Discussion Post
You are one of two crews called to the home of a 29 year old female who is 38 weeks pregnant, in active labor. Her boyfriend meets you at the door and informs you that she has had little to no prenatal care and to hurry, "the baby is coming quick". He also tells you that she was hospitalized once during her pregnancy for an opiate overdose and is currently on methadone. When you arrive at the patient's side, it appears she just delivered, as the umbilical cord is still pulsating. Her boyfriend admits that he helped shoot her up with heroin to dull the pain of delivery. The newborn has an APGAR of 6 and is lethargic.
For the sake of this discussion, consider that both units are on scene together and both have a paramedic/ EMT configuration. Assume you are assigned to care for the newborn.
Task
A. Would you consider administering naloxone to this infant as part of your resuscitation? Why or why not?
B. What are your primary concerns regarding oxygenation of the newborn? How will you address each of them?
C. When both crews decide to transport, do you transport the two patients together or separately? Why?