Mum warns parents of condition that almost took her baby’s life in the middle of breastfeeding
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Mum-of-three Olivia Jenkins has recalled her horrifying experience when her newborn daughter, Charlotte, lost consciousness in the middle of breastfeeding, warning other mums to always have their babies' health checked.
The mum from South Australia said that she was breastfeeding her baby when all of a sudden she started choking and turning blue.
Speaking to 7Life, the mum said: “It all unfolded quite quickly and I remember thinking that this was the moment I was going to watch my newborn daughter die."
The 29-year-old mum said that she first suspected that something was wrong with Charlotte when she noticed that the baby wheezed when she slept.
“I had an unsettling feeling. I was super worried about her sleeping and she seemed a bit wheezy in the first few days after the day,” she said.
Olivia took Charlotte to the doctor only to be told that everything was fine.
However, the mum said that the reassurance did not stop her from worrying.
Olivia Jenkins said that she first suspected that something was wrong with her baby after noticing a tendency for Charlotte to wheeze while she sleeps. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
When they got home, she started breastfeeding baby Charlotte when she noticed that the infant was struggling to feed.
Olivia recalled: “I could see that Charlotte was really struggling with my let down which was quite powerful and would often choke and splutter, coming on and off the breast several times.”
But after receiving the all-clear from the doctor, Olivia persevered.
However, when Charlotte turned 12 days old, she began gasping for air.
“I was feeding Charlotte from my breast when she began to choke on my breastmilk. I picked her up and brought her to my chest and she projectile vomited all over me," Olivia said.
“I then brought her back down to check her again quickly and I just remember seeing her struggle and choke but she was making no noise - that’s when I knew we were really in trouble."
Seeing her youngest struggling, Olivia quickly jumped into action to give Charlotte some first aid.
However, Charlotte began turning blue and lost consciousness, making Olivia rush to call triple-0 for help.
“She was totally limp in my arms. I ran out to the road to meet the ambulance and immediately handed paramedics Charlotte,” she describes.
Fortunately, the baby was brought back to consciousness once she was given medical attention.
Olivia said that the pediatrician told her that the case was called "BRUE" (Brief Resolved Unexplained Event) — a condition that causes infants to stop breathing — and reassured her that she did not need to worry.
Charlotte was rushed to the hospital after she turned blue and lost consciousness in the middle of breastfeeding. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
However, Olivia was not convinced by the diagnosis.
“My mother’s instinct was screaming ‘something is wrong,” she said.
Olivia then phoned her family pediatrician and begged for him to give baby Charlotte a thorough checkup.
The mum said: “I took Charlotte to him and showed him what happened when I was breastfeeding her. You could actually hear her voice box whistling when she was drinking - it was really obvious that she was struggling to breathe and aspirating a lot of fluid.”
The pediatrician then referred her to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who ran some tests down little Charlotte’s throat and nose.
It was at that moment that Olivia found out that Charlotte had Laryngomalacia — a condition where a baby’s larynx, or voice box, is soft and floppy, causing baby Charlotte's airway to be blocked when breathing in as the part of the larynx above the vocal cords fall to the esophagus.
Charlotte was also suffering from obstructive and central sleep apnea — a condition where the brain doesn’t send proper signals to muscles that control breathing while unconscious.
The subsequent diagnosis means that Charlotte needs to be on oxygen 24/7 and at 10 weeks old, she began the process.
Olivia said: “We have oxygen bottles all over the house - pretty much in every room. If we leave the house, we bring a travel-size oxygen canister with us.”
“Charlotte has her nasal cannula changed every few days and removed for bath time. The most stressful part of the oxygen for Charlotte is the re-taping which we do daily. Thankfully we have found a tape that is suitable for sensitive skin and makes re-taping a lot less traumatic."
“Oxygen was definitely something we had to get our heads around and I remember getting the training for it in the hospital and thinking, ‘How on earth am I going to remember all of this?’ It’s so overwhelming.”
At 10 weeks old, Charlotte was on oxygen 24/7. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
For those who feel sorry for baby Charlotte, don't worry! The doctor said that Charlotte will most likely grow out of the condition.
Olivia said: “We are praying that she will be recovered enough to come off oxygen soon so we can see her beautiful little cheeks.”
“She looks totally different without her nasal cannula and tapes on so it’s always a treat to see her bare face for five minutes during bath time or before re-taping. She’s so beautiful.”
The mum also said that the public should be aware of the condition.
“My wish is to bring more awareness to this condition and the fact that babies can choke on breastmilk. Also for mums to always push for answers if they feel something’s not right," she said.
