Esther Lauaki
By Esther Lauaki
Brimbank is in the midst of a baby boom.
Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital welcomed a record 579 babies in August and about 300 more in the past three weeks.
Maternity services operations manager Maree Comeadow said that last month was more hectic than usual with up to 27 babies born on one day.
Ms Comeadow said the boom indicated that the Brimbank was growing rapidly.
“The area is going to continue to grow and our facilities are beautiful for families to come to,” she said.
Visitation restrictions as a result of COVID-19 impacted greatly on families in the maternity ward, Ms Comeadow said.
“Its been tough with restrictions but there have been pros and cons with so many babies being born [throughout August] with COVID-19,” she said.
“The staff have been great …and in a way it’s been really very quiet and our midwives have been able to focus on the mothers and their partners and the babies.”
She said September births seemed to be slowing with 296 babies born so far, averaging about 18 babies a day.
“There are peaks and troughs here all the time and traditionally September and October are busy months being nine months after the Christmas and New Year period,” Ms Comeadow said.
“I’m not sure if we are going to have quite the boom that we had in November but you never know.”
