A Victorian mother's maternal instinct has saved her baby's life after paramedics incorrectly diagnosed her daughter's condition.
On June 17 Toni Hicks ignored the advice of paramedics and took her six-month-old daughter Mia to hospital, concerned by her rapid heart rate and heavy breathing.
"He (the paramedic) did a quick assessment of her and told me there was nothing wrong and to stay at home and give her cuddles," Ms Hicks told Nine News.
Ms Hick's instincts were right.
Mia spent five days in hospital fighting for her life after doctors found she had a collapsed lung, pneumonia and bronchiolitis, the inflammation of the small air passages in the lungs.
The Geelong mother said the paramedic did a very quick assessment of Mia with a stethoscope before declaring that the baby was fine.
"I was pretty shocked because I knew there was something wrong," Ms Hicks said.
Mia was given oxygen and admitted into the children's ward with her heart racing to 230 beats per minute.
An emotional Ms Hicks said if she had listened to paramedics Mia “wouldn't be here".
"It doesn't hurt you to take your child to a GP or hospital … if someone tells you that there is nothing wrong with your child go with your gut instinct," she said.
For more watch Nine News at 6pm in Melbourne or online at ninemsn.
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