Parents believe baby’s early arrival was a cry for help

HER mother believes arriving three weeks early was baby Breanna’s way of seeking the life-saving help she needed.

Jasmine Arkinstall gave birth to her 2.14 kilogram daughter at Milton-Ulladulla Hospital on January 6 and, about an hour later, she knew something was wrong.

“She wasn’t feeding properly and was turning a bluish-purple colour,” Jasmine explained.

“The nurses kept a close eye on Breanna, but there were no obvious signs until she started spitting up mucus.”

The following afternoon mum and baby were transported to Shoalhaven Hospital where a series of tests were carried out including an x-ray which showed that Breanna’s esophagus had not formed properly.

“The top section of her esophagus was closed off like a pouch,” Breanna’s father Aaron explained, “and the lower section was joined to her trachea”.

The tiny baby was flown to Westmead Children’s Hospital by the ChildFlight helicopter where keyhole surgery was performed by Dr Toby Greenacre to repair the esophagus.

Doctors also found a small hole in Breanna’s heart and are concerned she could have a spinal tether that would require an operation in the coming months to ensure she is able to walk.

The congenital disorder, known as esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, is a condition that effects one in 5,000 babies, and can impact on the heart, lungs, brain and spine.

Jasmine told the Times that doctors said if her pregnancy had continued to full term, it is unlikely Breanna would have survived.

“I think coming early was her way of saying ‘I need help’,” she said.

“Although she’s small, it’s amazing that she grew to the size she is because she could not take amnionic fluid into her stomach.

“When I first tried to feed her after she was born, the milk wasn’t reaching her stomach and some was going into her lungs through her windpipe.”

Attempts at tube-feeding Breanna were also unsuccessful due to her condition.