Sunshine Coast crowns cutest baby of 2023, mum recalls hospital stay

A now healthy, happy bub crowned as the Sunshine Coast’s cutest of 2023 spent time in intensive care just days after being born, her mum has recalled.

Maggie Lindley Harris with her mum, Abbey Lindley Harris. Picture: Jessica Miocevich

As a paediatrician did the final checks on a newborn before her discharge from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the baby stopped breathing.

First-time mum Abbey Lindley Harris said a lot of people rushed into her hospital room to work on her daughter, Maggie Lindley Harris.

“I knew she would be fine, it was just something random, she was in the best place she could be,” Ms Lindley Harris said.

Little Maggie was moved to the neonatal intensive care unit and Ms Lindley Harris got to know her midwives even better than when she was part of the hospital’s Midwifery Group Practice.

The program allows applicants to be cared for by the same midwives throughout their pregnancy and birth at the hospital.

Ms Lindley Harris said she was fully supported during her pregnancy and throughout Maggie’s stay in the NICU.

Maggie Lindley Harris was moved to the NICU after she stopped breathing during her final paediatrician check-up at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Picture: Contributed

Six months on, Maggie is a thriving, smiling, healthy baby who has won the final Sunshine Coast cutest baby vote for the year.

She was nominated by Ms Lindley Harris’s “work sister” Cheyenne Skye.

Maggie Lindley Harris is a Sunshine Coast Daily cutest baby 2023 winner. Picture: Contributed

The proud mum-of-one said she was cringing a little over the title but was still “super” proud.

Maggie came along at the right time for Ms Lindley Harris’s mum, too, who after leading about 50 postnatal depression groups on the Sunshine Coast in her role as a psychologist, stepped away from that aspect of her job and is spending more time with her granddaughter.

Ms Lindley Harris said her six-month-old, born on June 9 at 2.50am, is “dog mad” and has dad, Matthew Lindley Harris, wrapped around her little finger.

Abbey, Maggie and Matthew Lindley Harris. Picture: Contributed

“She’s also named after (Matthew’s) mum who has passed away,” she said.

Maggie’s middle name acknowledges her other grandma.

“I could talk about her all day,” Ms Lindley Harris said of her daughter.

She also said a return to work would be difficult.

“I don’t know if I could go back because I’m obsessed with her,” she said.

Maggie’s win is alongside the other Sunshine Coast Daily 2023 cutest baby winner, Kennedy Alderson, who was crowned in June this year.

Congratulations to all of the babies who were nominated.