Oscar pioneers revolutionary ‘sham breastfeeding’ technique at Mater

Baby Oscar was born with a condition that could have made breastfeeding impossible – but the team at a Brisbane hospital found a solution that now has him thriving and his mum enjoying bonding time with her little boy.

Kharissa Ticiver and her baby Oscar Ticiver who is 10 weeks old. Pictures: J & A Photography

A Queensland baby born with a blocked oesophagus has beaten the odds thanks to a groundbreaking feeding technique dubbed “sham breastfeeding”.

New mum Kharissa Ticiver said Oscar was a miracle baby after being born nine weeks premature with a blocked oesophagus preventing him from swallowing.

He is the first baby at the Mater Mother’s Hospital to be fed using the technique, which allows him to breastfeed like any other baby, but the milk that gathers in his blocked oesophagus is removed by a suction tube through his nose.

The extracted milk is then fed back to Oscar via a gastrostomy tube in his stomach.

The food pouch acts as a food pipe and is connected to a suction tube that is flushed every 10 minutes with saline by a nurse to make sure there are no blockages with saliva, which could lead to choking.

Staff at the hospital, where Oscar was born on May 25, said the procedure was complex and time-consuming with a nurse on hand around the clock to flush the tube.

Mater miracle baby Oscar Ticiver with his mum Kharissa Ticiver. Picture: J & A Photography

Ms Ticiver said she had been worried she would never be able to breastfeed after finding out about her baby’s condition when she was 22 weeks’ pregnant.

But she said she and the Mater staff were determined to give Oscar the best start possible and despite his initial challenges he had grown to 3.4kg.

“He’s now got two chins, so I know he will get through all of this. He is a fighter,” she said.

“Nothing about the process is simple, but the dedication of everyone involved is amazing.

“I knew about the benefits of breastfeeding, and I really wanted that for Oscar.

“He’s really smashing his developmental goals and we are having the best time bonding.”

Mater Neonatology director Dr Pita Birch said because two segments of Oscar’s oesophagus were separated, complex surgery would be required when he was older.

Dr Birch said in the meantime, his team’s goal was to develop oral feeding skills and give him the experience and taste of milk from either a bottle or breast.

“For all babies, developing those suck and swallow reflexes are important during early neonatal life,” Dr Birch said.

“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.”