A baby with a blocked oesophagus had been able to be breastfed thanks to a new technique being used at a Brisbane hospital.
Oscar was nine weeks’ premature when born at Mater Mothers Hospital, in South Brisbane, with the oesophageal atresia (OA), a rare condition where the food pipe doesn’t connect to the stomach.
Through a process called “sham” breastfeeding the infant was able to be breastfed and develop suck and swallow reflexes.
Mater Director of Neonatology Dr Pita Birch said Oscar, who weighed just 1kg when he was born on May 25, was the first baby at the hospital to benefit from sham breastfeeding.
Dr Birch said the technique allowed Oscar to breastfeed like any other baby, but the milk that gathered in his blocked oesophagus was removed by a suction tube through his nose.
She said part of the removed milk was 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 breastfeeding skills and to associate oral feeding with filling his tiny stomach,” Dr Birch said.
He said the goal was to develop oral feeding skills before Oscar had surgery to connect his stomach to his oesophagus.
Dr Birch said sham feeding gave the experience and taste of milk to a baby from a bottle or breast.
“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.”
