Mater Mothers: Parents celebrate after Moira’s birth 17 weeks early, at 546g

It’s a record no parent wants for their newborn – the smallest and the most premature baby at the Mater Mother’s Hospital in 2021. But after a rough start, little Moira is showing her fighting spirit.

The smallest and most premature baby born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital this year won’t be home in time for Christmas but her parents are still celebrating after a harrowing ordeal.

Ashlee Eager and Benjamin Walsh are grateful their daughter is alive after Moira decided to enter the world 17 weeks early, at fewer than 24 weeks’ gestation.

She weighed a dangerously low 546g.

Moira, with mum Ashlee Eager was born 17 weeks early and weighing just 546g. Picture: Adam Head

“The drive to the hospital was one of the hardest moments of our lives,” said Ms Eager, an English and history teacher.

“I could feel contractions starting but l didn’t want it to be true.”

Moira was in foetal distress by the time the Fassifern Valley couple arrived at the South Brisbane hospital on September 5, and she was born at 11.31pm, kicking fiercely while struggling to breathe.

“It was definitely a horrible shock, and we first thought she wouldn’t make it,” Ms Eager, 34, said.

Moira weighed 546 grams when she was born and still requires respiratory support.

“You watch every hour go past, then that turns into every day, then every week.”

Moira now weighs a little more than 2kg but still requires respiratory support, with other complications as yet unknown.

“Christmas will be bittersweet,” Ms Eager said.

“Although it will be tough that Moira is still in hospital, we are so grateful to have her and so is her 11-year-old brother Lestat.

“We call her our rainbow baby. I suffered two miscarriages before falling pregnant with her, so having our baby girl is just wonderful.”

Moira will be one of about 80 babies in the neonatal critical care unit this Christmas.

Mater neonatology director Dr Pita Birch said survival rates of babies as young as 22 weeks’ gestation had dramatically improved in the past decade through new technologies and treatments.

“Ten years ago, it was rare for the Mater to provide neonatal intensive care to babies born at 23 weeks and we wouldn’t always provide neonatal intensive care at 24 weeks either,” Dr Birch said.

Tiny Moira is a miracle baby for Fassifern Valley couple Ashlee Eager and Benjamin Walsh. Picture: Adam Head

He said around 80 babies would spend this Christmas in the neonatal critical care unit.

Ms Eager praised staff who had continued to care for her daughter and their family.

“Ask any of the nurses and they’ll tell you how determined Moira is – they say, ‘it’s Moira’s way or not at all’.”