Dozens of babies born during weather event

Close to 40 babies were born in Townsville during the city’s worst ever flood, giving families the ultimate blessing during a time of such devastation.

DO NOT USE. MUST CONTACT TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN EDITOR OR CHIEF OF STAFF BEFORE USE. Adam and Kerrie-Anne Meakins with son Alexander who was born during the floods. Picture: Zak Simmonds

CLOSE to 40 babies were born in Townsville during the city’s worst ever flood, giving families the ultimate blessing during a time of such devastation.

Townsville Hospital welcomed 32 newborns from January 30 to February 4, while there were 7 delivered in the same time at the Mater Hospital.

Baby Alexander was at Townsville Hospital Birth Centre during the 1-100 year flood on Friday morning.

Parents Kerrie-Anne and Adam Meakins travelled from their Burdell property early Friday.

“All I was thinking was get there soon, get there safe, can we get there, what am I going to do if I can’t get to hospital in time and obviously trying to stay positive,” Ms Meakins said.

At that time, roads were not yet flooded over — but later in the day they were.

During birth Ms Meakins said she could hear “heavy winds, heavy rain (and) trees rattling”.

The family moved up to Townsville from Sydney in late 2017 and Alexander is their second child.

Ms Meakins said they had never encountered a weather event like the past two weeks.

“For me, it’s just crazy to think that being pregnant through it all trying to stay calm, I’m just still a bit speechless.

“I’m just so lucky that our home is fine, the baby is fine, there’s no complications. For me, I’ll never forget it. When he gets older and can understand things a bit better, you can be like, you’re a part of history.

“It’s unbelievable.”

Townsville Hospital Midwifery Unit Manager Rebecca Lewis said it had been a busy week in the birth suite and the maternity unit with 32 new babies welcomed to the world.

“The midwifery staff have been brilliant in the way that they have supported and covered for their colleagues who have been affected by these floods,” she said.

“Even though it has been a difficult time for families and our staff I am proud that we’ve been able to maintain our high standard of care.”

The floods caused some disruption to the Mater Women’s and Children’s Hospital Hyde Park.

As a precaution the birthing unit was relocated from Hyde Park to the Pimlico site on Sunday

It turned out to be the right decision as the roads surrounding the hospital were closed on Sunday night and Monday, a Mater spokeswoman said.

Once waters receded, the unit returned on Tuesday.

Originally published as Dozens of babies born during weather event