Mater Mothers lights up for water babies after bayside maternity ward shuts

Two new birthing pools with LED lighting and Bluetooth have been installed at a southside hospital, a month after a bayside maternity ward closed due to a pediatrician shortage.

Mum Bailee Lawrence, 24, was the first to give birth in one of the new pools describing the experience of having her daughter Allora as “magical”. Pictures: Contributed/Josh Woning

Two new birthing pools with LED lighting and Bluetooth have been installed at a southside hospital, a month after a bayside maternity ward closed due to a pediatrician shortage.

The new birth pools at Mater Mothers’ South Brisbane have been built to cater for a massive increase in demand for water births.

The units, paid for by donations, are expected to be well used after the closure of the maternity ward at Redland Mater Private in May.

The birthing suite at Mater South Brisbane. Picture: Josh Woning.

Redland Mater closed its maternity ward on May 26 also citing a lack of paediatricians.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said Mater Private Hospital Redland closed the facility because the majority of Redland women were electing to give birth at its Brisbane facility and birthing demand had declined at Redland Private Hospital.

But Redland mums-to-be who had planned to have babies at Mater Private Redland will be able to use the new facilities at Mater Mothers’ Private Brisbane.

The new birth pools allow women to move freely and weight-free in water, while helping with pain relief during labour.

The maternity ward at Mater Redland has closed with mums now directed to go to the new birthing suites at South Brisbane. Picture: Judith Kerr

Mum Bailee Lawrence, 24, was the first to give birth in one of the new pools describing the experience of having her daughter Allora as “magical”.

“I love water and I love baths, so being immersed in water is a relaxing time for me,” Ms Lawrence said.

“The new birth pools have multi-colour LED lights and it worked wonders.”

The hospital has four birthing pools which Mater Foundation chief executive Andrew Thomas said was due to donations from generous Queenslanders.

He said the state-of-the-art multi-colour LED lighting and bluetooth sound created a soothing ambience for mum and newborn.

The Mater hopes to raise more funds on Wednesday, June 26 when all donations to the Mater Foundation will be matched and tripled by donors.