Ipswich Hospital Foundation start Christmas appeal to help newborns stay ‘closer to home’

An Ipswich mum has shared details of the unexpected birth complications that forced her baby to be transferred for specialised care, as her local hospital fights to keep newborns “closer to home”.

Sari Kocsardi and Tegan Knott of the Ipswich Hospital Special Care Nursery. Picture: Supplied / Ipswich Hospital Foundation

Bundamba parent Chantelle Smith shared her surprise when the baby she had expected to deliver on December 7 “decided she was going to be super early” – and was delivered on October 21 instead.

What followed was an unexpected, but necessary, trip to Brisbane for care — an event she and Ipswich Hospital are determined to save other families from having to go through.

Cue the Ipswich Hospital Foundation, which is asking for the community’s aid this Christmas to help local families get the best possible care for their newborns here in Ipswich.

Born at 33 weeks, little baby Kyaha suffered serious breathing issues and needed to be transferred from the Ipswich Hospital to Brisbane to receive the care she needed.

“She had to have a tube down her throat and was on a CPAP for a while,” explained Ms Smith.

Ms Smith said this was the first of her five pregnancies to stray so far from her initial expectations, with Kyaha being her “smallest and earliest” child.

“Hopefully this is all the trouble we have from her,” she joked.

“They had [a CPAP] here for when she first came out, but obviously there’s more of them in Royal Brisbane than unfortunately there are here.”

Ms Smith said Kyaha was transferred back to Ipswich Hospital Special Care Unit two or three weeks ago, and had been receiving exceptional care ever since.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic … Considering how stressful it’s been — their social worker and support people have all been absolutely amazing,” she said.

“We’ve had a few ups and downs — we were on oxygen for a little while, and now we’re trialling being off as of about half an hour ago.”

Chantelle Smith with baby Kyaha Bishop at Ipswich Hospital Special Care Nursery. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Ms Smith said her anxieties surrounding young Kyaha’s early birth had eased throughout her weeks of care, and she had enjoyed “celebrating everyone’s little milestones” with the other parents.

“We’ve seen a couple of them go home, which is very exciting – and it’ll be our turn soon enough … We’re definitely counting down the days.”

Ipswich Hospital Foundation’s Christmas appeal will raise funds for much-needed equipment for the resuscitation area in the Special Care Nursery, so fewer babies need to travel for specialist medical care.

Nurse Sari Kocsardi said they were currently able to care for newborns above 32 weeks or 1400 grams, whereas others needed to be transferred to another hospital.

She explained the nursery helped newborns learn to feed, provide respiratory support, run assessments and provide any other necessary care.

The facility has 14 funded beds currently, but often caters for many more, providing support for newborns for sometimes weeks after their birth.

“We have more babies needing a little extra support … This appeal means that we get some more equipment, so that we can minimise families having to go to other health services,” said Ms Kocsardi.

“It helps us keep them closer to home.”

Nurse Sari Kocsardi with Diana Peter, Dean Wood and baby Micah at Ipswich Hospital Special Care Nursery. Picture: Supplied / Ipswich Hospital Foundation

Ipswich Hospital Director of Paediatrics Dr John Waugh said the equipment would help the hospital respond to the growing needs of the region.

“More than 3000 babies were born at Ipswich Hospital in the past 12 months, and one in four of those babies spent time in the Special Care Nursery,” he said.

“Of these 785 newborns, 210 were born prematurely, and many families had to travel to a more specialised hospital for extra care outside the West Moreton region.”

IHF CEO Scott Young said they aimed to raise $150,000 and that all funds would go towards equipment including cardiac monitors, a resuscitation cot, and humidifiers for respiratory support for newborns.

“You can show your support by making a tax-deductible cash donation or purchasing a raffle ticket through our website. Your donation will make a huge difference to local families, allowing them to get the best possible care closer to home.” Mr. Young said.

To learn more about the IHF Children’s Christmas Appeal or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit their website.