Postural drainage

Coughing up mucus can help to clear your child's lungs. Here are three ways to help.

• Postural drainage uses certain body positions to help clear different parts of the lungs.
• Chest and back percussion uses clapping (percussing) with a cupped hand, deep breathing, and then vibration to loosen and move mucus.
• Huffing and coughing. Huffing helps move mucus up in the lungs. Coughing moves it out.

Doing these things may help keep your child's lungs working well. It can help your child avoid problems from mucus buildup.

Draining mucus from the lungs every day can help keep the lungs clear. Keep doing the treatment even if you don't notice your child's lungs working better right away. Postural drainage, chest percussion and vibration, and huffing and coughing can work well when used regularly.

Postural drainage means lying down in different positions to help drain mucus from your lungs.

Hold each position for at least 3 minutes. Your doctor or therapist will tell you how long. Do it about 30 minutes after you use your inhaler. Make sure you have an empty stomach. If you need to cough, sit up and do controlled coughing.

1. To drain the front of your lungs: Make sure your chest is lower than your hips. Put two pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head if it helps you feel more comfortable. Keep your arms at your sides. Then follow these instructions for breathing:
   • Breathe in: With one hand on your belly and the other on your chest, breathe in through your nose. Push your belly out as far as possible. You should be able to feel the hand on your belly move out, while the hand on your chest should not move.
   • Breathe out: When you breathe out through your mouth, you should be able to feel the hand on your belly move in. This is called belly breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing. You will use it in the other drainage positions too.
2. To drain the sides of your lungs: Place two or three pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head. Make sure your chest is lower than your hips. Do belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing). After you drain one side, turn over and drain the other side.
3. To drain the back of your lungs: Place two or three pillows under your hips. Use a small pillow under your head if it helps you feel more comfortable. Kneel over the pillows. Place your arms by your head. Do belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing).