Doctors put it down to my newborn being bottle-fed, she went floppy & turned blue

“I was holding my 13-day-old baby over my shoulder when I felt her go floppy... then my husband said, ‘She’s blue’... from there, it was all a blur.” 

When a very concerned Australian mum took her five-day-old girl, Indianna, to an after-hours clinic, she didn't get the advice she was hoping for.

“They confirmed she had a virus, and we were told to manage at home,” the mother shared via Tiny Hearts Education’s Instagram page.

“That’s when the choking fits began... it was two minutes of hell where her little body tried to clear the congestion, and she gasped for air.”

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Paramedics told the parents that Indianna's breathing issues were because of bottle-feeding. Source: Tiny Hearts

“My worst fears were realised - our baby was floppy and turned blue”

With her tiny newborn in her arms, unable to breathe, Indianna’s mum called an ambulance.

However, they were told that her daughter’s choking was likely down to bottle feeding. 

The paramedics suggested swapping out the formula for another brand, so the parents let it slide.

But on day 13... the couple's “worst fears were realised”. 

“I was holding her over my shoulder, and I felt her go floppy,” the Aussie mum explained. “Then my husband said those two words - ‘She’s blue’. From there, it was all a blur.” 

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Indianna's breathing issues made her "floppy" and turn blue. Source: Tiny Hearts

“Trust your intuition and speak up before it’s too late” 

The mum remembered pulling her daughter off her shoulder before she and her husband administered CPR. 

“The very skills that Tiny Hearts has taught us... I don’t remember how much time went by.” 

Luckily, by the time the paramedics arrived, Indianna was breathing again. 

“It wasn’t until she was admitted to hospital that we found out she had RSV."

She stressed the two things she took away from the experience. The first being that Tiny Hearts helped save their daughter’s life. 

And secondly, allow follow your gut.

“No one knows your child better than yourself,” she said. “Trust in your intuition and if something doesn’t sit well, speak up before it’s too late.” 

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The Aussie mum is raising awareness for RSV in infants. Source: Tiny Hearts

The warning signs of RSV you need to know

The Tiny Hearts Instagram account further explained that RSV is mild in most cases and can be managed at home - however, “in young ones, viruses can be more harmful and escalate quickly".

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a highly infectious virus that usually produces mild symptoms that closely resemble a cold or flu. 

However, it’s far more serious for infants and older adults, with RSV sometimes resulting in pneumonia and difficulty breathing.

Key RSV symptoms to watch out for include: 

• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing
• Decreased appetite
• Rattling chest

Originally published as Doctors put it down to my newborn being bottle-fed, she went floppy & turned blue