Quick Answer
Yes. An AED can and should be used on a pregnant woman who is in cardiac arrest. If she is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call Triple Zero (000), start CPR, send for an AED and follow the AED prompts. Pregnancy does not make the AED unsafe to use in this situation.
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Why the Answer Is Yes
A cardiac arrest is immediately life-threatening. The person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. In that situation, early CPR and early defibrillation give the best chance of survival. That is true whether the person is pregnant or not.
ANZCOR Guideline 7 is direct on this point: AEDs are for people who are unresponsive and not breathing normally, and AEDs can be used on pregnant women in cardiac arrest. The AED checks the heart rhythm and only advises a shock if it detects a shockable rhythm.
A first aider does not need to make a medical judgement about the pregnancy, the baby, or the exact cause of collapse before using the AED. The decision point is the same: unresponsive, not breathing normally, emergency response now.
What To Do First
- Check for danger. Make sure the scene is safe enough to help.
- Check response. Talk loudly, tap the shoulders if appropriate, and look for a response.
- Check breathing. If she is not breathing normally, act immediately.
- Call Triple Zero (000). Say that the person is pregnant, unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- Start CPR. Begin chest compressions in the centre of the chest.
- Send for the AED. Turn it on, attach the pads and follow the prompts.
Do not wait because you are worried about doing it wrong
In cardiac arrest, doing nothing is the dangerous option. The AED gives clear prompts. CPR buys time. Triple Zero (000) keeps you connected to emergency guidance.
Where Do AED Pads Go on a Pregnant Woman?
Use the standard adult AED pad placement shown on the pad packet or AED. One pad usually goes high on the right side of the chest. The other goes on the lower left side of the chest. Keep pads on bare skin and make sure they stick firmly.
Pregnancy does not require a special pad location for a normal AED. The pads still need to deliver energy across the chest. If there is jewellery, wet skin, medication patches, heavy clothing or another barrier, deal with it quickly and keep following the AED prompts.
CPR Positioning in Later Pregnancy
For a noticeably pregnant woman, start standard CPR immediately. Once CPR is in progress, if you have enough helpers and can do it without delaying compressions, ANZCOR guidance supports placing padding under the right hip so the hips tilt slightly to the left while the shoulders stay flat. This helps reduce pressure from the uterus on major blood vessels while still allowing good compressions.
The key phrase is “once CPR is in progress”. Do not turn positioning into a project while nobody is pressing on the chest. Start CPR, send for help, get the AED on, then make small improvements if you have enough people.
What Workplaces Should Teach
AED pregnancy questions are common because people want to protect both mother and baby. That concern is human, but it can create dangerous hesitation. Training should make the decision simple: if she is unresponsive and not breathing normally, use the AED.
This is especially relevant for workplaces and community settings where pregnant staff, visitors, clients or parents may be present: schools, childcare services, healthcare and allied health clinics, gyms, shopping centres, offices, hospitality venues and events.
A practical HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation course lets people practise the actual sequence: check response, call Triple Zero (000), compressions, AED pads, prompts and handover. If your team needs broader response skills, HLTAID011 Provide First Aid builds around that base.
Make AED Use Feel Less Awkward
If your workplace has an AED, make sure the people around it are confident with CPR, pads, prompts and handover to paramedics.
FAQs
Can an AED shock the baby?
The AED is being used because the pregnant woman is in cardiac arrest. The immediate priority is to give her the best chance of survival. ANZCOR states that an AED can and should be used on pregnant women in cardiac arrest.
Should I remove the AED before paramedics arrive?
No. Leave the pads attached and keep following the AED prompts unless emergency services tell you otherwise. Paramedics can take over with the pads and information already in place.
Do I need different AED pads for pregnancy?
No. Use adult AED pads and follow the diagram on the pads or device. Pregnancy does not require paediatric pads or a different AED mode.
Should CPR be gentler because she is pregnant?
No. Effective compressions are still needed. Start CPR immediately if she is unresponsive and not breathing normally. If enough helpers are available, add a slight left hip tilt after CPR has begun.
Sources Checked
This draft was written against current Australian guidance and uses non-competing source links for factual claims. Always follow your workplace procedures and call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.
