Baby almost died after crying so hard she developed HOLES in her lungs

‘Miracle’ newborn baby almost died after crying so hard she developed HOLES in both her lungs

• Robyn Theaker spent 11 days in intensive care at York Hospital after her birth 
• X-rays revealed she had small holes in both her lungs and the organs collapsed 
• Her mother Kylie Theaker, 32, said it is a ‘miracle’ her daughter is still alive

A ‘miracle’ newborn almost died when she cried so hard she developed holes in both her lungs – causing them to collapse.  

Little Robyn Theaker spent 11 days in intensive care at York Hospital after she was born five weeks early on March 17 to parents Kylie and Craig.

After her condition took a sudden downturn, Robyn underwent x-rays which revealed she had a small hole in both her lungs known as an air leak.  

Doctors explained that because Robyn was born so early, her lungs weren’t flexible, so her crying had allowed too much air to get inside them too fast. 

Little Robyn Theaker (pictured in hospital) spent 11 days in intensive care at York Hospital after she was born five weeks early on March 17 to parents Kylie and Craig

Pictured: Robyn with her father Craig Theaker and her mother Kyle Theaker in hospital

The newborn spent 11 ‘touch and go’ days in intensive care where she was placed on oxygen and a feeding tube, and Mrs Theaker, 32, said it is a ‘miracle’ she is alive.

But Robyn is now at home in York, North Yorkshire with her parents, brother Davey, eight, and sister Lucy, three.

Mrs Theaker, who lost her daughter Josie in 2015, said: ‘We are very, very lucky. She is a miracle. She could have died.’

The mother-of-three explained how it was ‘really upsetting to see’ when doctors used needles to pierce through Robyn’s side into her lungs to insert chest drains to help her breathe.

After her condition took a sudden downturn, Robyn (seen at home) underwent x-rays which revealed she had a small hole in both her lungs known as an air leak

Robyn is now at home in York with her parents, brother Davey, eight, and sister Lucy, three

‘Those 11 days felt like 11 months. It was really lonely… I couldn’t see my husband or other children,’ she said. ‘Robyn is so special – she had a horrendous start in life and has been through so much.

‘The doctors said it was amazing she was able to recover without needing a ventilator – and the consultant said they’d never seen a baby recover like that.’

How newborns can develop air leaks in their lungs by crying after birth 

An air leak is caused when tiny sacs in the lungs known as alveoli rupture, causing air to escape into the space between the lungs and the chest wall.

Too many of these small leaks can lead to more severe issues such as a collapsed lung – or a pneumothorax. 

This is when air gets trapped between the chest wall and the lung, putting pressure on the organ and preventing it from inflating.

These leaks can be caused by a newborn crying after birth. Air could enter the lungs too quickly and cause the alveoli to burst. 

Other causes include respiratory distress syndrome due to underdeveloped lungs and being on a ventilator. 

Source: Fairview Health Services 

Robyn was born by emergency caesarean on March 17 after Mrs Theaker suffered heavy bleeding at 35 weeks into her pregnancy. 

At first, the newborn was placed in a special care baby unit and given oxygen and a feeding tube, but her condition soon deteriorated. 

X-rays then diagnosed a small hole in each lung which required more intensive treatment.

Mrs Theaker said it was difficult being on her own for 11 days in the hospital unable to see the rest of her family because of restrictions brought in to control the spread of coronavirus.

‘My husband was allowed to be there for the birth and the first day, but then the rules changed,’ she said.

‘It was awful. I had so much guilt. I had two kids at home desperate to see me and the baby.’

The mother-of-three was also worried about catching Covid-19 while in the hospital and infecting her new baby – especially considering Robyn was already being treated for a lung condition.

‘I was worried. I sat with the nurses in the evening and cried and cried and cried. They were all so amazing and so kind,’ she said.

But when baby Robyn was eventually able to go home – the welcome was incredible.

‘The kids were so happy. They just wanted to get hold of her,’ Mrs Theaker added.

My son just held her for the first hour and cuddled her.’  

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