The mother of a 'miracle' baby boy who was born nine weeks early with a rare condition has thanked the medical team at Mater who worked "around-the-clock" to feed him using a new breastfeeding technique.
First-time Toowoomba mum Kharissa Ticiver's son Oscar was born with oesophageal atresia (OA), a condition where the oesophagus – food pipe – doesn't connect to the stomach.
The rare condition affects one in around 4500 babies.
Oscar, who weighed just 1kg when he was born at Mater Mothers' Hospital on 25 May, has now become the first baby at the hospital to benefit from 'sham' breastfeeding.
The technique allows Oscar to breastfeed like any other baby, but the milk that gathers in his blocked oesophagus is removed by a suction tube through his nose.
Part of the removed milk is then fed back to Oscar via a gastrostomy tube inserted into his stomach.
The procedure is complex and time-consuming, but it allows Oscar to develop breast-feeding skills and to associate oral feeding with filling his tiny stomach.
Oscar's story is being shared to mark World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August) and shows that breastfeeding can sometimes be possible for even the sickest babies.
Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said his team's goal was to develop oral feeding skills before Oscar has surgery to connect his stomach to his oesophagus.
Sham feeding gives the experience and taste of milk to a baby from a bottle or breast, according to Dr Birch.
"Babies can practice latching as well as the sucking and swallowing movement patterns that are needed to feed safely," Dr Birch said.
"For all babies, developing those suck and swallow reflexes are important during early neonatal life.
"The technique gives the baby the enjoyment of breastfeeding while also adding salivary enzymes to the breastmilk that is fed into the baby's stomach."
Because the two segments of Oscar's oesophagus are far apart (also referred to as long-gap oesophageal atresia), complex surgery is required to repair his condition when he is older.
Mrs Ticiver said Oscar's sham breastfeeds were overseen by a large multidisciplinary team, including a lactation consultation, clinical nurse consultant, speech pathologist and a bedside nurse.
"Oscar has a food pouch that is supposed to be his food pipe," she said.
"He has a suction tube from his pouch around-the-clock, and every 10 minutes that is flushed with saline by a nurse to make sure there are no blockages with saliva because this can lead to choking.
"Nothing about the process is simple, but the dedication of everyone involved is amazing."
Mrs Ticiver said she was worried she may never be able to breastfeed after finding out at her 22-week pregnancy scan Oscar had AO.
"I knew about the benefits of breastfeeding, and I really wanted that for Oscar," she said.
"He's really smashing his developmental goals and we are having the best time bonding.
"Oscar is doing so well now, I do think my breastmilk has benefitted him as he's 3.4kg and he's got two chins," she laughed.
"I know he will get through all of this – Oscar is a fighter.
"He is so chilled. He puts up with so much and gets on with things."
Mrs Ticiver says she is looking forward to the day her son can "go home and drink like normal kid".
