The first home birth baby was delivered at 7:03am yesterday at a Coledale
home through the new Home Birthing Service operating out of SESIH Midwifery
Group Practice (MGP) program.
A baby boy (Rueben) weighing 3.57kg and measuring 51cm was born after just
three-and-a-half hours of labour.
Mother and baby are doing very well - in fact mum was having tea and toast
with family and visitors just half an hour after the birth.
Local Midwifes, Ceri Thomson and Christina Spence assisted at the delivery
and said it could not have been a better birth. They were joined by Ali Teate
from St George Homebirth Service who has provided valuable mentoring during
the establishment of this program.
Ms Thomson said it was absolutely wonderful. Mum and baby did so well, and
it was the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s amazing to be a part of this program, to see mothers through their
pregnancy and make their birth as relaxed, calm and natural as possible.
“This first birth was just incredible and it was such a privilege to be there,”
she said.
Homebirth is now an option for local mothers with South East Sydney Illawarra
Area Health Service (SESIAHS) offering a new publicly funded program for eligible women.
Women accepted into the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) program and who meet the
eligibility criteria for low risk, may now consider homebirth within their birthing choices.
Mrs Deborah Cameron, Southern Hospital Network Co-Director for the Women’s & Babies stream
congratulated the program’s dedicated staff.
“We have a dedicated team of midwives who provide excellent health care to our mothers,”
Mrs Cameron said.
“The new service means low risk mothers now have the option to deliver their baby at
home with the care and support of our highly trained midwives.
“Some mothers feel this option is a calmer, more convenient and more comfortable
way to give birth. It is wonderful that many local mothers now have this choice.
“Mothers will be monitored stringently and will be approved for the program on the
condition they are a low risk delivery. Should a mother experience complexities in
their pregnancy they will be referred to other hospital-based delivery options,” said Mrs Cameron.
Media enquiries: Maxine Brennan 9113 2601, 0413 028 776
