusted and working properly.
1. The suction bottle and tubing should be changed daily.
2. Empty and wash the suction bottle and tubing in hot soapy water. Rinse in hot water.
3. Save all equipment that must be cleaned and disinfected and do this every other day. That way the end of each day will be less hectic. You have enough supplies to do this.
4. Use a new suction catheter with sleeve every 8 hours.
5. Clean the suction bottle and suction tubing using the solution recommended by your home supply company.
1. A supply company near where you live will provide all of the home supplies you will need. The hospital will make these arrangements for you.
2. The supply company will contact you at home or while you are visiting your baby.
3. Do not use the supplies for home use while you are in the hospital.
4. The supply company will tell you when to reorder supplies. Call them if your equipment breaks or to reorder supplies.
5. Families with insurance should call the insurance company or caseworker before reordering supplies. The company may not pay for the supplies otherwise. The insurance company will tell you how they want this done. They work with the supply company to make sure you have what your baby needs.
My Equipment Supply Company is:
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Reviewed/Revised:
5/98, 3/01, 2/03, 5/05