“It’s not something that you hear about often but I feel with more awareness and education, women will be empowered to ask the right questions and confidently advocate for their baby’s health."
The mum from South Australia said that she was breastfeeding her baby when all of a sudden she started choking and turning blue.
Speaking to 7Life, the mum said: “It all unfolded quite quickly and I remember thinking that this was the moment I was going to watch my newborn daughter die."
The 29-year-old mum said that she first suspected that something was wrong with Charlotte when she noticed that the baby wheezed when she slept.
“I had an unsettling feeling. I was super worried about her sleeping and she seemed a bit wheezy in the first few days after the day,” she said.
Olivia took Charlotte to the doctor only to be told that everything was fine.
However, the mum said that the reassurance did not stop her from worrying.
Olivia Jenkins said that she first suspected that something was wrong with her baby after noticing a tendency for Charlotte to wheeze while she sleeps. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
When they got home, she started breastfeeding baby Charlotte when she noticed that the infant was struggling to feed.
Olivia recalled: “I could see that Charlotte was really struggling with my let down which was quite powerful and would often choke and splutter, coming on and off the breast several times.”
But after receiving the all-clear from the doctor, Olivia persevered.
However, when Charlotte turned 12 days old, she began gasping for air.
“I was feeding Charlotte from my breast when she began to choke on my breastmilk. I picked her up and brought her to my chest and she projectile vomited all over me," Olivia said.
“I then brought her back down to check her again quickly and I just remember seeing her struggle and choke but she was making no noise - that’s when I knew we were really in trouble."
Seeing her youngest struggling, Olivia quickly jumped into action to give Charlotte some first aid.
However, Charlotte began turning blue and lost consciousness, making Olivia rush to call triple-0 for help.
“She was totally limp in my arms. I ran out to the road to meet the ambulance and immediately handed paramedics Charlotte,” she describes.
Fortunately, the baby was brought back to consciousness once she was given medical attention.
Olivia said that the pediatrician told her that the case was called "BRUE" (Brief Resolved Unexplained Event) — a condition that causes infants to stop breathing — and reassured her that she did not need to worry.
Charlotte was rushed to the hospital after she turned blue and lost consciousness in the middle of breastfeeding. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
However, Olivia was not convinced by the diagnosis.
“My mother’s instinct was screaming ‘something is wrong,” she said.
Olivia then phoned her family pediatrician and begged for him to give baby Charlotte a thorough checkup.
The mum said: “I took Charlotte to him and showed him what happened when I was breastfeeding her. You could actually hear her voice box whistling when she was drinking - it was really obvious that she was struggling to breathe and aspirating a lot of fluid.”
The pediatrician then referred her to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who ran some tests down little Charlotte’s throat and nose.
It was at that moment that Olivia found out that Charlotte had Laryngomalacia — a condition where a baby’s larynx, or voice box, is soft and floppy, causing baby Charlotte's airway to be blocked when breathing in as the part of the larynx above the vocal cords fall to the esophagus.
Charlotte was also suffering from obstructive and central sleep apnea — a condition where the brain doesn’t send proper signals to muscles that control breathing while unconscious.
The subsequent diagnosis means that Charlotte needs to be on oxygen 24/7 and at 10 weeks old, she began the process.
Olivia said: “We have oxygen bottles all over the house - pretty much in every room. If we leave the house, we bring a travel-size oxygen canister with us.”
“Charlotte has her nasal cannula changed every few days and removed for bath time. The most stressful part of the oxygen for Charlotte is the re-taping which we do daily. Thankfully we have found a tape that is suitable for sensitive skin and makes re-taping a lot less traumatic."
“Oxygen was definitely something we had to get our heads around and I remember getting the training for it in the hospital and thinking, ‘How on earth am I going to remember all of this?’ It’s so overwhelming.”
At 10 weeks old, Charlotte was on oxygen 24/7. Credit: Olivia Jenkins.
For those who feel sorry for baby Charlotte, don't worry! The doctor said that Charlotte will most likely grow out of the condition.
Olivia said: “We are praying that she will be recovered enough to come off oxygen soon so we can see her beautiful little cheeks.”
“She looks totally different without her nasal cannula and tapes on so it’s always a treat to see her bare face for five minutes during bath time or before re-taping. She’s so beautiful.”
The mum also said that the public should be aware of the condition.
“My wish is to bring more awareness to this condition and the fact that babies can choke on breastmilk. Also for mums to always push for answers if they feel something’s not right," she said.
“It’s not something that you hear about often but I feel with more awareness and education, women will be empowered to ask the right questions and confidently advocate for their baby’s health."
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