The Weipa birthing and maternity staff is now a full team of permanent staff as the community prepares to celebrate 12 months since the service reopened. Photo: Supplied.
The western Cape York community is preparing to celebrate one year since birthing services returned to Weipa after a 25-year absence as they continue to win over local expectant mums.
Mums and expectant mums from Weipa, Aurukun, Mapoon and Napranum are encouraged to save 22 May for a celebration of allowing women to take their journey into motherhood close to home and family.
“We’ve had 18 births to date, which is amazing, and we’ve got another couple due, so we’re hoping by the time we hit the 12-month mark, there’ll be 20,” midwife Lorraine Woods said.
“So far, out of 18 babies, we’ve had six boys and 12 girls.”
Attracting and retaining the staff necessary to run a birthing suite in a remote community has proved difficult, with the birthing unit actually completed in 2022, but not opening until two years later when Weipa was able to recruit sufficient doctors with appropriate additional skills in obstetrics and anaesthetics to allow for a safe and sustainable birthing service.
Ms Woods said she was proud the unit now had a full team of six permanent midwives, a women’s health physiotherapist, social worker, advanced health worker, four GP obstetricians and four GP anaesthetists.
“I was the only permanent staff and the rest was agency, but now we’ve recruited all permanent staff, so it’s more stable,” she said.
Weipa woman Taryn Dennes, who is set to become a first-time mum in July, said being able to give birth in her hometown was making the life-changing experience even more personal and exciting.
After last year’s opening announcement, Ms Dennes said she had not been sure if she would choose to give birth in Weipa or travel, but was glad she made the choice to stay.
“At the start, I was very sceptical, but I think after meeting my midwife and my student midwife, they’re just amazing, and I could not say one bad thing about either of them,” she said.
“Of course, I’ve asked so many questions, especially being my first time, and there’s never been a time when I felt like a nuisance, and they’ve had answers for absolutely everything.
“I feel pretty relaxed, and I feel like you have a lot more one-on-one time, and it’s a lot more personal.”
The expectant mother said her pregnancy came at a perfect time after struggling to conceive for a while.
“My partner and I, we’ve been trying for quite a while, but then we kind of thought, well, it’s not working, so we just kind of gave up,” she said.
“But then, we fell pregnant, and I just thought it was perfect timing, because now we could have a baby up in Weipa.
“Being able to stay in Weipa and not having that added stress on me is definitely beneficial, because being pregnant and giving birth is one thing, but being away from home is another.”
Taryn and Jackson Dennes are excited to become first-time parents in their hometown in July. Photo: Supplied.
